Film Production 2
Instructor - Ben Needham
Teacher of Record - Cody Swanson
Course Objective:
Story Telling. It's at the center of all we do. Humans are inherently story tellers and in the course we will focus on those story telling skills. Through a series of video essays, exploring themes and methods for film making we will work each week to create a short film to tell a story.
You will need access to a video recording device (your phone is fine) as well as basic editing software. Phone apps, online editors or desktop programs are all acceptable. A list of online resources will be posted here in the very near future. Projects will be loaded into your google drive folders at the link in the assignments.
Week of March 16
Assginment #1a - Every Frames a Painting (brushup)
A little bit of a review.... Take the play list of these videos that many have been showed in class and rewatch them. This is the foundation for much of what we will be working on this quarter. We will be discussing these on Friday in Zoom.
Watch List (mandatory)
Assginment #1B - Brushing off your filmmaker hats (literally)
For this weeks video assignment you will shoot a (super) short film about a hat. Any hat will do. I want 15-30 seconds total. It should have a minimal of 3 shots and be edited into one final clip. Tell a story, even though short make sure there is a beginning/middle/end to it. It can be a comedy, tragedy, love story ... etc.... If you have difficulties with the technology please reach out ASAP.
Rubric
20 points - 15-30 seconds/3 cuts/1 final clip
20 points - Effort and Execution
10 points - Story Telling
Late assignments will loose 10% of their total points each day it is submitted late (including weekends)
DUE ON MARCH 20th Prior to Class Time
Turn in at the google drive location below:
Week of March 23rd
Spring Break - No Assignments Due
Week of March 30th
Assginment #2 - Trash Art Documentary (document your misery)
This weeks film will be a short documentary of your Trash Art assignment. This should be approx 60 second showing the process. BTS footage, planning, the Artist addressing the camera about the process (aka Interview yourself). This should also tell a story, the story of the creation of your artwork. This can focus on the successes, failures and if you have any, frustrations.
Rubric
20 points - Effort & Exectuion
20 points - Editing
10 points - Story Telling
Late assignments will loose 10% of their total points each day it is submitted late (including weekends)
DUE ON April 3rd Prior to Class Time
Turn in at the google drive location below:
Week of April 6th
Assignment #3 - A Day in the Life
A Day in the life of (insert your name here). That's right... You need to film your day from beginning to end. This should focus on a single day. If your a person who wants their privacy and worries this will be too obtrusive then craft the project in a way that it's comfortable for you (example: Close up of a bowl of cereal instead of a wide shot of you in your kitchen pouring the cereal).
DO's
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Take footage you'll be comfortable sharing
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Shoot for 3-4 mins finished edit time
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Try to tell the story of your day clearly
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Make sure those you film are also comfortable with them
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Include music if you like
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Include dialogue if you like
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Shoot in ONE day
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Spend the time editing it!
DON'Ts
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Forget to make it family friends
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shoot over multiple days
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Rush editing this... the editing is what will make it or break it
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NOT put some audio under it... it can be narration/music or both
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Shoot people without their knowledge
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Wait till THURSDAY to start the project
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forget to tell the story
Sample Videos
Rubric
20 points - Effort & Exectuion
20 points - Editing
10 points - Story Telling
Late assignments will loose 10% of their total points each day it is submitted late (including weekends)
DUE ON April 10th Prior to Class Time
Turn in at the google drive location below:
Week of April 14th
Assignment #4 - Silent B&W Film
This week you'll create a film to tell a story using only the visuals. No Dialogue. No Sound Effects. No Color. Use a piece of music to underscore it that establishes the tone of the piece. Films should be the length of the song (suggest 2 1/2 - 5 mins long). The films will be graded based on story telling & technical skills. You do NOT need to go into public spaces to film this, be safe and make good choices.
See the sample video below:
20 points - Effort & Exectuion
20 points - Editing
10 points - Story Telling
Late assignments will loose 10% of their total points each day it is submitted late (including weekends)
DUE ON April 17th Prior to Class Time
Turn in at the google drive location below:
Week of April 20
Assginment #5 - Film Making Tricks
A little bit of a review.... Take the play list of these videos that many have been showed in class and rewatch them. This is the foundation for much of what we will be working on this quarter. We will be discussing these on Friday in Zoom.
Watch List
DO NOT THROW AN AXE AT EACH OTHER, DO NOT SPRAY EACH OTHER WITH POWER WASHERS and DO NOT!!! JUMP OFF ANY ROOFS!!!
A brief 30 second sfx shot (digital or practical) showing some kind of special effect. PLEASE BE SAFE! This does not have to be a complete story but should have a setup, fx, conclusion. Keep it simple and quick but make it good.
Rubric
20 points - 15-30 seconds
20 points - Effort and Execution
10 points - "wow" factor
Late assignments will loose 10% of their total points each day it is submitted late (including weekends)
DUE ON April 24th Prior to Class Time
Turn in at the google drive location below:
FINAL PROJECT
A film of your choosing... use what you've learned at your time at the Academy and showcase you talents. Suggested 4-6 mins in length... shorter/longer is fine if the film dictates that.
SENIORS (due to abbreviated schedule)
Rubric
50 points - Brainstorming Process
25 points - Final Footage
25 points - Film Making Process
This is the FINAL project and you can not turn it in late. May 10th at 8pm is the FINAL DEADLINE for this (and any makeup work)
Juniors
Rubric
50 points - Brainstorming Process
50 points - Rough Footage
25 points - Final Footage
25 points - Film Making Process
This is the FINAL project and you can not turn it in late. May 15th at 9am is the FINAL DEADLINE for this (and any makeup work)
SENIORS DUE DATE - May 10th 8pm
JUNIORS DUE DATE - May 15th 9am
NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED
Turn in at the google drive location below: