Category A: Beginning Production

Fundamentals of Sight and Sound: Studio

The course provides an in-depth exploration of the creative capabilities (technical, logistical, aesthetic) of producing narrative based studio production work in a multiple camera television studio environment.  Students will be trained in working with actors and learning how to connect script and performance to the production of five short studio based projects (each of increasing complexity). Students will have the opportunity to develop a single idea into a full-scale production that will be produced “live” in the studio at the end of the semester. The fundamental skills learned in this class will serve as a foundation for all narrative, experimental and documentary based production work and will be applicable in all intermediate and advanced level production classes. Students will receive training in portable field equipment (for recording supplemental B roll footage) and working with the Avid (the final studio project can be edited for final class screening).

Course dates and times to be announced.  

Category B: Writing

Writing for the Screen

Participants will examine the principles and processes of writing for the screen.  Topics include finding and developing story ideas, film language and script structure.  By the end of the course, students will have participated in in-depth film analysis and intensive screenwriting exercises and discussions.  At the end of the course, students are expected to complete a film treatment (prose description of your film) with a step outline for a feature film or T.V. episode you plan to write.  In addition, you must hand in the first scene (3-5 pages) of your script with dialogue.

Course dates and times to be announced.

Category C: Craft/Production

(Category A and B courses are prerequisites for the category C courses)

Fundamentals of Sight and Sound: Documentary

The course teaches students to look at their world and to develop the ability to create compelling and dramatic stories in which real people are the characters and real life is the plot. Through close study and analysis of feature length and short documentaries, and hands-on directing, shooting, sound-recording, editing and re-editing, students will rigorously explore the possibilities and the power of non-fiction story telling for film and video. The course is a dynamic combination of individual and group production work, in which each student will be expected to complete five projects.

Course dates and times to be announced.