Arkansas State University

College of Communications

Department of Radio-Television

RTV 3503 001 Film Cinematography, Lighting, and Editing

CRN: 13627

Spring 2011

Mondays, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

ASU Studio/Computer Lab

Gary W. Jones,

Office: Radio Office 141

Office Hours: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays

24/7 by APPT.

Tel. 501.766.9493

Send e-mails to gary@jonesfilmvideo.com

Website: http://asctp.org/RTV3503.htm

I. Course Description: Prerequisite course for students interested in producing feature-length, narrative motion pictures. Explores cinematography, lighting, editing, and storytelling techniques as elated to the development of narrative features.

II. Cognitive Objectives to be mastered:

Upon the conclusion of this course, the student should:

* Be familiar with basic lighting principles.

* Be familiar with basic cinematography principles.

* Be familiar with basic editing principles.

* Develop an ability to effectively describe (using the proper terms) and interpret the strengths and weakness of theatrical feature films.

* Develop a deeper, richer appreciation for the power and challenges of using moving images to tell fictional stories.

Performance Standards to be met:

· Contribute to class and social media discussions of classic and current motion pictures.

· Read Cinematic Storytelling for midterm and final exams

· Help create a minimum of three short narrative (fictional) films—each at least :60 in length.

III. Text: Van Sijll, Jennifer. Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know, Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2005.

Note: This book is readily available at reasonable used prices from such booksellers as Amazon.com and Abebooks.com

Also recommended:

(for basic writing on term papers and take-home essay questions)

The Chicago Manual of Style, 16^th Edition, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010.

Strunk, William, and E. B. White. The Elements of Style, New York: The Penguin Press, 2005.

(for additional references on filmmaking)

Brady, John. The Craft of the Screenwriter: Interviews with Six Celebrated Screenwriters, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1981.

Cook, David A. A History of Narrative Film, Third Edition. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996.

Corey, Melinda and George Ochoa, eds. The American Film Institute Desk Reference, New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2002.

Gomery, Douglas. Movie History: A Survey, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1991.

Mamet, David. Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama, Columbia University Press, 1998.

Rosenbaum, Jonathan. Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004.

Schneider, Steven Jay, ed. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, Hauppauge, New York: Barron’s, 2008.

IV. Course Requirements

Tests: There will be midterm and final exams. Both will “take-home” exams requiring essay answers to questions posed by Cinematic Storytelling.

Video Submissions: Each production team will produce at least three one-minute short (minimum :60) fictional narrative films.

V. Attendance:

Classes will be held in the ASU studio and at other places around campus during shooting exercises. In addition to class participation, social media participation—including theatrical movie reviews and comments upon class production work—is required.

VI Makeup for Student Athletes:

Student athletes will have one-week from the date of their return to class, from a university related activity, to make up any work missed. Work not made up during this week period will receive a zero ("0"). It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor regarding the completion of make up work, within the specified period.

VII Grading:

Grades are earned—not “given”. Your final grade will depend strictly on how much work you put into your class participation, test scores, and written critiques. To earn an "A" grade, you must consistently produce excellent work on at least three collaborative short films, make scores of 90 or above on both midterm and final exams, and participate in class and on social media. For a "B" you must consistently produce good work on at least three collaborative short films, make scores of 80 or above on both midterm and final exams, and participate in class and on social media. A "C" will be earned for satisfactory work on at least three collaborative short films, make scores of 70 or above on both midterm and final exams, and participate in class and on social media. It is difficult to comtemplate any student in an elective class receive a "D" for poor but passing performance and an "F" for failure. However, the instructor does count off for misspelled words and improper grammar on the exam essay questions

Your final grade will be calculated using the following percentage points: Midterm Exam = 10%; Final Exam = 10%; Class Participation: 30%; Short films: 50% (TOTAL = 100%).

The grading scale is as follows: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70 - 79=C; 60 - 69=D; BELOW 60=F. (Instructor’s reflection: in the “olden days”, 95-100=A.)

VIII Cell Phone/Pager Policy:

Cell phones, pagers and other personal communication devices that beep must be turned off before class commences. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please advise anyone who may have the need to reach you by cell phone or pager to do so after class. It is your responsibility to make your class schedule available to all prospective callers.

IX Disability Support Services:

It is the policy of Arkansas State University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law, and the University's commitment to equal educational opportunities.  Any student with a disability who needs accommodation, for example, in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course.  The chair of the department offering this course is also available to assist with accommodations.  Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Support Services.

XII. Tentative Class Activity Schedule

Wk/Class # Day/Date		Activity	Assignments/ classroom viewings
1/1 2/--	Mon, Jan 10	Course Orientation and Syllabus; Equipment Demonstrations; Production Teams Selected	Instructor Introduction and Demos
	Mon, Jan 17	MLK Day—No Class
3/2 4/3	Mon, Jan 23	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	80-100; Lighting
	Mon, Jan 30	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 52-57; Cinematography
5/4 6/5	Mon, Feb 7	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 58-66; Cinematography
	Mon, Feb 14	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 67-79; Cinematography
7/6 8/7	Mon, Feb 21	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 1-16; Cinematography
	Mon, Feb 28	Midterm Exam	Take Home Essay Quiz
9/8 10/9	Mon, Mar 7	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 17-25; Editing
	Mon, Mar 14	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 26-34; Editing
11/-- 12/10	Mon, Mar 21	Spring Break--No Class
	Mon, Mar 28	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 35-38; Editing
13/11 14/12	Mon, Apr 4	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 39-41; Editing
	Mon, Apr 11	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Chapters 42-51; Editing
15/13 16/14	Mon, Apr 18	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Complete Student Films
	Mon, Apr 25	Workshop/Discussion/Demonstration	Complete Student Films
17/15	Mon, May 2	Final Exam	Take Home Essay Quiz

Note: The Final Exam for this class is scheduled for Monday, May 2, 2011, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Grades due by 12:00 noon Friday, May 6th.