Extended Syllabus

(2013 1ST Semester)

Course Title

Visual Contents Planning/Production

Course Number Enrollment Eligibility Classroom

COM3240

Credit Class Time

3.0
Tue/Thurs 15:00-16:15

3~4 TBD

Name:Dr. D. Elizabeth Cohen

Instructor's Photo

Homepage N/A: Telephone:010 3286 2614

E-mail decohen@sogang.ac.kr Office: Matthew 305 Office Hours: Tue 1 - 3, W 4 6, TH 6 - 8

. Course Overview
1. Description

This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of the planning and preproduction process for visuals in nonfiction digital film and video projects. Students will learn to project manage a nonfiction digital media project from inception through the preproduction process. Topics will include documentary aesthetics and film language; research methods; developing a story tellers angle; ethical issues related to representing and speaking for others; proposing and gaining support for media projects; and preparing to direct the media project.
2. Prerequisites None

3. Course

Format (%) Discussio n 50%

Lecture 15%

Creative Process
20%

Presentations 15%

4. Evaluation (%)

Mid-term Exam

Final exam

Presentations/ Exercises
10%

Main Projects (see course descripttion) 60%

Participation/Class Discussion

7.5%

7.5%

15%

It is hoped and expected that students will come out of this course with: the ability to plan the visual aspects of a nonfiction digital media project, including skills for est ablishing a point of view and conducting applicable research and

Competence at gaining support for a media project from others through the ability to communica te ones vision through a variety of auxiliary materials including proposals, treatments, budgets, s tory boards, and shooting plans.

. Course Objectives . Course Format

(* In detail)

In this class we will learn about the fundamentals of the planning and preproduction process for visuals in nonfiction digital film and video projects. You will read and hear lectures about visual storytelling and visual contents design features, and you will watch visual storytelling elements in action. We will form a learning community where you can learn from and get support from other students in the class. You will do research on excellent examples of visual contents and directors work, reporting on and discussing findings in class and learning from the contributions of others. You will also learn about yourself as a creative moving image artist and begin to define your identity and find your voice. A main project done outside of class will be the main focus of the class. You will learn to create, develop and project manage a nonfiction digital media project from inception through the preproduction process, and you will share your experience during the development process with the class through regular lab sessions.

. Course Requirements and Grading Criteria Students are required to: attend class regularly and promptly engage in classroom activities and exercises including bringing samples to share do assigned readings outside of class participate fully in in-class discussions engage in the planning and preproduction process for a project of choice, developing the following deliverables: Project Proposal Project hypothesis Research Report Draft 1 of Final project including:

Treatment or Beatsheet Storyboards Draft 2 of Final project including: Treatment Storyboards PowerPoint presentation about your project and process complete two exams (midterm and final)

The assignment breakdown is as follows: Two Exams - 150 points total Each exam is worth 75 points and will cover the materials discussed in class and assigned readings. Exams will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions.

One Final Project 600 points total

Assignment: To develop a final project consisting of plans and documentation for an approved
digital video project of your choice.

This multi-part assignment consists of:

A project proposal describing your project and your planned approach. Your project must be approved by your professor (75 points).

A hypothesis upon which your project will be based. This also must be approved by your professor (75 points).

A report on your research for your project (75 points).

A first draft of your final project (100 points) including: o o A treatment or beatsheet Storyboards

A second draft of your final project revised to incorporate suggestions from the corrected first draft (200 points)

A PowerPoint presentation on your final project to present to the class

In-Class and assigned homework exercises 100 points

Class participation and discussion is very important and comprises a major component of your grade (150 points).

. Course Policies
Please hand in assignments both via email and in hard copy before or at the beginning of the class at which they are due. The first step of both major projects is a proposal which must be approved by me. After receiving approval, you cannot change your topic without getting permission, writing a new proposal and getting it approved. Please feel free to come visit me during office hours to ask any questions or discuss anything related to our class. You can make a prior appointment or just show up to Matthew 305 during scheduled office hours. Please respect the contributions of others in the class by refraining from side conversations. I am happy to answer any question at any time related to classroom content or procedure. I post PowerPoint slides after each class. They are required reading and specify assignments and readings as well as course content. Much of the exam content comes from these slides. Please feel free to ask if there are any words that you dont understand. Samples for presentation in class must either be in English or you must be prepared to translate. I cannot evaluate your work if I do not understand it. The main text for this class, Directing the Documentary, is a required purchase. You must own it and bring it to each class unless specifically told otherwise.

