Production Courses
Prom Inc. Photo by Hailey Eber
180: RTF Media Composition One
Instructor: Jim Ferolo
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Tuesday 9-11:30am
Location: Louis Hall 119
Learn the foundations of creative processes for media production through critical analysis of media forms and media creation.
Course Goals and Structure
In this course, you will learn the how to create and edit imagery, conceptualize the use of sound within time-based media, and begin to create narrative, interactive, documentary and autobiographical works of art. Through critical analysis of film, video, audio, and interactive work, you will get a better understanding of the conventions present in both Hollywood and Independent production. Through practice you will continue to develop your own aesthetic style and further define your artistic voice.
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280: Production Arts
Instructor: Michelle Citron
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Tue, Thu 12-3 pm + labs as assigned
Location: Annie May Swift Auditorium
The craft, technology and aesthetic principles of media production. Throughout this year students will rotate through six areas of study in the labs. The topic of this quarter will be director's "first films," for example, Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It; Jane Campion' Peel; and Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets. Throughout this quarter we will look at a film a week. Each film screening will be followed by a 45-60 minute discussion of the film. Each film will be discussed in terms of the themes and aesthetics that are central to that particular director's oeuvre. The films represent the work of some of the most interesting and creative directors of the last 20 years. Most of the films fall into the category of the "independent" film - which is a major area of study in many R/TV/F studies courses. And increasingly, the "independent" film is becoming a major force in the film industry as a whole. Do not think of this course as simply "Tuesday afternoon at the movies". Rather, think of it as a special opportunity to experience, discuss, and evaluate a group of exceptional films, and then incorporate what you have learned into future media making efforts and into becoming a more informed media viewer.
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380: Film Production
Instructor: Dana Hodgdon
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Tues, Thu 10 am- 12pm, lab times as assigned
Location: 118 Louis Hall
Techniques and technologies of 16mm filmmaking from initial conception to completed motion picture. Lecture/Laboratory.
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381: Video Production
Instructor: Scott Erlinder
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Mon, Wed 10-12; lab times as assigned
Location: Louis Hall, Rm 118
This course is designed to give the basic fundamentals of professional video production. Students use Betacam SP field video gear to create a final project which is then edited on computer based editing systems. The course contains a large amount of technical information and procedures for composing, lighting, sound recording and editing shots into a final piece.
In addition, this class is to give you a general background into basic electronic concepts of video, lighting calculations, sound recording and editing equipment.
Video production is a collaborative process and this class will be approached in the same manner. You will be working in groups of 3 or 4, sharing ideas, crew positions, and post- production duties. This practical lab in video production will require time, energy and money beyond the lab and key fees. During the production process, all students must be available to assist each other as needed.
Prerequisites: 280 or 375 (grads)
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383: Radio/Audio Production
Instructor: James Ferolo
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Mon, Wed. 3-5 pm
Location: Louis 214
This is an advanced course on the techniques and technologies of audio production, emphasizing the following:
There will be two short projects due: the first will be made entirely of found sound; the second will incorporate the human voice into an aural environment designed to accompany a piece of film. This course is a lecture/lab, with grading emphasis on both production and scholarly effort.
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393: Computer Animation
Instructor: Annette Barbier
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Tues, Thu 2-4 + Friday Lab (1-3 or 4-6)
Location: Kresge 22
C93 Introduction to Computer Animation (Fall) This class uses the software package Macromind Director to explore concepts in 2-D animation particularly appropriate for the computer. Techniques and processes such as color map animation, image movement and manipulation, timing, sound, and simple interactive methods are introduced. Drawing ability is not required although it would be helpful. Source images may be digitized from photographs or flat artwork. Topics will include information on color, design, typography. Method of instruction is primarily lecture/demonstration with some time for hands-on work in class. Lecture/screenings will give an overview of 2-D design options and film and video animation examples.
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475: Graduate Production Aesthetics Workshop
Instructor: Laura Kipnis
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Monday 3-6 pm
Location: Annie May Swift 100
This class us required for all incoming MFAs and is also open to RTF PhDs (those entering without production experience), to MAs and to non-RTF graduate students who need an introductory production course. 475 provides a broad introduction to a very large subject--Aesthetics--for RTF graduate students. The material and exercises in this course are aimed at fostering a process through which students at different levels of production proficiency and artistic development can prowl through the history of aesthetic idioms and movements in search of (or recognition of) the elements that will (or do) comprise the raw materials of their own unique visual styles and conceptual repertoires.
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476: Advanced Cinematography
Instructor: Scott Erlinder
Course Description:
Meeting Times: Monday 3-6pm
Location: Louis Hall 118
Shooting on both film and video, this course provides further exploration into the technical aspects of film production.
The focus of this course is on cameras, lighting, lenses, and camera movement and how these elements relate to story.
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