4.351 | Spring 2004 | Undergraduate

Introduction to Video

Pages

There are seven assignments during the course of the semester, and each builds in some way on the skills learned in the previous assignments.  Assignment tapes should be from 3-5 minutes in length and have a title at the head and your name at the end.

Assignment #1: “Abstractions”

Shoot three to five minutes of video in your everyday environment. Concentrate on abstracting elements from their context so that they lose their normal representational value. By editing in the camera, make a sequence of shots describing your environment, or your progress through a series of spaces, without revealing the context.

Additional defamiliarizing techniques and strategies might be employed, such as using the special effects features of the camera such as slow shutter and nightshot. Caution must be used with the special effects, however. They can easily make your tape look cheesy.

Assignment #2: Edit “Abstractions”

Edit your “Abstractions” tape in Final Cut Pro®, so as to establish new rhythms, connections, and meanings. Employ the four primary Final Cut Pro® editing tools: Slip, Slide, Ripple, and Roll.

Assignment #3: Edit “Abstractions Altering the Audio

Use the Sony MiniDisc recorder and a microphone to capture audio, importing it into your “Abstractions” Final Cut Pro® project in such a way as to substantially alter the meaning or “feel” of the piece.

You can add voice-over with the recorder or with Final Cut Pro®’s built-in VoiceOver tool.

Assignment #4: Personal Documentary (Autobiography)

Make a video about some aspect of your life (or even an overall view if it can be done in five minutes).

Try to hew to the truth and use yourself in the piece.

Assignment #5: The Fictive Self (Autobiography)

This exercise is similar to Assignment #4, but in a fictional vein. Feel free to lie, dissimulate and dissemble.

Assignment #6: Group Exercise (In and outside of class): Lighting, Camera Placement and Continuity

A 4-page excerpt from Hal Hartley’s script “Amateur” will be used to stage and shoot a sequence involving three actors.

Part One

The class will be divided into groups of five. All will participate in lighting and staging the scene. One person will operate the camera and one person will record the audio.

Part Two

Each person will make an individual edit of the sequence.

Assignment #7: Final Project

Part One

Presentation of Story Ideas.

Part Two

Presentation of Influences.

Part Three

Presentation of Final Project Treatment, and Storyboards.

SES # TOPICS SCREENINGS KEY DATES
1 Introduction to the Course Various Excerpts.  
The Order Mathew Barney.
 
2

Technical Workshop: Demonstration of DV Cameras

In-class Exercise #1: “Camera Play”

Basic Film Terms.  
3

Introduction to Assignment #1: “Abstractions”

Technical Workshop: Introduction to Editing Lab and Final Cut Pro®

Early History of Video Art Pt 1

The Electronic Canvas - WGBH. 

Leger, Fernand. Ballet Mecanique.

 
4

Introduction to Assignments #2 and #3: Edit “Abstractions”

Early History of Video Art Pt 2: Aesthetics of the Video Signal

Nam June Paik and the Video Signal

Nam June Paik.

Peter Campus.

Richter, Hans. Rhythmus 21.

Eggling, Viking. Abstractions.

Gibbons, Joe. Analogue.

Assignment #1 due
5

Introduction to Assignment #4: Personal Documentary (Autobiography)

Technical Workshop: Camera Supports

Huyghe, Pierre. The Third Memory 2000.

Hill, Jerome. Film Portrait. 

Gibbons, Joe. Living in the World.

Assignments #2 and #3 due
6 Introduction to Assignment #4: Personal Documentary (Autobiography) (cont.)

Huyghe, Pierre. The Third Memory 2000.

Hill, Jerome. Film Portrait.

Gibbons, Joe. Living in the World.

Wilcha, Chris. The Target Shoots First.

Ideas for Assignment #4 due
7

Technical Workshop: Audio Recording

Introduction to Assignment #4: Personal Documentary (Autobiography) (cont.)

Technical Concepts, Resolution, Formats, Degradation, etc.

  Assignment #4 works-in-progress due
8 Assignment #4: “Personal Doc”   Assignment #4 due
9 Introduction to Assignment #5: Personae and the Fictive Self (Autobiography)

McBride, David. D. Holzman’s Diary.  

Morin, Robert. Yes Sir Madam.

Gibbons, Joe, and Tony Oursler. On Our Own.

 
10

Technical Workshop: Lighting

Introduction to Assignment #6: Group Exercise (In and Out of Class): Camera Placement and Continuity – “Hartley”

Hold Me While I’m Naked.  
11

Individual Presentations: Lighting

Begin Individual Edits of Assignment #6

Kuchar, George. I, an Actress.  
12 Class Exercise: Screening of Completed “Hartley” Edits   Individual edits of Assignment #6 Part One due
13   Assignment #5: “The Fictive Self” work-in-progress screening  
14 Production Time    
15 Assignment #5: “The Fictive Self”   Assignment #5 due
16 Individual Presentations: Cinematography Ephemeral Films, Prelinger Collection.  
17

Technical Workshop: Voice-over Narration

Individual Presentations: Sound

   
18 Individual Edits of Hartley Scene   Individual edits of Assignment #6 Part Two due
19 Introduction to Assignment #7: Stories (Alternative Narratives) Smith, Mike. Mike’s Nightmare.  
20 Individual Presentations    
21 Individual Meetings    
22 Individual Meetings (cont.)    
23 Technical Workshop: Final Cut Pro® Color Manipulation    
24 Presentation of Final Project Treatment, Storyboards and Influences Screening of Assignment #7 Work-in-Progress Material  
25

Technical Workshop: Creating DVD’s Using DVD Studio Pro 2.0

Individual Consultations

Work-in-Progress Screening  
26 Assignment #7: Stories (Alternative Narratives) Final Assignment Screening Assignment #7 due

There are two examples of student work from this class. Each is courtesy of the student named, and used with permission.

