COMM 366 Post Production – Fall 2018 Pre-requisite – COMM 254 Thurs 2-4.40pm McEwen Hall, Room 103 (Sheldon Lab and McEwen G9)

Ros Smith [email protected] 314A McEwen Hall Office Hours: Phone 716 673 4874 Wed 8am-12pm Fax: 716 673-3414 Thurs 8am-12pm & by appt Cell: 843 224 1077

1. Course Description A balance between editing concepts such as continuity, pacing, dramatic focus, etc. and editing skills such as SMPTE code, signal monitoring, and digitized non-linear techniques. Students will learn the rules and methods by which an editor constructs fiction or a representation of actual events. Students examine the basics of post-production that are required for video projects, after the writing, directing, lighting, camera, and talent duties have been completed. Topics include use of special effects, music and graphics. Exercises demonstrate the merging of art and technology in the edit suite. Films, readings, lectures, and hands-on practical experience will be used to maximize the learning process. All video footage will be given to students since this mimics the workflow of professional editors.

2. Rationale It is imperative that students realize the power of editing to manipulate the audience. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the basic techniques of postproduction non-linear editing, and how the aesthetic choices made during the editing process affect the viewer’s interpretation. The best way to understand the editing creative process is to edit previously unseen footage and work with the material given. Students have to use footage creatively to make poor footage look good and good footage look great. This is how professional editors work since they rarely shoot their own material and try to avoid having their client reshoot. 3. Department of Communication Philosophy Communication does not exist outside of relationships. With this in mind, faculty of the SUNY Fredonia Department of Communication believe that all communicators, whether in the classroom, on the air, or within created works, have a responsibility to themselves and their audience. The faculty believes that it is our responsibility to provide perspective and structure as students make choices about their work, and consequently, about themselves and who they are as adults and scholars. We encourage students to make the effort to consider the consequences of their choices for themselves, for others, and for those relationships. The faculty encourages projects and behaviors that are undertaken with thoughtful respect and consideration for others. We support and encourage work that is both ethical and enriching to the students’ community and to personal and professional relationships. All students should review the Department of Communication Ethical and Professional Standards at http://www.fredonia.edu/department/communication/standards.asp

4. Department of Communication Ethical and Professional Standards

The Department of Communication at SUNY Fredonia advocates the following standards of behavior for all students. *Students should adhere to individual instructors’ more specific policies. Additional information on the SUNY Fredonia policies regarding Student Rights and Responsibilities can be found at http://students.fredonia.edu/judicialaffairs/rights Plagiarism To plagiarize is “to steal and pass off as one’s own the ideas or words of another” (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary). Examples of plagiarism include presenting the ideas of another in one’s own words without crediting the source, copying sentences, paragraphs, or pages form a source without explicit reference to the pages from which the words were taken, and, of course, presenting another’s entire work as one’s own. If a student is not certain whether a particular practice may be considered plagiaristic, it is his/her responsibility to consult the instructor for whom he/she is writing the paper, exercise, or examination. SUNY Fredonia strongly condemns plagiarism and takes severe action against those who plagiarize. State University of New York at Fredonia College Catalog htttp://www.fredonia.edu/ed/documents/Academic_Integrity_Policy.pdf.

COMPLIANCE WITH 504 REHABILITATION ACT/ADA Reasonable accommodations are available to students with documented disabilities at SUNY Fredonia. Students who may require such accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Support Services for Students, 4th Floor, Reed Library. Tel (716) 673-3270 [email protected] You will be given an accommodation letter which should be forwarded to me WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF COURSE. I will be able to discuss your needs in detail with you.

FEDERAL EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) 1974 Registration and continued enrollment in this class constitutes permission for your work to be use during class for educational purposes. On course completion your work will either be rendered anonymous or if not then written permission obtained from originator. For detailed information visit http://www.fredonia.edu/orientation/pdf_summer/FERPAinfo.pdf

5. Textbooks: Required: Kauffmann, Sam. Avid Editing A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users. 6th Edition. Rutledge, Taylor & Frances. New York & London. 2017 Recommended: Bowen, J Christopher. Grammar of the Edit. 4th Edition. Focal Press, Routledge. 2018 ISBN 978-1-138-63219-6

Materials and Supplies: Mac computer (from SUNY cage/Sheldon lab). Students should have a TWO, 1TB EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES WITH USB3. FORMAT FOR MAC PRIOR TO FIRST DAY OF CLASS. If you do not have this you CANNOT participate in the class.

