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Course description:
In this course, we will explore the theory
and practice of video within the context
of art and culture including such topics
as video art's relationship to television
and other mainstream media.
This advanced video class is designed
for students who can work independently,
scheduling time outside of class to make
work, present work in progress in class,
and complete research. Class time will be
spent screening work, discussing readings,
participating in workshops and developing
your technical skills.
We will concentrate this semester on:
+
idea
and structure development-starting with
a simple premise and developing it conceptually
and technically over a period of weeks
+
audio design-how to create a sound track
which gives the work psychological and aesthetic
impact using Digidesign Protools
+
continue
to learn beginning and advanced functions
of Final Cut Pro editing software and, time
permitting, Media 100
+
learn
about compositing software, such as AfterEffects,
and streaming video on the web (also time
permitting
+
Learning
the operation of advanced digital cameras
+
research
historical and contemporary video art
+
I
will also present information about funding,
showing your work, access, jobs, internships
and other professional concerns.
Required Texts:
Editing Techniques with Final Cut Pro 4, 2nd Edition,
Michael Wohl, CSUSM Bookstore
In The Blink of An Eye, Walter Murch, CSUSM Bookstore
Journal/Notebook
Each student is responsible for keeping a notebook/journal
in which all handouts, notes, sketches, story boards, ideas, etc. will be compiled.
I will periodically ask to see the notebook, especially during individual meetings
and critiques in order to better understand your ideas and to make reference
to technical information.
Grading:
Your grade will be based
on attendance, completing all assigned work
and readings, participation, the completion
of two finished projects plus one short
"start-up" project, the use of
your notebook/journal, learning new technical
skills, and a short paper/presentation.
A successful class relies on motivated students
involved with self-teaching, peer mentoring,
contributing to the overall quality of the
class, and helping maintain the equipment.
Your grade for your projects is based on
both content and form.
30% Project 1 (including showing work in
progress and turning in timelines, etc)
30% Project 2 (including showing work in
progress and turning in timelines, etc)
10% first "start-up" project
15% Research Presentation
15% Participation, (in the form of discussing readings, completing quizzes, attendance, etc)
Attendance
Please attend each class. I expect you to stay for the entire duration
of the class unless otherwise specified. Leaving before the end of the class or
not taking advantage of lab time when scheduled will constitute a missed class.
Attendance is taken with a sign-in
sheet at the beginning of each class. After the class has started, you may not
sign in. Four missed classes constitutes a failing grade.
Materials and Checkout
You will be responsible
for supplying your own videotapes. Tapes range
in kind and price, but you will mostly need
2-3 Mini
DV, 2 vhs or svhs, and possibly DV CAM or
BetacamSP. Only use new tapes. Used tapes
can seriously damage the equipment. Tapes
can be bought from San Diego Audio Video (call
for prices: 858-541-0500). MiniDV tapes can
be bought locally, such as at Good Guys. I
recommend to start with: 2 60:00 MiniDV tapes.
Our checkout policies are on a separate sheet.
You must abide by these policies, otherwise
your checkout privileges will be revoked:
You
are responsible for all equipment you check
out. DO NOT EVER
LEAVE IT IN YOUR CAR UNATTENDED.
Do not force parts. Handle with care.
Do not leave in dusty, hot, or freezing places.
Keep dirt away. All of the equipment is expensive
and fragile. Please be very careful handling
it. Sand, dirt, dust are the worst. You will
be responsible to repair or replace damaged
or broken equipment.
Production of Two Videos
You will be expected to
complete and present two major video projects
during the semester, one due at midterm and
one at the end of the semester. Both should
have
well-developed ideas, and be well-executed
in an appropriate manner to the idea. Presenting
work in progress will be essential to earning
a good grade. (see Video Assignments and Project Proposal
below)
Video Assignments
You will be expected to
complete two video pieces during the semester,
each taking approximately
six weeks to complete. For students
in the second semester of this class or with
prior experience, plan to create works which
are between 8 -12 minutes. For students with
no prior experience, plan to create works
between 3-5 minutes. You may, of course, do
as many as you like, especially as you are
learning new technologies and techniques.
However, two pieces should meet the following
criteria:
+ At least one of these
pieces should be made for screening. The
other may be a quicktime quality work made
for the web or multi-media. Although I will
not be directly teaching digital video for
the web or multi-media, I will be glad to
consult with you on your overall project.
