VSAR 303
Introduction to Video Arts
CSUSM
Fall 2008
Instructor: Tony Allard
Time:
Monday 1 - 4:50 PM
Location: Arts 340
Office
Hours: Monday 12 - 1 PM, Arts
340
Telephone:
(contact Linda Smith at X-4137)
Email:antalla@cox.net
TA:
Damon Adamo adamo004@csusm.edu
VPA
Admin. Asst.: Linda Smith,
760-750-4137, lsmith@csusm.edu
Technician:
Chad Huggins; cehuggin@csusm.edu
Technician:
Albert Rascon rasco001@csusm.edu
Course
description:
This
is a beginning level video
production course in which you
will learn to make videos
within the context of making
video art.
This semester will be divided
between production, post production,
screenings,
readings and discussion. A series
of technical and conceptual
exercises and assignments will
provide the matrix for your
course work, equally emphasizing
technique and content. You
will also become familiar with
historical and contemporary
work by video artists.
You
will
learn
how
to
operate
digital
video
cameras,
various
forms
of
digital
editing
equipment,
lighting,
and
basic
audio
recording
and
mixing.
Primary
applications
you
will
use
are
Final
Cut
Pro
6
and
DVD
Studio
Pro.
Course
goals:
To
gain a basic understanding of
video production and post-production
To
gain exposure to video art
To
produce videos emphasizing form
and content equally
To
become conversant in the language
of video art
Production
assignments
Assignments
include in-class group projects
as well as individual production
assignments. I encourage you to
work on individual projects so
that you can learn the technology
better and develop your own ideas.
However, if you want to work with
someone, please be specific as
to each person's responsibility
in the project.
Assignment
#1: In camera edit, group project
Assignment
#2: Interview
Project
(you
can
work
in
pairs
or
threes)
Assignment
#3: Text and Image
Required
Texts
VSAR
303, Reader.
This reader can be purchased at
CopyServe, 754 S. Rancho Santa
Fe Rd., San Marcos. 760-599-9923.
CopyServe is on the corner of
Rancho Santa Fe and San Marcos
Blvd. If you are traveling west
on San Marcos Blvd., cross Rancho
Santa Fe, take your first right
into the mall, and then an immediate
left. Purchase your reader immediately,
as when they run out it may take
a day to have them bind a new
one. They do not take phone orders.
Final
Cut Pro 6, Diane
Weynand, Apple Pro Training Series.
Available at the CSUSM Bookstore,
and of course, online through
Amazon, etc.
You will be using this book every
class period tocomplete
tutorials.
Online
at CSUSM LIbrary--can
be
used only from a CSUSM
computer
terminal and does NOT
include the media for
the tutorials
Readings
There
are assigned readings pertinent
to understanding history, theory
and practice of video art. We
will discuss the readings in
class and screen relevant work.
There are also technical reading
assignments followed by quizzes.
The quizzes are based on the
reading and on demos.
Homework
Video
production and post production
is
labor
intensive.
This class requires homework
outside of class time in production,
reading and preparation for
discussions. Lab time will
primarily be dedicated to
completing
the Final Cut Pro 6 Tutorials,
with some class time for working
on your projects. However,
you will need to dedicate
time outside of class to complete
production assignments. A
good
rule of thumb is that for
each
minute of completed video,
it takes about four hours
of editing. The video lab is
open 24/7 by calling security
at x4567 (you will be on an
access list).
Research
Assignment
Everyone
will complete a research/writing
assignment and presentation
based
on "Surveying
the First Decade",
a multi-part history of video
art in the U.S. Research paper
should be approximately 5 pages
and will be handed in to me
via email (no hard copy required)
on the day you present.
Your presentation should be
no more than 10 minutes long.
Assignment: "Surveying
the First Decade",
videotapes and workbook;
available
at the Media Library,
2nd Floor
of Kellogg Library.
Choose
one video (not an entire
tape) from this collection
you would like to research
and present a clip to
the class. Write a five-page
paper exploring this
video in its historical,
theoretical, aesthetic,
or technical context
using at least three
sources for your
research. Include bibliography.
You must use at least
five citations total
from VSAR 303 Reader,
books on video/film
in the library, and online
references at the Experimental
Television Center, Video
History Project, http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/history/index.html
You
cannot use all online resources.
Plagiarism
Information
on what constitutes plagiarism
can be found at:http://www.csusm.edu/student_affairs/Policies/academic_honesty.htm
and
the consequences at www.csusm.edu/student_affairs/DOS/Academic_HonestyNov2006%20(3).doc
Grading
Your
grade is based on total participation
in the class including completing
and discussing readings, attending
required events, finishing assignments,
working with groups, and helping
to care for the equipment and
lab. Each assignment will be
given a letter grade. For production
assignments, I will grade equally
on form, content and creativity.
60
% production assignments (form/technical;
content; creativity)
20%
reading/research/quizzes
20
% attendance and participation
Attendance
Attendance
is taken at the beginning
of
class. Four missed
classes constitutes a failing
grade. Leaving
class
early
without
permission
or
not
attending
lab
constitutes
half
a
missed
class.
If
you know in advance that
you will be missing class,
please let me know either
by email or in class.
Checkout
of Production Equipment
: Checkout
Policies
Please
read and review checkout policy.
Checkout hours are posted in
checkout, Arts 239. A complete
list of checkout items is available
at Checkout. You are responsible
for any damage or loss of equipment. Do
not keep equipment in your car. Do
not keep it in hot or dusty
areas. Always check your equipment
when checking it out to make
sure it works and has all of
the parts you are signing for.
You are responsible for everything
you sign for. If a piece of
equipment is damaged, tell
us immediately so we can fix
it. DO NOT RETURN EQUIPMENT
WHICH SEEMS TO BE IN DISREPAIR.
PLEASE INFORM CHECKOUT UPON
RETURN. I am providing trouble
reports for you to fill out
if you encounter problems with
checkout equipment--give these
to checkout when you return
equipment if there is a problem.
Trouble reports for problems
with editing workstations must
be filled out and left at the
workstation.
Remember,
if you do not report broken
equipment or problems at the
workstations, it will come back
to bite you or your classmate.
Supplies
to purchase
3
x 60 minutes MiniDV tapes minimum
DVD-R,
several
Highly
recommended: Headphones (about
$20 dollars)-headphones should
be of the enclosed kind.
Most
of these supplies can be purchased
at Frys, Circuit City, and San
Diego Audio Video.
Arts
Events:
The
VPA Department and Communication
offer many arts and film events
which have been carefully programmed
to benefit students. Although
not all of these events are
during this class time, I encourage
you to go as many as possible. You
are required to attend one
of the events which are listed
on this schedule. A one page
response is due after you
participate in the event.
The
Arts and Lectures website is: http://al.csusm.edu/A&L/index.php
The
VPA department events: http://www.csusm.edu/vpa/events.html
Visiting
Mediamaker's Series
VPA
listserv :
if you are a student in the
VPA department, you are automatically
on the listserv. I send out
frequent calls for interns,
production job announcements,
film screenings, and competitions.
This is sent to your college
email. If you are not a vpa
student, I will send info
to you through your college
email if you would like.