Technology Needed: Adobe Editing software, PowerPoint (All SUNY equipment)

6. Course Goals and Objectives

This course is designed to enable students to: 1. Understand the creative process involved in editing 2. Explain the principal terms, theories, and aesthetics of editing picture and sound. 3. Explore various styles of editing including narrative, documentary, and commercial cutting techniques 4. Identify key menus and interface controls used in non-linear editing. 5. Develop, name and manage project media files in a logical and systematic order. 6. Demonstrate the functions and controls of a nonlinear editing system, including logging and capturing, building elements, trimming, and manipulation of basic graphics, text, transitions and sound design 7. Use different styles of editing to create assemble edits, rough cuts and fine cuts 8. Use editing to create effective fiction and non-fiction video stories that have a beginning, middle and end from previously unseen footage 9. Successfully output video projects to different formats

7. Instructional Methods and Activities

Lectures are used to introduce the concepts. Screenings of film clips, still images, sound recordings and web pages are used to illustrate the topics and act as a springboard for discussion. There will be a discussion during each lecture/screening or lab to foster students’ critical thinking skills. Students will be expected to compare and contrast the audio/visual material and to analyze in depth both the technical aspects and content/themes of the media. They will also be expected to incorporate concepts from the readings and to draw upon knowledge gained in other classes. It is essential for students to come to class having done the readings and prepared to participate in discussions.

Activities include:

Lecture/Discussion Close analysis of still images, video and audio clips Individual research seminars Critiquing other students’ work Individual post-production of creative work Small group discussions Examinations and quizzes

8. Evaluation and Grading

Editing assignments x 3 Each student will edit from supplied footage 2 different projects using documentary and narrative techniques. Music, titles and effects will be incorporated into projects.

Oral Presentation - Research Seminar Each week a different student will choose a professional editor and analyze his editing style from the editor’ s body of work. Allocation of what editor student will be researching will be arranged during week one.

Oral Presentation – Client Communication Students will ensure that they liaise with ‘client’ (ie professor) with regard to status of project, assemble edits, rough cuts, fine cuts and delivery modes.

Mid term and Final Exams The midterm and final exam will consist of essay and multiple choice/short answer questions and written, analytical paper.

Pop Quizzes There are three pop quizzes to encourage students to read and retain the assigned readings and class information.

Attendance Two non-medical unexcused absences are permitted per semester. More than two unexcused absences will lower the grade by three percentage points (e.g., 85% becomes 82%). Two tardies equal one absence. You are tardy if you arrive after I have called the roll.

Grading If a student is unable to meet the deadline for an assignment, he or she must make arrangements with the instructor in advance. Otherwise late work will not be accepted.

Editing Assignment 1 5% of final grade Editing Assignment 2 15% of final grade Editing Assignment 3 25% of final grade Oral Presentation – Research Seminar 10% of final grade Oral Presentation –‘client contact’ 5% of final grade Midterm exam 5% of final grade Final exam 5% of final grade Quizzes x 3 15% of final grade Participation/Professionalism 15% of final grade

B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 F below 60

A 94-100 B 84-86 C 74-76 D 64-66

A- 90-93 B- 80-83 C- 70-73 D- 60-63 Course schedule is subject to change according to class and professor needs

9. Course Schedule 1 8/30 NAVIGATION AND HOUSEKEEPING Objectives Understand formats and how it affects digital editing Configuration of AVID for different workflows Customize user profile Set and customize bin settings

Lecture: History of Editing, Discovering the Cut – Lumieres, Porter, intercutting, close up Read: Kauffmann, Ch 1 p 1-35 and Ch 8 pp157-184 Bowmen & Thompson Ch 1 pgs 1-16 2 9/6 NAVIGATION AND HOUSEKEEPING Objectives Become familiar with user interface and terminology Become familiar with several basic shortcuts and menus Navigate across bin and utilize views including storyboard view Develop housekeeping skills

Screenings : http://www.routledge.com/cw/bowen- 9780240526003/p/video/ The Cutting Edge Read: Kauffmann, Ch 1 p 1-35 and Ch 8 pp157-184 Bowmen Ch 1, Ch 1 pgs 1-16 3 9/13 IMPORTING AND ORGANIZING Objectives Know asset terminology Recognize difference between AMA link and import assets Scrub through and label all footage Organize footage into bins

QUIZ ONE

Lecture: MONTAGE - Russians are coming - Zviga Vertov, Man with a Movie Camera, Eisenstein October 1927 Battleship Potemkin (Odessa Steps) Kuleshov

Screening: http://www.routledge.com/cw/bowen-9780240526003/p/video/ The Cutting Edge Read: Kauffmann Ch2 pp35-54, Ch 5 pp89-104, Ch 13 pp273-298 Bowmen Ch 2 pgs-38 17

ASSEMBLY

4 9/20 Objectives Be able to assess and View Clip Properties Create poster frames on footage Create storyboard of footage Perform assemble edit Become familiar with tool pallet, audio meters

