USC Cinema CTPR 447 Special Topics and Producing Visual Effects Units: 2 Fall 2018 – Wednesday – 4:00 PM Classroom: SCI 209
Instructor: Joyce Cox Office: SCI 209 Office Hours: By Appointment Contact Info: [email protected]
Teaching Assistant: Nic Kelly Office Hours: By Appointment Contact Info: [email protected] +1/443-240-1405
Course Description The art of visual effects has become a key component for major motion pictures as well as the independent films, television and commercials. Students will be exposed to the creative, technical, financial, political and logistical challenges they will encounter, from initial pre-production through final delivery, when incorporating visual effects into their film projects. VFX can impact any or all other departments, therefore, this course is recommended for all students pursuing directing, producing, cinematography, production design, VFX and editing.
Following are the general topics to be addressed over the duration of the course as each student does the work of script breakdown, budgeting and scheduling films for visual effects: Elements •Principal, 2nd Unit & VFX Unit Photography •Blue or Green Screen Plates •Live Action Elements and Special Effects Photography •Animatronics, Puppets and Rigs •3d Computer Generated Models, Textures and Lighting •Animation (digital, cell and stop motion) •CG FX & Simulations, (smoke, fire and liquids) •Miniature and Model Photography •Matte Paintings •Motion Control, Motion Capture & Virtual Camera •Cyber and Lidar Scanning
Pre-Production Period •Shot breakdown from script, storyboards and pre-visualization •Shot and asset allowances
Revised July 2016
•Pre-visualization, technical breakdowns •Budgeting VFX •Color and technology protocols and pipeline planning •Digital facility bids, contracts and negotiations •Digital asset design and development •Development of database and storage for digital assets, reference, and on-set data
Principal Photography Period •VFX staffing •Continued development of database and file management •On-set data collection •HDRI capture •Texture and reference photography •Plates and tiles •CG asset design, build and development •VFX specialty photography and technical units •Budget and schedule management •Rough cut analysis •Keystone shot turn over
Post Production •Cut sequence bids and negotiations through director’s cut •VFX shot turn over for start of digital shot production •Director reviews of works-in-progress •Assets builds & texturing •Animation & motion development •Shot design and layout •Animation within shots and scenes •CG lighting •Digital FX •Compositing •VFX Final Approval •Interfacing with the editorial department •Reel closing schedule •Final deliveries
Studio •Studio concerns and requirements •Marketing (trailers, virtual reality, commercials) •Merchandising •Special projects (Comicon, D23, etc.) •Franchising
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Learning Objectives Students are expected to achieve an understanding of how to interpret scripts for visual effects, as well as budget, schedule and manage the process through collaboration with all departments.
The course objectives are: (a) Expose students to the creative, technical, financial, logistical and political dynamics of working with visual effects, from initial pre- production through final delivery (b) Inform students about how visual effects interfaces with all departments of a film project (c) Learn guidelines for budgeting and scheduling visual effects from concept or script through final delivery. (d) Expose students to the management and coordination requirements of the digital pipeline and participants (e) Guide students toward achieving an understanding of how to support the creative process as a visual effects producer and represent a film’s VFX needs to a director, producer and studio.
Prerequisite(s): CTPR 310 or CTPR 508 Course Notes During the course students will be given access to Curó, a web-based application for breakdown down and budgeting visual effects. There will be no charge for this.
Technological Proficiency and Hardware/Software Required All assignments can be executed using Curó along with Word or Spreadsheet programs.
Required Readings and Supplementary Materials •The Visual Effects Producer Understanding the Art and Business of VFX, Charles Finance & Susan Zwerman
Supplementary Materials •The Filmmaker’s Guide to Visual Effects by Eran Dinur •VES Handbook of Visual Effects by Visual Effects Society, Focal Press
Description and Assessment of Assignments Assignments will be to analyze and breakdown a theatrical film script for visual effects shots, digital asset development, digital & production cost projections and schedules to be combined into a Studio Presentation for the Final project.
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Grading Breakdown Script Shot & Asset Breakdown 20% VFX Schedule 10% Vendor Bid Request Package 10% Shot & Asset Budget Projections 15% Production & Overhead Budget 15% Final studio presentation & VFX Budget Summary 20% Class participation 10%
Grading Scale (Example) Course final grades will be determined using the following scale A 95-100 A- 90-94 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62 F 59 and below
Production Division Attendance Policy Students are expected to be on time and prepared for each class. Two unexcused absences will result in a student's grade being lowered by one full letter (IE: A becomes B). A third unexcused absence will result in a student's grade being lowered by one, additional full letter (IE: B becomes C). A student's grade will be lowered by one full letter for each additional unexcused absence. Two late class arrivals equate to one full absence.
In order for an absence to be excused, the student must have approval from the professor and provide documentation at the next attended class session. If a student misses class due to an emergency, the student must contact the professor prior to class or contact the Production Office at 213-740-3317.
Assignment Submission Policy Assignments are due either within Curó or as a PDF or Excel documents. Due dates for assignments to be given in class.
Grading Timeline Assignments will be reviewed, graded and feedback notes provided within one week of submission.
Additional Policies Use of computers for note taking is acceptable. Use of cell phones and computers not related to the class will not be allowed. Video or audio recording of classes require prior approval. Late submission of assignments will result in the loss of a point.
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Course Schedule: A Weekly Breakdown All assignments are due at the beginning of the next class session unless advised otherwise.
