11/21/2024 4:15:20 AM	FMA 55 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  FMA 55	Title:  VIS STORYTELLING (RVPA)
Full Title:  Cinematography and Visual Storytelling (RVPA)
Last Reviewed:1/22/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  43 - No Repeats
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  MEDIA 55

Catalog Description:

In this course, students will explore visual storytelling methods from script to screen: script analysis from pragmatic to aesthetic perspectives, cinematography, lighting, and art direction techniques.

 

This is a Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA) course that is not offered at SRJC but is available through one or more of the other five participating colleges of the RVPA collaborative program. Learn more about the RVPA at https://cs.santarosa.edu/vp

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

In this course, students will explore visual storytelling methods from script to screen: script analysis from pragmatic to aesthetic perspectives, cinematography, lighting, and art direction techniques.

 

This is a Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA) course that is not offered at SRJC but is available through one or more of the other five participating colleges of the RVPA collaborative program. Learn more about the RVPA at https://cs.santarosa.edu/vp

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:43 - No Repeats

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2024	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Prepare and organize logistics for a shoot, including pre-production documents.

2. Analyze and interpret screenplay for pragmatic and aesthetic requirements.

3. Demonstrate technical competency with production gear.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Analyze script's pragmatic and aesthetic requirements then translate into audio, lighting, and camera work.

2. Analyze audio environment for subject isolation, acoustics, and background noise. Select and use appropriate microphones to record wild and synch sound.

3. Analyze and mimic lighting requirements in a scene, understanding light metering. Execute more advanced lighting plans.

4. Develop pre-production materials to include strip boards, lined scripts, art direction look books, detailed equipment lists and technical specs, incorporating apps.

5. Demonstrate both the technical and aesthetic aspects of digital cinema production and demonstrate knowledge of intermediate production techniques.

6. Analyze cinematography techniques and apply to personal work.

7. Assess camera technical specifications needed for editing narrative and non-fiction, single and multi-camera projects.

8. Demonstrate a hands-on ability to perform appropriate critical thinking needed for successful teamwork in television, film or other media employment.

Topics and Scope

I. An overview of the process of pre-production (including scriptwriting), production and post-production: script development, team and project management, shooting for the edit, and deliverables for exhibition.

II. Preproduction: script revisions, stripboards, lined scripts, look books, call sheets, and other production materials.

III. Script analysis from technical and aesthetic perspectives: lighting, art direction, and cinematography.

IV. Development of the following technical skills to support goals of project: lens selection, focus and depth of field control, and basic lighting techniques and equipment.

V. Cinematography: plot and character development through photography, camera positions, continuity, storyboard, picture composition, production design, shot list, and recording formats.

VI. Art direction: make-up, wardrobe, set dressing, and location and prop selection.

VII. Post-production theory (i.e. continuity and dynamic editing) plus overview of nonlinear editing.

VIII. Basic audio including single and double-sound systems, mixing, and appropriate sound theory (i.e. balance, presence and perspective).

IX. Set etiquette and crew relationships.

X. Evaluation of cinematic productions for appropriate quality and individual expression.

XI. Participation in group and individual project work.

XII. Production of a final individual project (a live action or dramatic creation) suitable for review and evaluation during a public exhibition.

XIII. Development of practical use of equipment including cameras, lights, and sound recording gear.

XIV. Group critiques of scripts, pre-production planning, and visual work.

 

All topics are covered in the lecture and lab portions of the course.

Assignments:

1. Scheduled quizzes and final exam including essay questions that will show appropriate theoretical background and critical thinking in intermediate video production

2. Individual projects of increasing difficulty and scope resulting in a final project that will demonstrate appropriate practical knowledge

3. Participation in classroom discussions related to course topics required

4. Reading Research

5. Written Analyses

6. Preparation for presentations

7. Practice of technical skills

8. Evaluations of video productions

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 20%
Written Analyses; Preparation for presentations
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 20%
Individual projects; final project; Evaluations of video productions
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 30 - 60%
Individual projects; final project; Practice of technical skills
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 20%
Scheduled quizzes and final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 30%
Participation in classroom discussions related to course topics

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Blain Brown. Cinematography: Theory and Practice: Image Making for Cinematographers and Directors. 3rd Focal Press, 2016 (classic).

 

Peter Rea and David King. Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video. 5th Focal Press, 2015 (classic).

 

Various. American Cinematographer. American Cinematographer magazine various articles 0001, 01 01. American Society of Cinematographers

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