7/18/2019 Wolfe-SCAD/FILM 708- Syllabus

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Syllabus 

School of Entertainment Arts, Department of Film and Television, Savannah

FILM 708 - Designing ShotsSection: 01 CRN: 10359

SCAD Mission:The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for professional careers, emphasizing learningthrough individual attention in a positively oriented university environment.

Course Description:Students learn to master the creation of visually compelling and emotionally powerful images in a studio setting, where theychoreograph the camera with the actor. Effective and eloquent shot listing is developed to correspond with blocking a scenefor performance. Emphasis is placed on the aesthetics of cinematic design.

Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course:

1. Students will explore artistry in shot design and how it is differentiated from other creative production componentsto help the director and cinematographer master the art of shot listing and develop a personal shooting style.

2. Students will examine how in-depth analysis of camera aesthetics is applicable equally to narrative andexperimental filmmaking, and commercials and music videos.

Student Learning Outcomes: The following course outcomes indicate competencies and measurable skills that studentsdevelop as a result of completing this course:

1. Students will identify camera placement, lens choices, depth of field, and camera placement in a scene.

2. Students will, from an analysis of camera usage, identify story beats, point of view and subtext of a scene.

3. Students will identify individual shots and how they contribute to the meaning of the scene.

4. Students will, from an analysis of the shot list and the use of color and light as compositional tools, determinethe director¿s critical choice.

5. Students will create a location blueprint, a shot list, and camera diagram for the scene.

Schedule of Classes:

Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates:

Fall 2013

Jesse Wolfe

Office building, room:  ADLER HALL/ ROOM 309

Phone: (912) 525-6419

Office hours: Mondays-Thursdays 1:45-2:45p

Email:  jwolfe@scad.edu

Building/Room: HAMILT 104

Meeting Times: Tuesday / Thursday11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

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Class 1:Tue,

September 17, 2013

-Professor Introduction, Discussion: Shot Design,- using the camera effectively for storytelling and aesthetics. Defining the Director’s “Vision.” Theme and Tone as it relatesto the Director’s Vision.

Class 2:Thu,

September 19, 2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The World of Thirds- how the placement of objects inthe frame affect the Emotional Tone of the narrative.

-SCREEN: Vittorio Storaro: Writing With Light

-ASSIGNMENT: Find a screenplay. Have ready to submit for approval by Class 4

Class 3:Tue,

September 24, 2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use indelivering the Director’s Vision.

Class 4:Thu,

September 26, 2013

Screenplays due at beginning of class

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use indelivering the Director’s Vision. (continued)

-ASSIGNMENT: Each student must bring in a still photo from 3 of your favorite films,each showing an effective use of a specific Visual Component. Be ready to present themon screen and discuss in Class 6 and 7.

Class 5:

Tue,October 1,2013

-SCREEN: “Visions of Light” and Discuss

-ASSIGNMENT: Using 7 Basic Visual Components, create a Powerpoint presentationthat addresses how each of the Components will be used to deliver the theme, toneyou’re your Director’s Vision of your film/screenplay

Class 6:Thu,

October 3,2013

Student Presentations- Visual Components

Class 7:Tue,

October 8,2013

Student Presentations- Visual Components (cont’d)

Class 8:

Thu,October 10,

2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Shot compositions- vocabulary, sizing, nose/head

room, eye line, height

-EXERCISE: Under Professor's supervison the class will design three different shotcompostions for an action scene with two actors that deliver different theme/tonal intentions

Class 9:Tue,

October 15,2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Shot compositions – The 180 Degree Rule and how itis applied, misused and when to regard/disregard.

-EXERCISE: Under Professor's supervison the class will design tWO different shotcompostions for an action scene- ONE CROSSING THE 180 AND ONE STAYING TRUETO 180-with two actors that deliver different theme/tonal intentions

Class 10:Thu,

October 17,

2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Shot compositions- Coverage

-EXERCISE: Under Professor's supervision, class will desgin and shoot effectivecoverage of a BLOCKED scene with three actors

Class 11:Tue,

October 22,2013

SCREEN: TBD Discussion to follow

Class 12:Thu,

October 24,2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Camera Movement- types of movement and what theyelicit from audience, camera motivation and point of view. Discuss these aspects inrelation to story beats.

-ASSIGNMENT: Students will bring in clips from 3 films, each showing a different andeffective use of camera movement. Be prepared to present clips on screen and discusswith class.

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Class 13:Tue,

October 29,2013

-ASSIGNMENT: Attend Film Festival

Class 14:Thu,

October 31,2013

-ASSIGNMENT: Attend Film Festival

Class 15:

Tue,November 5, 2013

-STUDENT PRESENTATIONS: Camera Movement

-ASSIGNMENT: Begin to assemble your final Student Presentations

Class 16:Thu,

November 7, 2013

-STUDENT PRESENTATIONS: Camera Movement

-ASSIGNMENT: Begin to assemble your final Student Presentations

Class 17:Tue,

November 12, 2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Transitions – how to design and plan for in-cameraand editing transitions to effectively delivery of story, theme, and tone of Director’s Vision.

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to assemble/prepare your final Student Presentations

Class 18:Thu,

November 14, 2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Aesthetics of Economy. The Chemistry of Shot Designand Mise-En-Scene.