. Materials and References Required: Rabiger, Michael (2009). Directing the Documentary. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Optional: Tumminello, Wendy (2008). Exploring Storyboarding. Australia: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Handouts and articles as well as PPT materials posted on our classroom of the Sogang Cyber Campus.

. Course Schedule
(* Subject to change) Learning Objectives

Understand how the class will function and gain a basic understanding of visual contents planning and digital storytelling Course Introduction

Topics Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings)

Week 1

Lecture and discussion

Syllabus and materials distributed in class and at the printer (see PPT for specifics) Read Chapter 1, Rabiger, and bring in an example of your favorite directors work. See PPT for specifics Understand the directors role. Directors Role Lecture, presentations and discussion Materials distributed in class and at the printer (see PPT for specifics) Read Chapter 2, Rabiger. Do assigned exercises. To begin to define aspects of your artistic identity

Assignments

Learning Objectives Topics Week 2 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Learning Objectives

Topics Week 3 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Defining your artistic identity

Lecture, presentations and discussion Materials distributed in class and at the printer (see PPT for specifics) Read Chapter 3, Rabiger. Your project proposal will be due Thursday. Developing your story idea. To learn to develop your story idea.

Week 4

Learning Objectives

Topics

Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Lecture, presentations and discussion

Read Chapter 7, Rabiger Read Chapter 7, Rabiger

Learning Objectives

To learn the fundamentals of research for the nonfiction film

Topics Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Research

Week 5

Lecture, presentations and discussion Read Chapter 5, Rabiger Read Chapter 1 Storyboarding book Hypotheses due Thursday. Read Chapter 5, Rabiger Read Chapter 1 Storyboarding book To learn about Storyboarding and Documentary Language and Grammar Storyboarding/Documentary Language and Grammar

Learning Objectives

Topics Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Week 6

Lecture, presentations and discussion

Read Chapter 5, Rabiger (Cont.)

Read Chapter 5, Rabiger (Cont.)

Learning Objectives

To continue to learn about Documentary Language and Grammar

Topics Week 7 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Documentary Language and Grammar

Lecture, presentations and discussion

Study class PPTs for midterm exam. Bring in samples that exemplify Documentary Language and Grammar.

Learning Objectives

Topics Week 8 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Midterm Exam

Learning Objectives

To learn about Dramatic Development, Time and Story structure

Topics Week 9 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Dramatic Development, Time and Story Structure

Lecture, presentations and discussion

Read Chapter 18, Rabiger Research report due Thursday. Read Chapter 18, Rabiger To learn about Point of view and storyteller

Learning Objectives

Topics Week 10 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Point of view and storyteller

Lecture, presentations and discussion

See below.

Read Chapter 17, Rabiger

Learning Objectives Week 11

To learn about film Elements and grammar

Topics Class Work (Methods)

Elements and grammar

Lecture, presentations and discussion

Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Read Chapter 6, Rabiger

Draft 1 of Final project due on Thursday.

Learning Objectives

To learn about Advanced Research

Topics Week 12 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Advanced Research

Lecture, presentations and discussion

Read Chapter 21, Rabiger

See above To learn about Miscellaneous topics: Reenactment, Reconstruction and Docudrama/Ethics and Choices Miscellaneous topics: Reenactment, Docudrama/Ethics and Choices Lecture, presentations and discussion Reconstruction and

Learning Objectives

Topics Week 13 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Read Chapters 20 and 22, Rabiger

Learning Objectives

To learn to prepare to direct

Topics Week 14 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments Week 15

Preparing to direct

Lecture, presentations and discussion

See below.

Read Chapter 24, Rabiger

Learning Objectives

To deliver and learn from others project presentations

Topics Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Project presentations

Present and discuss

Study PPTs for Final exam Draft 2 of Final project due PPT of Final project due

Learning Objectives

Topics Week 16 Class Work (Methods) Materials (Required Readings) Assignments

Final Exam

. Special Accommodations I will attempt to accommodate all students with an interest in learning the topic who are willing to fulfill the requirements of attendance and assignments. Please let me know if you have special needs so we can determine which accommodations are needed.