One may also be for an installation or performance.
+ Both tapes should have well-developed
ideas and be well-executed, with subject
matter significant to a broad cultural community.
You can develop ideas about things you've read, experienced,
about philosophy, history, etc. All finished
work should have color bars (:30), black
(:10), titles and credits, followed by black.
Please dub a copy on a class compilation
reel for credit.
+
Collaborations in which
all members of the team are contributing
vital and unique components are encouraged,
especially if they draw from other disciplines
(music, theater, film studies). Please speak
to me if you are thinking of working collaboratively
with anyone inside or outside the class.
Project
Proposal
When working creatively, one idea you start
with is often transformed into another during
the process of making work. However, it
is a good practice to write a project proposal
before you start. You must submit a typed
project proposal and timeline for
each video project. It may be revised over
time. A project proposal should include:
+ a project summary,
2-3 sentences (what the work is about) (i.e. "I plan to create a 10:00
video which is about my grandmother's immigration to the U.S. In it I plan to
use interviews, re-enacted footage, still photographs from archives, as well
as experimental footage which is intended to convey the fears and hopes of immigrants.")
+
a
project description, 1-2 pages: a more in
depth description of the content, how you
will execute the work, what type of work
it is, what does it look and sound like;
what media you will use, how your plan to
edit it, what is your audience, where you
will show it (if it is an installation,
for instance), what kind of research it
involves, if you need actors, how you will
find them, the methods you might use in
working with them.
+ story
boards, sketches, shot lists, audio ideas, writing which would help to explain
your project further
+
what
materials and equipment, including tapes,
you think you might need
+
a
timeline: this is an outline week to week
of what you plan to do in order to produce
the work in a six week period. (Writing,
research, shooting, editing, mastering)
Research
and Presentation:
Everyone in the class
will give a short (10:00) presentation on video art or film. For those of you
who are new to the class, during the semester, you will give a short class presentation
on any video you select from the collection in Media Services called "Surveying
the First Decade". For those of you have already explored “Surveying…”
during the another semester, you should look at contemporary video art, film
art or digital art which can be researched from a wide range of sources both
on and off line. I have put some tapes on reserve for you to look at, but there
may be more. Also, feel free to ask me what I have in my own collection. In
conjunction with this presentation, everyone will turn in a five page paper
which discusses the piece in relationship to the issues surrounding the origins
of video art, media theory, performance art, feminism, technological advances,
etc. Cite at least three essays you have read in the body of your paper. (see
handout with
information on these video tapes.)
End
of Year public screening/Video Show
At the end of the semester you will
present your work during the End of Year
Video show. After you have completed your
final project you will add your video to
a class reel which will then be used for
the screening. This is an annual event and
has been well attended in the past. It is
an excellent opportunity to get your work
out in the public and get feedback. In addition
to your work being shown there will be work
by students working in sound and dance.
I will give a more detailed explanation
of the show as the semester progresses.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Week 1
Jan. 19
> Introduction
to the class
> Screening
of selected video works
> Assignment:
Short "warm
up" video assignment,
due Feb. 4. (see handout). Work together
as teams--work with someone who has prior
experience shooting and editing.
> buy
the 2 textbooks
> start
developing first video project, buy sketchbook or notebook
> Examples
of project proposals--discussion
of these
> Intro
to MiniDV cameras, tripods and mics
Week
2
Jan 26
> Intro
and review of Final Cut Pro Set ups (setting up projects, drives, files, etc.); overview of logging
and capturing
>
Brief overview
and Demo of Protools, how to interface this with FCP
> Discuss
possible ideas for first project proposal
> Assignment:
Meet together in small groups or individually
outside class to do the Final Cut Pro
Tutorial. (tutorial due Feb. 11)
> Reading
Assignment due: Chapt. 1: The Editor's
Job & Chapt. 2:Film Language
Week
3
February 2
> Due
today: first "warm up" assignment--please have a
copy READY to be screened on MiniDV or VHS
> Reading
due: "In the Blink of an Eye"
> Screening
in class: "Man with a Movie Camera", Dziga Vertov. Additional information
on Soviet Montage
> Assignment:
Meet together in small groups outside of class or individually to do the Final
Cut Pro Tutorial if you haven't already done so. Have ready for next week.
