FA18_FMX241 SYLLABUS – PERKINS = COURSE DOCUMENTS

Introduction to Sound Image and Motion
COM 241
FALL 2018
Section B: TR 8:00 – 9:50 am
CB 126

Associate Professor, Gregg Perkins, MFA
Office: 129 Cass Annex
Office hours by appointment
gperkins@ut.edu
Phone: ex. 3427

—All texts will be distributed in class or posted online

Required Subscription: Lynda.com
The subscription is free with a Hillsborough County Library Card, which can be obtained by going to the John Germany Library on Ashley Street across the Cass Avenue bridge in downtown Tampa. Location: http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/locations/jfg/

Get a Card online: http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/account/getacard.html

N.B. You will need to take your student ID and one piece of mail that has been sent to you at your Tampa (campus) address. Once you have the card, please login on Lynda.com with your library card number and pin.

Course description:

Sound Image and Motion is an introduction to hands-on digital film production and post-production. Each student will complete a short documentary, narrative and experimental film. Technical instruction will include level-one instruction on non-linear digital editing software and an introduction to HD cameras. Students will be introduced to portable equipment at the cage (including cameras, tripods, audio recording tools and more) and production facilities, including the black box studio space. Class will be comprised of technical demonstrations, in-class shoots and critiques of student work. Basic history, theory and aesthetics of related media are presented.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course each student:

—Will complete a short documentary, narrative and experimental film.
—Execute level-one instruction on non-linear digital editing software
—Demonstrate introductory competency through hands on use of HD Cameras.
—Understand introductory use of portable equipment at the cage (including cameras, tripods, audio recording tools and more).
—Understand and use production facilities, including the Blackbox studio space.
—Class will be comprised of technical demonstrations, in-class shoots, and critiques of student work. Basic history, theory and aesthetics of related media are presented.

Each Student will:

1. Distinguish between modes of documentary, narrative and experimental film.
2. Create a short documentary, narrative and experimental film.
3. Participate in critique sessions of class assignments.
4. Provide written or oral critique statement to tie assignments to course material.
5. Develop artistic and aesthetic vision.
6. Utilize depth of field, basic framing, rule of thirds.
7. Apply basic principles of cinematography.
8. Identify, explain, analyze and apply the relationship between f-stops, ISO, Shutter speeds, and aesthetics of the motion picture image. Identify, explain, analyze and apply white balance menu functions ranging from selecting icons, adjusting Kelvin Scale numbers, and using a white card. Focus the lens and demonstrate focused image capture through assignments. Understand the aesthetics of depth of field while using different focal lengths on a zoom lens
9. Know and utilize proper microphone placement and technique.
10. Distinguish between types of microphones and their uses.
11. Properly apply the 180% rule in dialogue scene.
12. Distinguish between observational and expository documentary.
13. Create proper exposure of visual material with use of the camera and lighting.
14. Effectively create sound design through hands on projects.
15. Demonstrate hands-on ability to shoot motion pictures with Digital HD cameras.
16. Demonstrate hands-on ability to set up and use audio recording instruments, including microphones.
17. Identify purpose of support systems, including tripods, dollies, lighting instruments, and all pertinent equipment from the equipment cage.
18. Gain hands-on introductory technical fluency on proper use of the audio recording suite, black box studio and lighting panel,
19. Utilize safety aspects in production.
20. Identify workflow and key roles in a production team.
21. Gain hands-on introductory technical fluency in professional non-linear editing software.
22. Pass technical tests and complete assignments to demonstrate proficiency and understanding of use of cameras, and cinematography and non-linear editing on all of the above stated objectives.

