Overview
Welcome to MART 221!
Intro to VIDEOGRAPHY
3 credits
Who, When, Where...
Location: Media Arts West room 106
Meeting Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Professor: Casondra Sobieralski, Visiting Professor of Media Arts
Email: cmsobieralski@nmhu.edu
Office: Douglass Hall 239S
Office Hours: Tuedays & Thursdays 1:30-3:30, Fridays 12 noon -1:00
Prerequisites: None
Graduate TA: Joey Montoya, joeamontoya.gmail.com
Course Objectives
• Learn standard conceptual strategies and techniques to tell a narrative or documentary “story”, whether for a screen or for a space
• Learn the operation of HD camera
• Learn the basic use of sound and lighting equipment
• Understand and experiment with framing and composition
• Master storyboarding
• Master basic editing & export
By the end of this course, you should know how to approach pre-production, how to set up, shoot and edit basic scenes that communicate an idea, and have command over that communication. (Is the message generally received as you intended? Did you get your point, mood, and/or concept across?)
Filmmaking is not a solitary activity, so some of the course assignments will require you to work in groups. It is imperative that you show up on time, both to class and to group shoots. 20% of your grade is based on your participation, teamwork and attitude.
Equipment Required
Class 6 or higher SD Card (8 gb minimum) and reader.
Headphones.
External hard drive for capture and storage minimum 200gb (with 7200 rpm write speed suggested). This is NOT optional.
Get firewire 800 and/or USB 3.0 — USB flash drives are not fast enough. If you are on financial aid and need to get your supplies from the NMHU bookstore, they can order a hard drive for you.
Grading
15% Assignment 1: “Biological/Processes” (learning camera, no edits)
20% Assignment 2: “Montage & Meaning” (lighting, constructing meaning, simple edits)
20% Assignment 3: “Witness" --Interview or Narrated Tour (lighting, audio, story, edits)
25% Assignment 4: “Memory” (demonstrate cumulative skills + more advanced edits)
20% Overall attendance, timeliness, participation and team spirit, beyond critique participation. (Participation in critiques specifically is part of each assignment grade.)
Every assignment will be assigned point values. Late work will not be accepted. At the end of the term I will add up your points to determine your final grade. The points you receive will be based on the following rubric:
A: 90–100% Absolutely no doubt of superior performance, effort, teamwork and accomplishment. Clear evidence of talent, imagination and commitment.
B: 80–89% Good work with consistent effort and participation.
C: 70–79% Completion of assignment with average quality and participation.
D: 60–69% Poor work and/or effort.
F: 0–59% Late or very poor quality work or missing critiques.
Attendance and grades:
As per department policy,
5 absences = final course grade is dropped one full letter grade;
6 absences = final course grade is dropped two full letter grades;
7 absences = final course grade is dropped three full letter grades;
8 absences = Fail the course!
3 tardies will = 1 absence. Leaving class early or arriving late will count as a tardy. This applies to not being on task, not having things to work on, or taking inordinately long breaks.
Critiques
Group Critiques are a valuable part of the peer-to-peer learning process. Feedback regarding how your work is coming across and suggestions from your peer community are great luxuries of being in school over working in isolation. Group critiques of your work will be held numerous times throughout the semester to give you feedback on your projects.
FAILURE TO ATTEND A CRITIQUE WILL RESULT IN A ZERO FOR THE PROJECT. You must attend even if your project is not complete. All work must be ready to present at the start of class on critique days.