Professor: Gabriela Aceves Sepúlveda
Office Hours: Monday 1 pm to 3 pm @ SUR 3910 or by appointment
(cMAS | criticalMediArtstudio- SUR 3910)
Contact: gacevess@sfu.ca
Lecture: Tuesday 10:30- 12:30 (SUR 5380)
Labs: D101 Tuesday12:30- 14:20, and D102 Tuesday, 14:30 -16:20 ROOM 3100
Teaching Assistant: 1, TA, TBA.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
IAT 344 reviews and consolidates the fundamentals of digital video production, including camera and composition skills, the role of sound, lighting and continuity and montage editing in narrative and documentary style. Students will review and analyze works from traditional narrative and documentary cinema and from contemporary digital video. The course will reinforce fundamental skills and extend the student’s abilities to use a range of digital production, post-production and presentation techniques. This term we will be working with CITY STUDIOS and SIAT Faculty.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will:

• Develop their foundation skills in digital camcorder operation, exposure and composition
• Demonstrate the ability to plan, produce, edit and display digital video productions
• Demonstrate their ability to effectively combine sound and image
• Demonstrate their ability to manipulate and layer digital video imagery using a variety of computer-based post-production techniques
• Demonstrate their ability to use digital technology to display and exhibit moving image and sound experiences
• Demonstrate responsible production processes and ethical approaches to working with documentary and narrative subjects
• Demonstrate strong ability to both work with a team and work as an individual media producer
• Demonstrate the ability to work with a real-world client in the collaborative production of a documentary short video
• Present a professional online portfolio of the work as an outcome of the class

Each and every one of you has the opportunity to develop a professional, creative, well-crafted and artistically envisioned video production portfolio by the end of the term. Your contribution to your portfolio from this course will consist of an individually produced visual effects video and a team-produced documentary or continuity narrative video.  You will each present these works, with descriptions of what you learned and your role in the productions, in your own final online portfolio. Your individual contribution to the group project and your professional presentation of your accomplishments in the course will constitute a significant portion of your grade. You have an opportunity to work in collaboration with a local cultural or community organization to produce a video with them. This is a real opportunity and must be taken seriously. 

DELIVERY METHOD

Lecture (LEC) 2 hours + Studio Lab (STL) 2 hours + extensive online tutorials
* Please note that we will not be teaching software in the labs. Please refer to Lynda.com (Links to an external site.) for expert tutorials on Final Cut Pro & After Effects. Customize your weekly online lab tutorials around your own interests, and use the suggested tutorials in weekly Modules. Please consult with your peers, TA and instructor for any guidance you may need in choosing tutorials.

READINGS

• Readings will be posted in Canvas or made available through SFU Library online databases.
• Weekly Canvas Media Resource Links with frequent updates (see Modules)

Suggested Readings

• Broderick Fox, Documentary Media (Routledge, 2017)
• Kelly Anderson, Documentary Voice & Vision (Routledge, 2017)

E-book available at SFU Library

• Kevin Lindenmuth, Documentary Moviemaking Course : The starter guide to documentary filmmaking (2010)
• Sam Billinge, The Practical Guide to Documentary Editing (Routledge, 2017)
• David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction ( McGraw-Hill, 2012)
• Barry Hampe, Making Documentary Films and Reality Videos: A Practical Guide to Planning, Filming, and Editing Documentaries of Real Events (Henry Holt and Co, 1997)
• David Tames, Four Approaches to Structuring a Microdocumentary
  http://kino-eye.com/2014/11/17/structuring-micro-docs/

Lectures

Attendance in lectures is mandatory. Lecture sessions will include traditional lecture and discussion periods, along with team-based workshops with group deliverables in that session. Doing work towards class or team deliverable is not a valid reason for an absence. Absence from lecture or labs requires a doctor’s note (no exceptions).

Labs

There will be labs every week. Attendance is mandatory. Please note your TA Aynur Kadir will lead all of the labs. Your Professor Gabriela Aceves Sepúlveda will be present for presentations and available for office hours. For documents related to each week’s lecture and lab topics and activities, see Modules. 
LEARNING ACTIVITIES + EVALUATION

Week Due	Assignment	Value
W 8, 10	Video #1 (individual): Visual Effects Draft (W8): 5%; final Version (W10): 15%	20%
W 11, 14	Video #2 (Team): Documentary Rough Cut (W11): 10%; Final Version (W14): 25%Final Project Package must be handed in, or 5% penalty on entire project.	35%
W 4, 7	2 in-Lab Presentations (5% each)	10%
W 9	Midterm in-Lab Skills exercise	5%
W 9	Midterm Exam, based on readings and lectures	15%
	Weekly Production Assignments	5%
	Lynda.com Tutorials Proof of Completion	5%
	Participation	5%
Total		100%

