DTC 208 | Fall 2024
Class Time: F 2:10pm-5:00pm
Location: VMMC 111
Instructor: Will Luers
Phone: 503-975-3254
Email: wluers@wsu.edu
Office Hours: MW 3:00pm – 4:00pm and arranged on Zoom
NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to students.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
In DTC 208 / DIGITAL CINEMA, students will explore the techniques and aesthetic strategies of video in the age of digital media. Through a variety of short assignments and one final project, students will build basic skills in screenwriting, storyboarding, camera and sound work and editing. Students will be exposed to a range of cinema styles and approaches – continuity and montage editing, documentary work, lighting, interviews and cinematic storytelling – and will ultimately choose the approach that fits best with their creative goals.
This course will approach video production less as a set of specialized technical skills using high-end equipment, and more as a set of composition practices using commonly used tools. Students are encouraged to use their own (or borrowed) digital cameras, phones or hybrid devices that they can carry with them everywhere. There will also be a range of semi-professional video and audio equipment available for check-out from the equipment room.
LEARNING GOALS
| Required Course Activities |
Student Learning Outcomes and Activities |
University Learning Objectives |
CMDC Goals & Objectives |
| 1. Short Assignments | SLO1: Critical and Creative Thinking Understand the principles of framing, continuity, time frames, montage, spatial montage, practical videotaping needs like a job profile, hybrid space, hypervideo, database cinemaSLO4: Communication Learn to make effective presentation of your work in varying scenarios from formal to personal critiques of work |
Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.
Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form. |
Goal 3: Employ the principles of visual form for sophisticated image manipulation |
| 2. Blogging | SLO1: Critical and Creative Thinking Gain a better understanding about how to engage in self-reflection about your own work through blogging about your process, methods, and ideasSLO4: Communication Become more adept about writing about your work by blogging about your insights and influences. |
Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.
Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form. |
Goal 7: Recognize various forms of language processing and their implications for media authoringGoal 10: Be practiced and capable communicators in all mediums |
| 3. Final project | SLO1: Critical and Creative Thinking Produce the script, storyboards and other items needed for the final digital cinema projectSLO2: Information Literacy Become adept at working with tools related to video production, including cameras and softwareSLO4: Communication Be able to articulate your ideas in the 250-500 statement that accompanies your final project.SLO7: Depth, Breadth, and Integration of Learning Synthesize a broad array elements of multimedia elements (sound, movement, images) |
Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways. Determine the extent and type of information needed.
Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form. By applying the concepts of the general and specialized studies to personal, academic, service learning, professional, and/or community activities. |
Goal 3: Employ the principles of visual form for sophisticated image manipulationGoal 5 : Understand the production and assessment of media objects |
COURSE STRUCTURE
- Focus on the conception and creation of expressive video
- Multiple assignments and projects
REQUIRED TEXTS/SUPPLIES
- Extra computer storage for video editing
- Headphones or “earbuds”
- Digital camera or smartphone with HD video camera and monopod (available to check out)
- $10-15 for online movie rentals and/or app purchases
COURSE POINT-EARNING POTENTIALS
Blogging (2% x 10 = 20%)
- Ten 250-500 word blog posts based on readings, viewings and discussions (2% each post)
Short Assignments (5% x 5 = 25%)
- framing assignment 5%
- continuity assignment 5%
- montage assignment 5%
- compositing, effect and/or AI assignment 5%
Profile Project (15%)
One-Minute Short / group project (20%)
- script and storyboard (5%)
- final cut (15%)
Final Project (20%)
COURSE SCHEDULE
| WEEKLY SUBJECTS | ASSIGNMENTS/PROJECTS |
|---|---|
| Introduction August 23 |
|
| Framing for Continuity August 30 |
|
| Editing for Continuity September 6 |
|
| Sound September 13 |
|
| Montage September 20 |
|
| Compositing, Effects & AI September 27 |
|
| Visual Evidence October 4 |
|
| The Interview October 11 |
|
| Post-Production October 18 |
|
| Scripting and Storyboarding October 25 |
|
| Visual Storytelling November 1 |
|
| One Minute Stories November 8 |
|
| Final Projects November 15 |
|
| Final Projects November 22 |
|
| Final Projects December 6 |
|
GENERAL ASSIGNMENT AND PROJECT GUIDELINES
- Do not use copyright-protected text, images, audio or video
- You may use material that is in the public domain, but please credit the source
- Do not ask friends or roommates to pose as interview subjects
- Your work must be your own, produced for this course
Attendance and GradesBoth attendance and participation will be monitored and deficiencies in either/both will result in lower final grades. Participation means being attentive in class, joining in discussions, engaging in informal critiques and completing all in-class and outside assignments.
You are allowed up to 2 absences. After that each absence will result in a 5 point deduction
It is your responsibility to make sure I check your attendance if you come to class after the start of class. Frequent late arrivals, leaving early, or other forms of lack of attendance will also deduct points from the cumulative total. Absent students remain responsible for all course matters during their absence(s). Opportunities to make up missed work may not be available. Final grades are determined from the cumulative points earned, plus or minus any deductions or additions for attendance or participation. No curving, averaging, or other manipulations are utilized. No other assessment or extra credit opportunities are planned. Incompletes are not available.
Final grades are based on the following scale:
| A | 94-100 |
| A- | 90-93 |
| B+ | 87-89 |
| B | 83-86 |
| B- | 80-82 |
| C+ | 77-79 |
| C | 73-76 |
| C- | 70-72 |
| D | – |
| F | 0-69 |
*Notice that the grade of “D” is not offered; it reverts to “F.”
Submission of Late Work
All work must be submitted as and when required. Late work may not be accepted, or accepted with a substantial penalty. Email submissions of work or work submitted “under the door” or “in the mailbox” will not be accepted. No excuses, no exceptions.
Use of AI in This Course
I do not prohibit the use of AI in this course since it is clear that it can assist with mundane tasks or expand your ability to do your digital work, especially with world building and generating ideas and resources for your projects. AI tools will become a standard practice in video production by the time you graduate.
You will need to document how and what you use for your projects from AI by detailing your prompts and workflow in the statements attached to your video projects (in a blog post). I expect your use of AI to be a starting point for your output and that you will layer your own insights and creativity over it so that you can uniquely express yourselves.