Note to students: While this syllabus is posted to give you an overview of the course, it is subject to change. Should you have further questions, please contact the UCLA Extension Entertainment Studies program at (310)825-9064 or via email at entertainmentstudies@uclaextension.edu. Course #: FILMTV X 476.39 Reg. #: 250783W Units: 4.00 Quarter/Yr: Fall 2014 Make Your First Short Film (Hybrid) COURSE SYLLABUS Day/Time: Sundays 10am 5pm / October 5, 12, 19 & 26 Online Sessions / November 2, 9 & 16 Sundays 10am 1pm / December 14 Location: 1010 Westwood Center, Room #307 Course Description In this class you will learn how to write, produce, direct, and edit a 3-5-minute short fiction film. Emphasis is placed on maximizing the on-screen value of the project using available resources. The first part of the class is devoted to the pre-production process, highlighting the role of the story, and provides an overview of affordable shooting equipment and editing technologies. You then develop and write your project, which is filmed outside of class. Instruction highlights the element of collaboration while including a primer on the fundamentals of shooting and directing actors, as well as the basics of editing and outputting the projects to DVD. The completed films are screened and discussed during the last class. Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, a successful learner should be able to: 1. Write a script for a short film. 2. Budget, plan and manage a film shoot. 3. Collaborate as a director with other production head departments. 4. Work with actors during rehearsals and on set. 5. Edit a film and output it to various formats for proper screenings. 6. Critique your peers and your own work. Welcome Welcome to the Make Your First Short Film course. I hope we will have a wonderful adventure during the upcoming quarter. Together we will go through all the stages of filmmaking
as you write, produce, direct and edit a three to five minute short fiction film. This course emphasizes ultra low budget filmmaking, and together we will discuss creative solutions to meet budgetary restrictions. I will not lie: This course will be intense. My objective is that you have a true film production experience for which I have mapped out a class that will help you maximize your creativity while meeting deadlines. You must take your production seriously. Think that if you do not take it seriously, then hardly anybody else will. Meeting deadlines is a big part of filmmaking and the best way to earn people s trust. I expect you to be collaborative and respectful with your classmates. I expect you to challenge yourself at every single stage of the filmmaking process, so at the end of the day, you can tell the best story you can possibly tell on the screen. Julio O. Ramos Recommended Readings Directing: Shot by Shot, by Steve Katz, 1991. Making Movies, by Sidney Lumet, 1995. Friendly Enemies, by Delia Salvi, 2003 The Five Cs of Cinematography, by Joseph Mascelli A.S.C. In the Blink of an Eye, by Walter Murch, 2003. Course Requirements 1. Two ideas to pitch during the first day of class (October 5th). 2. Access to the Internet for online lectures 3. Access to a video camera. 4. Access to editing equipment. 5. Access to a harddrive. Grading: Course grades will be based the on the completion of assignments and classroom participation as follows: 1. Attendance & Participation: 10% 2. Meeting Deadlines for Assignments: 20% 3. Production Binder: 20% 4. Director Journal: 15% 5. Rough Cut of short film: 35% Letter Grade % A (90-100%) B (80-89%) C (70-79%) D (60-69%) F (<59%) A grade of C or better is considered a passing grade. Certificate students must take 400 level courses for a grade. *Please note that ALL COURSE GRADES ARE FINAL. 1. Attendance & In-class/online Participation (10%). Attendance and active participation is mandatory. During class times, students will be frequently asked to participate in exercises, demon-
strations and discussions. Please note that unexcused absences and lack of participation will be reflected poorly on your final grade. 2. Meeting Deadlines for Assignments (20%). The various assignments include: treatment, outline, shooting script, production binder materials, director journal, as well as watching and discussing short films available in Blackboard. 3. Production Binder (20%). All of your work will be organized into a binder that is divided into the following sections with labeled tabs: - Shooting Script - Script breakdown & schedule - Budget - Day out of days list - Shot list & floor-plans (also story boards if desired) - Crew & Cast - Locations - Vendors - Reports (camera & sound) - Call sheets and maps 4. Director Journal (15%). Right after you direct your film, and as soon as you get home, please sit down at your computer and write me an email telling me how your shoot. Include as much detail as possible both what you did and what others did-and please explain, in a thoughtful manner, what you feel you learned from the experience and what you hope to do better next time. 5. Short Film (35%). During the course, each student will write, produce, direct and edit a three to five minute film. Your grade will be based upon the successful completion of each one of the film production stages. Students are required to, at the least, present a rough cut of their project at the end of the term. A successful completion of the short film requires: * A clear, articulated, and executed script. * Meaningful mise-en-scene, blocking and composition. * Authenticity of performance. * Cohesive editing **Student Groups: Students will be placed into groups of three or four in which they will share each other s treatments, outlines and scripts, and provide written critiques. Collaboration among group members during the production stage is not mandatory but it is highly suggested. Academic Honesty Policy Academic dishonesty covers behavior in cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication of information. These behaviors are not tolerated. Citations and references should be provided following a formatting standard such as APA 6 th. These and other relevant documents are available on the Dean of Students Office website: http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/dos/students/integrity/
Weekly Outline Module/Week/ Date Topics Assignments Week 1 10/5/14 Week 2 10/12/14 Week 3 10/19/14 - Class Overview and Expectations. - The benefits of making a short film. - Screenwriting: Dramatic Structure. Character Development. Treatment and Outline. - PITCH FEST - Cinematography: Camera Angles. Framing and Composition. - Discuss Short Films - Writing: Short Screenplay. Proper Format. - Cinematography: Continuity. Shooting and Editing - Directing Actors. - Working with Cinematographers. - Working with Art Directors - Discuss Short Films - Workshop scripts. - Revising the script - Shot listing and Storyboarding - Director s job before the camera rolls. - In-class shoot exercise. - Character Bio - Treatment & Outline Watch: - Short Films for discussion - 1 st Draft Script Watch: - Short Films for discussion - 2 nd Draft Script Watch: - Short Film for Discussion. Week 4 10/26/14 - Discuss Short Films - Script Breakdown: Budgeting, Crewing, Scheduling, Location Scout, Casting and Callbacks. - The Production Binder. - Screen In-class shoot exercise. - Postproduction Workflow. - Script Breakdown Build: - Start on Production Binder
Online Week 5 11/02/14 Online Week 6 11/09/14 - From Pre-production to Production - One on one meetings with instructor. - FILM SHOOTS - One on one meetings with instructor. - FILM SHOOTS Continue with Preproduction - Director s Journal Online Week 7 11/16/14 - Editing tutorials: Video and Sound editing. Making QT and Upload to Vimeo Edit: - Your Film Week 8 12/14/14 10am - 1pm - FILM SCREENINGS - I made a film, now what? - Festival and distribution strategies