 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Date	LAB	LECTURE	READING	DELIVERABLES
W1 Sept 4	Introduction to Labs Introduction to Cameras Group Selection; First Lab Exercise	Course and Assignment Introduction; What is a documentary? Introduction to Production Package Intro to Team Contracts	Hampe – Ch. 1-4 pg.11 -27 (What is a Documentary?)Lindenmuth- Less 1 pg. 10-13  (Types of Documentaries)Anderson, Chp 2. (Documentary Styles)Recommended:Tamés- Notes on the micro-documentary (pdf)	Introductory Survey-fill out and hand in class Milestones: Form Groups for final project Start Team Contracts
W2 Sept 11	Introduction to Sound Equipment Second Lab Exercise	Introduction SIAT Faculty Research Documentaries and CITY STUDIO video projects. What is a documentary? Continued	Bordwell Ch. 2 (Film Form) Hampe Ch. 16-20 pg. 163-215 (Writing a Documentary) Recommended: Bordwell Ch. 3 (Narrative)	Find partner for Pair Presentation #1 Milestones: Finalize Teams + Develop Concept for Group Project
W3 Sept 18	Continuity Editing Review Exercise; Check in with TA about Group Project topic	Film Form + Continuity Editing	Bordwell Ch. 5 (Cinematography) Bordwell Ch. 6 (Relationship of Shot-to-Shot) Recommended: Begleiter Ch. 3	Project Treatment Due, due as hard copy in Lab and submitted on Canvas. Signed and Completed Team Contract
W4 Sept 25	Pair Lab Presentation #1	Storyboarding and Previsualization	Hampe – Ch.5-9 (Planning Your Documentary) Anderson, Chp. 3 Structuring the Documentary Recommended: Bordwell Ch. 4 (mis-en-scene)	Submit Client Feedback on Treatment (Production Package #1) Sign up for Visual Effect for Pair Presentation #2
W5 Oct 2	CLIENT MEETINGS   Sign up for Visual Effect for Pair Presentation #2	Light and Sound	Bordwell – Ch. 7 (Sound in Cinema) Zettl Ch. 2 (Light) Recommended: Anderson, Chp 11 (Basic Lighting for Documentary); Ch 13 (Lighting and Exposure Beyond the Basics); Ch14(Location Sound Techniques)	Be prepared to discuss treatment and show Draft Group Storyboard to Clients during lab time meeting! Hand in Storyboard. Moodboard, and Treatment for Individual Project; Milestones: Meeting with Client Review Storyboard and Mood Board; Revise for submission in Week 6; Schedule Filming for Week 7
W6 Oct 9	Green Screen + Lighting Workshop and Exercise   Pin up and Critique of Storyboards for Group Projects and Individual Projects; Group feedback	Visual Effects and Montage	Bordwell Ch. 10 (Documentary and Experimental Film)Anderson, Chp 19 (The Art of Editing a Documentary)Recommended:Krasner,- Chp	Hand in Submit Client Feedback on Storyboard (Production Package #2)  Hand in Group Storyboard and Mood Board in person in labs Lynda.com Proof of Completion
W7 Oct 16	Pair Lab Presentation #2 Midterm Review	Trouble Shooting in Documentary Production: – framing and recording interviews – common mistakes we don’t want to see in your work! – Documentary Ethics and Legal Issues	Hampe – Ch. 10-15 (What Will You Show?) Anderson, Ch. 5. Documentary Ethics and Legal Issues. Anderson, Chp. 15 Interviewing and Working with Subjects Recommended: Hampe – Ch. 21-29 (Filming A Documentary)	Pair Lab Presentation #2 Lynda.com Proof of Completion Due Milestones: Filming in Progress
W8 Oct 23	Lab Critiques of Individual Drafts (also relate to how this supports portfolio development)	Critique as a skill in Media Arts, inside and outside the Classroom Review for Midterm	Bordwell Ch. 11 (film Criticism) Hampe – Ch. 30-33 (Postproduction)	Draft of Individual Project Due Individual Self-assessment report (completed in lab or lecture)
W9 Oct 30	In Lab Skills Exercise /Midterm– Using Rehearsal Footage to demonstrate editing and visual effects skills	Midterm Quiz		Team Rehearsal Footage due, upload link to Vimeo or YouTube selects. * Everyone bring original Rehearsal Footage/ Pre-Production Material for In-Lab graded Exercise
W10 Nov 6	Open Lab to work on Rough Cuts; feedback from TA	Presentations of Individual Projects		Final Individual Project Due Work on Final Project, Finalize Production Package and Documentation of Consultations with Clients
W11 Nov 13	Critique Day – Complete Draft of Group Video Guest Critics invited for feedback			Complete Draft of Group Project Due
W12 Nov 20	No classes – work on final video Individual Group Meetings–sign up with Doodle Poll; Open labs for group work			Milestones: Conduct Review of Rough Cut with Clients Submit Client Feedback on Rough Cut (Production Package #3) – specific actions for revision are important  Respond to Review of Rough Cut with Clients
W13 Nov 27	CITY STUDIO Project Screening- HUBBUB! Project Showcase (Nov. 30, 2018)			Final Project Due Submit Final Project Production Package (including Consent Forms, copies of client feedback on Treatment, Storyboard, Rough Cut, and Client sign-off on the final version, with permission to make video public)

 

DEADLINES, ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

To ensure fairness across the class and timely marking deadlines, assignment submission deadlines will be strictly observed. Unless otherwise stated by your instructor, all written assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified dates. Hardcopies will be collected within the first 10 minutes of class.

