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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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)
Recommended Texts
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 |
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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
- Screenings include viewing and discussion of work.
- Each student will be expected to show at least four minutes per Assignment Screening Date.
- Screening Journal.