Midterm Project

M. Anastasia Rodriguez - Reflections (MP4 - 15MB)

Final Project

Maria Villalobos - Dancers (MP4 - 28MB)

Rabiger, Michael. Directing – Film Techniques and Aesthetics. Focal Press, 2003. ISBN: 0240805178.

Rush, Michael. New Media in Late 20th Century Art. Thames and Hudson, 2001. ISBN: 0500203296.

Rush, Michael. Video Art. Thames and Hudson, 2003. ISBN: 0500237980.

Zettl, Herbert. Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics. Wadsworth Pub. Co., 1998. ISBN: 0534526772.

SES # TOPICS READINGS
1 Introduction to the Course  
2

Technical Workshop: Demonstration of DV Cameras

In-class Exercise #1: “Camera Play”

 
3

Introduction to Assignment #1: “Abstractions”

Technical Workshop: Introduction to Editing Lab and Final Cut Pro

Early History of Video Art Pt 1

 
4

Introduction to Assignments #2 and #3: Edit “Abstractions”

Early History of Video Art Pt 2: Aesthetics of the Video Signal

Nam June Paik and the Video Signal

 
5

Introduction to Assignment #4: Personal Documentary (Autobiography)

Technical Workshop: Camera Supports

 
6 Introduction to Assignment #4: Personal Documentary (Autobiography) (cont.) Rush, Michael. Introduction in New Media in Late 20th Century Art. Thames and Hudson, 2001. ISBN: 0500203296.
7

Technical Workshop: Audio Recording

Introduction to Assignment #4: Personal Documentary (Autobiography) (cont.)

Technical Concepts, Resolution, Formats, Degradation, etc.

Rush, Michael. Introduction in New Media in Late 20th Century Art. Thames and Hudson, 2001. ISBN: 0500203296.

Russell, Catherine. “Autoethnography from Journeys of the Self.” Chapter 10 in Experimental Ethnography. Duke University Press, 1999.  ISBN: 0822323192.

Wilt, Adam. “Uncompressed? Lossless?”  DV.com Technical Difficulties Archive (accessed September 14, 2004).

8 Assignment #4: “Personal Doc”  
9 Introduction to Assignment #5: Personae and the Fictive Self (Autobiography)  
10

Technical Workshop: Lighting

Introduction to Assignment #6: Group Exercise (In and Out of Class): Camera Placement and Continuity – “Hartley”

George Kuchar. “Tips on Directing.” Wide Angle , vol 13, no. 3–4 (July–October 1992): 13.
11

Individual Presentations: Lighting

Begin Individual Edits of Assignment #6

 
12 Class Exercise: Screening of Completed “Hartley” Edits  
14 Production Time  
15 Assignment #5: “The Fictive Self”  
16 Individual Presentations: Cinematography  
17

Technical Workshop: Voice-over Narration

Individual Presentations: Sound

 
18 Individual Edits of Hartley Scene  
19 Introduction to Assignment #7: Stories (Alternative Narratives)  
20 Individual Presentations  
21 Individual Meetings  
22 Individual Meetings (cont.)  
23 Technical Workshop: Final Cut Pro Color Manipulation  
24 Presentation of Final Project Treatment, Storyboards and Influences  
25

Technical Workshop: Creating DVD’s using DVD Studio Pro 2.0

Individual Consultations

 
26 Assignment #7: Stories (Alternative Narratives)  

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 3 hours / session

Course Description

4.351 is an introduction to video recording and editing, presenting video as a tool of personal apprehension and expression, with an emphasis on self-exploration, performance, social critique, and the organization of raw experience into aesthetic form (narrative, abstract, documentary, essay).

Students will learn to use digital video cameras and Final Cut Pro® editing software as their chief means for creating video works. Students will also be presented with basic workshops in concept development, lighting and sound recording.

Each student will be required to make an audio-visual presentation on a particular topic.

Lab fee: $30

Grading

Grade will be lost for late work.

ACTIVITIES PERCENTAGES
Film Project from conception to completion (including concept development and presentation, research, execution, and personal investment in and commitment to your work) 75%
Attendance, class participation, reading and other assignments 25%

Completion of all projects exercises and assignments is required for a passing grade.

Extra credit can be earned towards participatory attendance grade by attendance of screenings (accompanied by brief oral report). List will be updated throughout the semester (see calendar).

Attendance

For each absence after two absences, the final cumulative grade will automatically be lowered by 1/2 grade per absence. In addition, every 2 late arrivals will count as an absence. A lateness is defined as arriving more than five minutes after class starts. Leaving during class and/or leaving class early will also be considered a lateness.

Active participation during class is expected.

Use of laptops or cell phones etc. during class is not permitted.

Assignment Screenings

  1.  Screenings include viewing and discussion of work.
  2.  Each student will be expected to show at least four minutes per Assignment Screening Date.
  3.  Screening Journal.

Course Info

Instructor
Departments
As Taught In
Spring 2004
Learning Resource Types
Projects with Examples
Media Assignments