Albert and I will give a hands on quiz about basic FCP operations.
Week
4
February 9
> First
project proposal due; briefly present your proposal to the class; use story
boards, shot lists, handouts to make your idea clear and compelling
>
Turn
in typed proposal to me along with story board, shot list, etc.
* Camera
and external
mic demos, Screening of Video on lighting.
>
Next
week: FCP hands on quiz
based on what you learned in tutorial and through reading Editing Techniques;
includes setting up a project and basic editing
> Reading
Assignment due: Chapt. 3: Editing Patterns and "In the Blink of an
Eye"
Week
5
February 16
>
Video screenings (works
by video performance artists):- Montano, Acconci, Burden, Angelo; "Tom's
Flesh", and others
>
FCP
hands on quiz based on what you learned in tutorial and through reading
Editing Techniques; includes setting up a project and basic editing
> Time
to work in class on project--setting up FCP files, logging and capturing
> Reading
Due: Chapt 4: Preparing to Edit & Chapt 5: Basic Editing, Final Cut Pro.
and "In
the Blink of an Eye"
Week
6
February 23
> First
work in progress due: bring in video you have shot or edited, cued up to
a five minute section which you feel represents your work and ideas. Or present
footage from your bins. Be prepared to present your ideas and images,
and ask for feedback.
> Screenings
(approaches to personal narratives): Sadie
Benning, Selected Works; Bill Viola, "The
Passing"; Elizabeth Subrin, "Swallow";
Matheson, "Apple in A Wind Tunnel"
>
In
class work time
Week
7
March 2
> Video
#1 Due for Screening : copy your finished video onto your
own master (DV) and on to the class compilation reel.
Your master copy must have 30 seconds bars, 10 seconds black, title, program,
credits, and 30 seconds black at end
Week
8
March 9
FCP Advanced Editing and Effects
> Presentation
of installation art by Bill Viola and other artists Screening (video effects and
documentary): "Zapatista", a Big Noise Film
> Demo:
Final Cut Pro advanced editing; using key effects and compositing
> Demonstration
of AfterEffects, software for compositing video
> Reading
Assignment due: Editing, Chapt. 6: Advanced Editing, & Chapt. 8: Special
Effects, Final Cut Pro and "In
the Blink of an Eye"
Week 9
March
16
AUDIO
and SOUND DESIGN
>
Second
project proposal due; present to class;
turn in typed copy to me
> Introduction
to audio art and sound design: Wojnarowicz, Hutchinson,
Fluxus and Dada work
> Screening:
videos by Dan Reeves, "Mosiac for the
Kali Yuga" and Gary Hill, "Incidence
of Catastrophe" and other video artists
using audio as a structural force in their
work
> Audio
workshop-listening, recording, demo of microphones,
mixer, field recording equipment
> In
class workshop, foleying an animation: using an animation I
will provide, we will "foley" sound
effects to the animation using sounds you
record and edit. Finished animations due next
week.. Use Final Cut Pro audio editing and
effects.
> Reading
Assignment due: Chapt.7: Cutting the Track,
Final Cut Pro
Week
10
March 23
>
Overview
of Digidesign Protools editing and mixing, and using A/V sync
(in Sound Editing Room)
Week
11
March 29 - April 5
Spring
Break
Week
12
April 6
> Work
in progress for Project # 2; have a five-minute clip prepared
to show to class for discussion and feedback
> Required Reading: Chapt 9: The Digital
Future, Final Cut Pro
Week
13
April 13
> Research
Presentations tonight! Present the video/film clip to the
class along with a synopsis of your research.
Research papers due today to be handed in.
For details of this assignment, please see
supplementary materials I handed out first
day of class.
Week
14
April
20
> Research
Presentations tonight! Present the video/film clip to the
class along with a synopsis of your research.
Research papers due today to be handed in.
For details of this assignment, please see
supplementary materials I handed out first
day of class.
Week
15
April 27
> Project
#2 due for screening today. Please have complete on class reel, as well as
your own copy.
>
Discuss
end of year show.
Week
16
May 4
> END
OF YEAR VIDEO SHOW!
7pm - 9 pm. Everyone invited.
Bring food, drinks. Arrive at 6pm to set up
and organize the space. Arts 111 or Arts 240.
Week
17
May 11
> Final
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