Cage cameras, audio gear and facilities allocated to the course”

Canon T3i Camera& Fancier Tripods / Zoom H4N Recorders & microphones

Required Materials:

—1T External Hard Drive, Sata/USB, or Firewire 800 7200 RPMs
—Studio Headphones
—6 GB or 32BG SDHC Class 10 Memory Card
—SD/MiniSD Card Reader

Assignments / Grade Breakdown:

Visual Storytelling 15%
Technical Exercises 15%
Documentary Film 15%
Experimental Film 15%
Narrative Film 15%
Portfolio and Revision 15%
Participation 10%

Grading Scale:

96 – 100 A Outstanding
90 – 95 A/B Excellent
85 – 89 B Very Good
80 – 84 B/C Good
75 – 79 C Average
70 – 74 C/D Below Average
65 – 69 D Passing
0 – 64 F Failure

Reporting Sexual Violence/ Title IX Matters:

Sexual violence includes nonconsensual sexual contact and nonconsensual sexual intercourse (which is any type of sexual contact without your explicit consent, including rape), dating violence, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and stalking. You may reach out for confidential help (see contact info below) or report an incident for investigation.

If you choose to write or speak about an incident of sexual violence and disclose that this violence occurred while you were a UT student, the instructor is obligated to report the incident to the Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Students. The purpose of this report is to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students. The Deputy Coordinator or his or her designee will contact you to let you know about the resources, accommodations, and support services at UT and possibilities for holding the perpetrator accountable. If you do not want the Title IX Coordinator notified, instead of disclosing this information to your instructor, you can speak confidentially with the individuals listed below. They can connect you with support services and discuss options for holding the perpetrator accountable.

There is an exception to this required reporting for preventative education programs and public awareness events or forums. While the instructor is not required to report disclosures during these instances, unless you make or initiate a complaint, during these programs or events, the instructor or another University official will ensure that the students are aware of the available resources at UT, such as counseling, health, and mental health services, and it will provide information about Title IX, how to file a Title IX complaint, how to make a confidential report, and the procedure for reporting sexual violence.

For more information, see The University of Tampa’s Title IX resources at http://www.ut.edu/uploadedFiles/Academics/Provost/Title%20IX.pdf and

https://www.ut.edu/studentconduct/titleix/.

To make a confidential report of sexual violence, please contact:
– The Victim’s Advocacy Hotline: (813) 257-3900
– Dickey Health & Wellness Center (wellness@ut.edu) 813.257.1877
– Health and Counseling Center (healthcenter@ut.edu) 813.253.6250

ADA Statement:

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If there is a student who requires accommodations because of any disability, please go to the Academic Success Center in North Walker Hall for information regarding registering as a student with a disability. You may also call (813) 257-5757 or email disability.services@ut.edu. Please feel free to discuss this issue with me, in private, if you need more information.

Academic Integrity Statement:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating, plagiarism, copying and any other behavior that is contrary to University standards of behavior will not be tolerated.

Students caught violating any aspect of the University of Tampa’s Academic Integrity Policy will be penalized in all cases. Penalty ranges from “0” on an assignment to “F” for the course without regard to a student’s accumulated points. Students may also face expulsion. It is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with the policies of the university regarding academic integrity and to avoid violating such policies. Policy information is found at: http://ut.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/catalog/Academic-Policies-and-Procedures/Academic-Integrity-Policy

Class Disruption Statement:

Every student has the right to a comfortable learning environment where the open and honest exchange of ideas may freely occur. Each student is expected to do his or her part to ensure that the classroom (and anywhere else the class may meet) remains conducive to learning. This includes respectful and courteous treatment of all in the classroom. According to the terms of the University of Tampa Disruption Policy, the professor will take immediate action when inappropriate behavior occurs.

Campus Closure Statement:

COURSE INTERRUPTION DUE TO ADVERSE CONDITIONS:

In case of any adverse condition or situation which could interrupt the schedule of classes, each student is asked to access www.ut.edu for information about the status of the campus and class meetings. In addition, please refer to ut.blackboard.edu for announcements and other important information. You are responsible for accessing this information.

General Disclaimer:

Note: I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus as necessary.

**Outline and timing of assignments are listed under Modules of this course website**