FLM 306

Short Digital Filmmaking

Instructor: Prof. Rebecca Provost
E-Mail: rtprovos@utica.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment; I am available at flexible times. Send me an email!
Time & Place: Monday, Friday 12:30-1:45, Gannett Library L108
Required: Each student will need an external hard drive. These should be at least 500GB, preferably 1TB+. A 1TB
hard drive will run you about $65 at Best Buy or Walmart. Your hard drive will need to come to class with you, so
please find a safe way to transport it. Information can be damaged or lost if you abuse your hard drive.

Access to social media outlets and the web. Required readings and viewings will be linked
on http://filmacademy.weebly.com You will be making your own websites/blogs and weebly is a great start!
Twitter @filmacademyuc and #ucflm304. These must be checked regularly (more than weekly).

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This practical workshop is designed to introduce students to the techniques and theory of developing and producing short
film ideas that are shot on digital video and edited digitally. The course centers on learning elements of visual storytelling
through a spectrum of aesthetic approaches. Students participate in the learning process by directing, shooting, and editing
a variety of short films. Students may use any resources to make their films, including cameras, computers, and other
soft/hardware available through the Ray Simon Convergence Center and the Communications Department.

LEARNING GOALS:
Students will learn filmmaking terminology
Students will learn about continuity editing in narrative, documentary, and music video
Students will gain an understanding of principles of cinematography
Students will be introduced to all main facets of film production:
Pre-production planning
Shooting
Basic lighting
Sound recording and mixing
Digital editing
Students will complete several short films.
Students will understand career paths available to those interested in filmmaking

EQUIPMENT:
There will be 1 Canon Vixia HF G20 semi professional camera with a variety of lenses, etc. available. We will also have
2 Sony HDR AS-100s to use with some extras. These are action cameras with a variety of mounts. There is also one 3-
point lighting setup and a high quality mic with boom pole. These are available for 1 day at a time, first come-first serve.
Students must send me a request via email to reserve your equipment.
Please:
Be responsible with the equipment you have possession of including the cameras, lighting and sound equipment,
computers, and hard drives. These items are sensitive!
Neglect and abuse of equipment may cause damage. Please be extra careful when using action cameras to capture
your adventures. Any damage makes it more difficult to complete projects. You will be held 100% responsible
to major damage or equipment loss caused by your negligence.
Check all equipment BEFORE you check it out. It should be fully operation unless otherwise detailed by me.
Return equipment ON TIME. We have limited supplies. If you are late returning your equipment, it will
negatively effect your class participation grade. Repeated tardiness and you will no longer be allowed to use
equipment outside of class time.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
You will have the opportunity to demonstrate our learning outcomes by accomplishing the following tasks:

PARTICIPATION (10%): This includes attending class weekly, being on time, being respectful of others during films,
lectures, and discussions, and providing the class with meaningful input regularly. This also includes participating
through out of class assignments and working on classmates films.

STUDENT MADE FILMS (60% of grade)
Project 1: Team Video (5 minutes) - (15% of grade)
Project 2: (3-5 min) - (15% of grade)
Project 3: (3-6 minutes) - (15% of grade)
Project 4: Final Film (3-8 minutes) - (15% of grade): Due at Final Holiday Film Festival

BLOG ENTRIES AND OTHER ASSIGNMENTS (30%)
Storyboards, scripts, filmed interviews, reading responses, film responses, film analyses, etc. This includes pretty much
anything written by you in or out of class that I collected and graded.

Class Resources:
Class Site: http://filmacademy.weebly.com , Your own Blog

Grade Scale:
A 94-100
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 84-86
B- 80-83
C+ 79-77
C 74-76
C- 70-73
D+ 67-69
D 64-66
D- 60-63
F <60

A = You perform consistent and excellent work on time. You come to class having read the material actively and
thoughtfully. Your writing makes insightful connection between the material and the issues involved. Your participation
in class is extensive.
B = You show consistent work, but you may not have always understood the material and your writing might not express
clarity all the time. Minor errors impede the writing. You choose to participate during class occasionally.
C = Also means consistent work, but you have occasionally struggled with the reading and your writing shows recurring
errors. You missed an occasional assignment. You make little attempt to participate in class.
D = You fall behind, miss an assignment, and attempt to turn in work late. You attend class but have missed a couple and
do not contribute to class or group work. You rarely participate in class.
F = You complete less than 2/3rds of the work. Most students fail because they stop trying or dont seek help before it is
too late. You rarely participate in class discussions. This may or may not be due to excessive absences.