Lecture: Let’s all Assemble Screening: http://www.routledge.com/cw/bowen-9780240526003/p/video/ The Cutting Edge

Read: Kauffmann Ch2 pp35-54 and Ch 5 pp89-104, Ch 13 pp273-298 Bowmen Ch 5, pgs 75-93

5 9/27 THE ROUGH CUT AND FINE CUT Objectives Become familiar with major keyboard Shortcuts Review and utilize 3 point editing technique Utilize ripple edit tool Know differences between slip and slide edit tools

Assignment 1 due – housekeeping & assemble edit Lecture: Roughing It Read: Kauffmann Ch3 pp55-76 and Ch 4 pp77-88, Ch 13 pp273-298 Bowmen Ch 3 pp41-53 and Ch 4, pgs 55-74 and Ch 6, pgs 95-125 and Ch 8,pgs 129-228 6 10/4 PICTURE LOCK AND SOUND SWEETENING Objectives Be able to fine tune audio Be able to adjust audio levels appropriately

Student Seminars COMMENCE and ongoing each week Lecture: I’m listening here. Screening: Apocalypse Now! Read: Kauffmann Ch 6 pp105-138 Bowmen Ch 3 pp41-53

7 10/10 & MID TERM TO BE TAKEN ONLINE AND SUBMITTED BEFORE 10/10 midnight

10/11 FALL BREAK NO CLASSES

8 10/18 EXTRA SPECIAL EFFECTS AND TITLING Objectives Discover various filters and compositing Discover how masking filters can be utilized Create a heavenly effect, glows, blooms on shots Discover variations of the Pleasantville Effect Create simple titles

Student Seminars ongoing each week Lecture: We are all Special Screening: Pleasantville Read: Kauffmann, Ch 11 pp213-240 and Ch 17 pp353-376 Bowmen Ch 7 pp127-148 9 10/25 COLOR GRADING AND CORRECTION Objectives Know how to use Look Up Tables Use scopes for color grading Utilize scopes for broadcast and color correction

Student Seminars ongoing each week Lecture: Over the rainbow Screening: Sin City, Oh Brother Where Art Though Read: Kauffmann Ch 16 pp377-390, Ch 19 and pp391-410 Bowmen Ch 7 pp127-148 10 11/1 FINISHING AND EXPORTING Objectives Create audio mixdown Render entire project Export to various formats

QUIZ TWO ASSIGNMENT TWO DUE – DOCUMENTARY END OF CLASS Student Seminars ongoing each week Read: Kauffmann Ch 21 p417-446 Ch 12 pp241-272

11 11/8 THE NARRATIVE EDITING - INVISIBLE, JUMP CUTTING, PARALLEL EDITING Objectives Create assemble edit Commence rough cut using shape, color and movement to disguise cuts Be able to cut on action Use 3 point edit techniques

Student Seminars ongoing each week

Lecture: A new style Screening: No screening Read: Bowmen Ch 8, pgs 129-228 12 11/15 STOPPING/MAKING MOTION Objectives Commence fine cut using shape, color and movement to disguise cuts Apply post production smooth cam effect to improve shots Discover how to utilize key framing and motion effects Become adept at matching action

Student Seminars ongoing each week

Lecture: Too much or too little movement Screening: Ken Burns America, Trainspotting Read: Bowmen, Ch 8,pgs 129-228

13 11/22 THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO CLASSES

14 11/29 RYTHM AND PACING

Objectives Recognize pacing that is too slow or fast Use marker tool as visual aid for pacing Recognize tension and release in a scene

QUIZ THREE Student Seminars ongoing each week

Lecture: DW Griffith, Hitchcock and Godard Screening: Way Down East, High Noon, Un Bout de Souffle Reading: Bowmen Ch 8,pgs 129-228

15 12/6 DIALOGUE, SOUND AND SILENCE Objectives Ability to overlap dialogue to assist realism Complete fine cut of dialogue scene Recognize the importance of silence Utilize appropriate atoms in scenes Know when to use the ping pong dialogue effect

Student Seminars ongoing each week (last ones) Lecture: The sound of silence Screening: Braveheart Reading: Bowmen, Ch 8, pgs 129-228 Ch 9 pgs 231-246 16 12/13 LAST DAY OF CLASS ASSIGNMENT 3 - NARRATIVE - DUE BEGINNING OF CLASS SCREENINGS & CRITIQUES 17 FINAL EXAMS TBA

9. Bibliography

Bowen, J Christopher. Grammar of the Edit. 4th Edition. Focal Press, Routledge. 2018 ISBN 978-1-138-63219-6 Kauffmann, Sam. Avid Editing A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users. 6th Edition. Rutledge, Taylor & Frances. New York & London. 2017