Topics/Daily Activities Readings and Homework Deliverable/ Due Dates Week 1 Outline course objectives Read: Visual Effects Trailer VFX Analysis – Due Week 2 Define visual effects Producer: Chapters 1 thru 4
Analyze Film Trailer for VFX shots Week 2 Review & discuss reading Review distributed script Asset List, FX List and Assumptions assignment and student’s and analyze for VFX – Due for Review & Notes - Week 3 analysis of the MiB3 methodologies. trailer. Discuss script analysis for Create a digital Asset List & VFX FX List and define -Assumptions Assumptions. Isolate -Assets questions to be answered -FX to inform breakdown.
Read: Chapter 5 pgs 79-88 Script Breakdown Week 3 Discuss reading Update/refine Assets, FX Preliminary Shot List – Due for assignment. and Assumptions Review & Notes - Week 4 Discuss student’s asset lists and their questions. Create preliminary shot list.
Discuss VFX shot breakdown down for a script. Week 4 Review and discuss student’s Review distributed previs DUE FOR GRADE Week 5 Asset & Shot Breakdowns and revise VFX project VFX Breakdown: Assumptions, for WU sequence accordingly. Assets, FX & Shots
Discuss working with Read: Chapter 5 storyboards, previs, etc. pgs 89—109 Estimating & Bidding Digital Costs Week 5 DUE FOR GRADE Continue to refine VFX DUE FOR GRADE – Week 6 VFX Breakdown Breakdown and begin VFX Schedule Preliminary Digital Budget Review & discuss reading assignment: Prepare VFX Schedule for Estimating & Bidding Pre-Pro, Production & Post Digital Budget – Including Turn Over Schedule Set-Up for Digital Budget
VFX Schedule
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Week 6 DUE FOR GRADE Continue to refine VFX DUE FOR GRADE – Week 7 VFX Schedule breakdown & digital budget Vendor Bid Package: -cover letter Discuss competitive Prepare Bid Package for -shot list vendor bidding Process Vendor -asset list -fx list Read: Chapter 13 – Digital -turn over schedule Workflow, VFX Editorial, Post Schedule
Chapter 14 pgs 249-259 VFX Editorial Week 7 DUE FOR GRADE – Continue to refine No assignment due week 8 Vendor Bid Package breakdown, digital budget & schedule. Continue refinement of budget & Review & Discuss reading breakdown for FINAL project assignment: Read: VFX Editorial & Post Chapters 15 & 16 Scheduling Integrating VFX w/Post Schedule Week 8 Review & Discuss reading Read: Chapter 8 DUE FOR GRADE – Week 9 assignment: Digital pgs 161-168 VFX Digital Budget & Breakdown Workflow, VFX Editorial, Databases Post Schedule Chapter 10 Discuss technology & pgs 201-213 digital workflow & On-set Reference pipelines
Week 9 DUE FOR GRADE Read: Chapters 6 & 7 No assignment due week 10 VFX Digital Budget & pgs 111-159 Breakdown Scheduling & Budgeting Production Support Continue refinement of budget & Discuss reading breakdown for FINAL project assignment – Databases & On-Set Data Week 10 Review and discuss Prepare VFX Production & No assignment due week 11 reading assignment – Overhead Budget Including Scheduling and Budgeting Fringe VFX Overhead Budget – DUE FOR Production Support GRADE week 12 Read: Chapter 9 Overhead Budgeting pgs 181-199 On-Set Operations
Chapters 11 & 12 pgs 215-238 VFX Units, Models & Miniatures
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Week 11 Review & Discussion of Add Tax Incentives and DUE FOR GRADE – Week 12 reading assignment Fringe VFX Production Overhead Budget
Review & Discuss student’s Read: Chapter 20 preliminary VFX Production pgs 337-346 & Overhead Budgets Working Overseas Week 12 DUE FOR GRADE Export from Curó to create No assignment due week 13 VFX Production Overhead VFX project SUMMARY Budget including 3D budget and Continue refinement of budget & breakdown details breakdown for FINAL project Review & Discuss reading assignment – Working Overseas
Discuss budgeting for 3D Conversion vs. Native Week 13 Review & discuss Prepare Studio Presentation No assignment due week 14 Student’s VFX Budget Summary Documents Read: Continue refinement of budget & Chapter 17 breakdown for FINAL project Discuss: Pgs 297-307 Ongoing creative Changes & Approvals development Chapter 18 Working with a director Pgs 300-314 Crossing the Finish Line Design, development, digital asset & shot Chapter 19 Pgs 317-336 development Legal Week 14 THANKSGIVING BREAK Week 15 Review & Discussion of PREPARE FINAL STUDIO DUE FOR FINAL GRADE 12/5/18 reading assignment PRESENTATION: STUDIO PRESENTATION Cover Letter General Q & A for FINAL VFX Budget Summary There will be no Final Exam. Project Digital Budget Overhead Budgets Discuss: 3D Budget Managing Reel Closings Asset List FX List Marketing & Special Shot List Projects VFX Schedule
The Psychology of filmmaking Managing people in group dynamic FINAL DUE FOR GRADE STUDIO PRESENTATION Discuss Virtual production, motion/performance capture, simulcam.
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PLEASE NOTE: FOOD AND DRINKS (OTHER THAN WATER) ARE NOT PERMITTED IN ANY INSTRUCTIONAL SPACES IN THE CINEMATIC ARTS COMPLEX
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