Attendance:
Attendance will be taken during class at my discretion. If you are not in class, you will be considered absent. All students
get two free absences. Failure to participate and attend almost every class on time will lead to loss of 10% of your overall
course grade. Blog assignments, film assignments, finals, and quizzes must be done on time. Any student who does not
arrive within the first 10 minutes of a course quiz will not be allowed to make it up. Missed and late coursework will not
receive a grade.


Absences:
There are good reasons to miss class, but in this class there is no such thing as an excused or "unexcused" absence. A
missed class means missed material. Any missed notes should be copied from another student. If you have to be absent,
do not ask me, What did I miss? Ask a classmate. Do not email me missed or late work. Missed and late work will not
be accepted. Do not email me telling me why you missed class. Speak to me, if you wish, after class. Medical excuses
should be handled through the Dean of Students - please do not present me with Dr. notes or lengthy notes about your
health. Those students who make an effort to be at every class and do all work will be minimally affected by one absence
- multiple absences are where students run into trouble keeping up with class work. Be careful - telling me you missed
class because you had the flu in November will not save you from the classes you missed earlier in the semester.

Plagiarism Statement:
As part of a learning community, students need to share ideasideas documented in speech, in writing, or as a creative
productwith their teacher and their classmates. Academic responsibility means that students labor to produce and to
document ideas. They do their own work. This is especially important when publishing materials as is expected in this
course. Academic integrity means being clearin institutionally defined and approved waysabout the origin and
ownership of ideas. Taking credit for ideas that one did not generatewhether in the form of speech, writing, film, music
or any other productis academic dishonesty, and it will be dealt with in accordance with Utica College
policy. Instructors do have the right to put an F FOR CHEATING on any plagiarizing or cheating students permanent
record.

Late Work Policy:
I do not accept late work. I do accept early work. If you are going to be missing class, feel free to turn in an assignment
before our meeting time. Quizzes can only be taken the day they are given within 10 minutes of the start of the first quiz..
Blog assignments, films, and presentations are due at the time they are due. No exceptions will be made. Early work may
be published to your blog. If there is no course blog post to comment your response to, then please email a link to your
published assignment.

Special Needs:
If you have a disability for which you are requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both myself and
Academic Support Services, 315-792-3032 or khenkel@utica.edu. Any student who has need of special adaptations or
accommodations due to documented learning or physical disabilities should notify me within the first week of class.
Instructors, Academic Support Services, and other appropriate counselors will work with you to adapt and accommodate
your special needs. Every effort will be made to help you master the course content in an effective and appropriate way.

Courtesy and Respect: Since this course incorporates discussion and the viewing of artwork it is necessary to be
respectful. While you may not agree with all things viewed or said in class please be respectful when sharing and
listening or viewing others ideas. This also means that during screenings if you fall asleep you will be marked absent for
the day. Please see attendance policy for consequences of being absent.

A Note About Respect:
I love my phone just as much as you! I also enjoy late morning naps, daydreaming, and chit-chatting. There are, however,
certain rules of etiquette I hope you will follow in my class. Please:
Dont use your phone during class. Hey - you! I can already see you playing with your phone under the desk or
half in your bag next to your leg. You arent fooling anybody, even the 90 year old math professor youll have
next semester. Do your whole life a favor and put the damn thing down. Its only an hour and 15 at
most. Someday, youll appreciate that you stopped and took a few minutes to detach every day.
Come to class and dont come in late. If you cant be on time everyday or 19/20 class periods, then you seriously
need to re-examine your priorities. Every hour of class you take at UC costs about $94.90 and that doesnt
include room and board. If youre lucky enough to get a scholarship or grant, do not show off by ditching class.
If youre bored or have something better to do, or, or, or...my advice: fake it til you make it. Nobody has
won any hearts by showing apathy, disinterest, or downright rudeness.

Not following these 3 major rules will make your course experience negative. They may also be grounds for me to ask
you to leave class.