Please note that submissions that come in after papers have been collected will be considered late and given a grade of zero (F).

Missed Classes, Assignments & Deadlines
Attendance in class and participation in team project-related activities is mandatory.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to review the class slides and handouts in CANVAS.  If you miss an assignment deadline, feedback workshop or team project class due to illness or personal concerns, a doctor’s note—or other form of credible evidence—must be presented to your instructor.

If you miss an assignment deadline or a major team activity (without a Doctor’s note or a credible reason articulated to your instructor) you will not receive a grade for the assignment. Note, also, that infrequent or unsatisfactory contributions to your team may result in your removal from the team.

Extensions
If you need more time to complete an assignment, submit a written request to your instructor by email at least three days before the assignment’s due date. Avoid making excuses and present a clear compelling reason for your request and be specific about the length of extension you need.

 Code of Academic Honesty & Student Conduct
All assignments must be researched and written individually.  Each student is responsible for producing, writing, and submitting his or her own original work. Collaborating with others and sharing answers with students may lead to unintentional plagiarism.  Submitting work that has not been correctly cited may result in lower grade, but if the infraction is serious enough, it can earn an F for the assignment or the course, possibly prevent you from graduating, and leave a permanent mark on your academic record.

You are plagiarizing (cheating) if you:

• Submit work that has been written, produced or researched by someone else,
• Submit work that has previously been submitted for another class, use material (quotes, ideas, pictures, etc.) from another source without clearly indicated where the information came from using a proper citation, or
• Pretend that someone else’s ideas, images, or sounds are your own.

You are expected to become familiar with the institutional policies related to assessment and other policies at Simon Fraser University. Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please review the following links:

SFU Code of Academic Integrity and Good Conduct: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.htmlLinks to an external site.

Grading Practices: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/teaching/t20-01.htmLinks to an external site.

If you have any questions about this code or about plagiarism or academic dishonesty in general, please come and see me during my office hours.

 Electronic Communication and Conduct Protocols

Email is a form of professional communication at SFU.  Instructors receive a large number of emails from professional colleagues, university staff and administrators, as well as students. Demonstrate respect for your audience by

• writing a clear subject line that shows your section number and the purpose of the email (i.e. IAT344 D100 Request for Office Hour Appointment)
• identifying your audience by name (Hello Kate or Hi Aynur)
• composing a direct and focused message with a purpose (I am requesting…)
• goodwill closing with your name and student number (i.e. Regards, Brenda Sans (01001010))

IAT344 Email Protocols:

• Your instructor and TA will try to reply to e-mails within 24 hours during the week.
• We do not answer emails on weekends, holidays or in the evening after 5pm.
• You must check your SFU e-mail regularly. Email communication is an important part of SIAT culture, and this is how we will communicate with you throughout the term.

IAT344W Electronic Recording Protocols:

• You are NOT allowed to video or sound record any part of the IAT344 lectures, or labs without written permission from your instructor
• Photographing the lectures, the instructor or other students in the class without explicit written permission is prohibited.  Please see the SFU Student Code of Conduct.  If you require assistance, please see your instructor in person.

IAT344 Grading Scale

**Syllabus is subject to change.

 

Policies:

Please review the Department Standards on Class Management and Student Responsibilities policies

• SFU grading policy: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching/t20-01.htmlLinks to an external site.
• SIAT student grading and conduct policy: http://www.siat.sfu.ca/staff_portal/faculty_formsLinks to an external site.
  **Please read these at the beginning of the course and be sure to follow this policy in regards to grade review requests.

These documents cover SIAT/SFU policies on: Academic Dishonesty; Missed exams due to illness; Missed exams due to illness; Reviewing exams and assignments; Grade appeals; Grade scale; Course requirements; Prerequisites; E-mail policy; In-class behaviour; Religious accommodations. It is your responsibility to be familiar with these policies.

Excerpted from policies:

2.4 Grading – Responsibilities of the Student

2.4.2 A Student who is unclear about the requirements for a course, or about the basis on which a grade will be assigned, or who is concerned about the marking of a particular assignment, is expected to seek clarification or to express his/her concern to the Instructor in a timely manner, normally within 10 days of receiving the information.

2.4.3 A Student who is seeking reconsideration of his/her final grade in a course is expected to raise his/her concern with the Instructor without delay, normally within 10 days of the release of the final grade.

2.4.4 The reconsideration of a grade may result in the grade being raised, lowered or remaining unchanged.