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to prepare your final Student Presentations

Class 19:Tue,

November 19, 2013

- STUDENT PRESENTATION: Screenplay Vision- each student will have 10 minutes toshow their Director’s Vision of the screenplay they chose. The presentation must includeimages, and video clips as examples of how they plan to use the Visual Components,shot compositions and their aspects, lens choice, camera movement and transitions todeliver the story, theme and tone of their vision of the screenplay. After each presentationthere will be 5 minutes of Q&A from professor and class.

Class 20:Thu,

November 21, 2013

- STUDENT PRESENTATION (cont’d): Screenplay Vision- each student will have 10minutes to show their Director’s Vision of the screenplay they chose. The presentationmust include images, and video clips as examples of how they plan to use the VisualComponents, shot compositions and their aspects, lens choice, camera movement andtransitions to deliver the story, theme and tone of their vision of the screenplay. After 

each presentation there will be 5 minutes of Q&A from professor and class.

Grading Opportunities:

Your overall course grade will be computed according to the following breakdown:

Assignment Weight

Screenplay Choice 10%

Student Presentation: Visual Components 20%

Student Presentation Camera Movement 20%

Student Presentation: Final Presentation 50%

Grading Standards Range

Letter grade: A = excellent 90 —100 %

Letter grade: B = good 80 — 89 %

Letter grade: C = *  70 — 79 %

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Letter grade: D = *  60 — 69%

Letter grade: F = failing 0 — 59%

*Refer to the student handbooks and departmental standards for minimal acceptance for passing grade.

Course Information:

Field Trip(s):

SCAD FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL Productions

Extra Help Session(s):

Students with an average of "C" or less are required to attend extra help sessions.

Extended Learning Opportunities:

Other Course Information:

Midterm conferences are mandatory.

Course Materials:

Required Text(s):

Specific textbooks will not be required for purchase. The professor will make required materials available to students viathe course blog site.

Recommended Text(s):Visions Of Light

Vittorio Storaro: Writing With Light: Volume 1: the Light

The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media by Bruce Block Focal Press 2nd Edition ©2007 ISBN-10: 0240807790

Mike Figgis: Digital Filmmaking Faber & Faber; first American Edition © 2007 ISBN-10: 0571226256

Required Material(s):

access to computer/course’s blog site. Flash drive for Power Point projects, access to film library

University Policies:

Academic Integrity: Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff and other students.

In class assignments, students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Any workthat is not a product of the student's own efforts is considered dishonest. Students must not engage in academicdishonesty; doing so can have serious consequences.

 Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:1. Cheating, which includes, but is not limited to, (a) the giving or receiving of any unauthorized assistance in producingassignments or taking quizzes, tests or examinations; (b) dependence on the aid of sources including technology beyondthose authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments;(c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university facultyor staff; or (d) the use of unauthorized assistance in the preparation of works of art.

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2. Plagiarism, which includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. Plagiarism also includes the unacknowledgeduse of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.3. Submission of the same work in two or more classes without prior written approval of the professors of the classesinvolved.4. Submission of any work not actually produced by the student submitting the work without full and clear writtenacknowledgement of the actual author or creator of the work.

Attendance and Personal Conduct:Only students who are properly registered for a course may attend and participate in that class. Students are expected toattend and participate in all scheduled classes and examination periods. Absences in excess of four class periods per quarter, or 20 percent of the course, result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course. Tardiness, earlydeparture or other time away from class in excess of 15 minutes per class session is considered absence for the class session.

The student's appearance and conduct should be appropriate and should contribute to the academic and professionalatmosphere of SCAD. The university reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw the privilege of enrollment fromany student whose conduct is detrimental to the academic environment or to the well-being of other students, faculty or staff members, or to the university facilities.

Enrollment policies: Students are responsible for assuring proper enrollment. See the SCAD catalog for information on add/drop, withdrawals,incompletes, and academic standing.

Midterm Conference(s): Each student enrolled in the course will have a midterm conference scheduled outside of class time with the professor.Students are expected to keep this appointment.

Academic Support and Tutoring:  Academic support for students at all SCAD locations can be found in MySCAD, under the Student Workspace tab,Department Directory, Academic Resources.

Course Evaluations: SCAD offers students the opportunity to evaluate all scheduled courses during each quarter term. Student feedback isessential to continuously improve academic services at SCAD. Evaluations will be available the end of each quarter at thebeginning of Week 8 and must be completed online by the Monday following Week 10. A sample course evaluation for on-ground courses is availablehere.In order to access course evaluations, the student should take the following steps:

Log on to MySCAD1.Click on the Student Workspace Tab2.Locate the Course Evaluations link under My Courses channel3.This will bring up a page that says current surveys and lists all the courses that are currently available for evaluation.4.

For more information or questions, contact us at evaluations@scad.edu. 

Student Surveys:The SCAD Student Survey and the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory will both be administered in Week 6 of spring quarter . SCAD's office of institutional effectiveness is responsible for gathering and delivering survey results todecision-makers on campus. For more information or questions, contact us atsurveys@scad.edu.

Please refer to the college catalog or the student handbook for all college policies and procedures.