Books

Required:

Final Cut Pro 5 for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide (Visual Quickpro Guide)

Making Documentary Films and Reality Videos: A Practical Guide to Planning, Filming, and Editing Documentaries of Real Events

Recommended:
Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen

Some Practical Course Info

Supplies
- Blank DVD-R disks for backup and presentation. Do not rely on Lab drives to store your work – it may be deleted at any time.
- Access to a digital video camera. If you don’t own one, expect to borrow one over the course of the semester for short periods of time. There are several mini DV cameras available for limited on campus use. See lab attendant to check out equipment.
- 5-10 Mini-DV tapes. Sony or Panasonic.
- Highly recommended but not required: 20-60+ GB Firewire Drive.


Learning Environment
This is a studio course for artists, filmmakers, writers, designers and those interested in serious study of video, film, and emerging media. It encourages flexible, experimental, self-motivated thinking and participation. You should be prepared to do substantial work outside of class and readily participate in discussions and critiques.


Lab Issues

Storage space: There is a good deal of storage space on the Lab machines – but no guaranteed storage. Project files are often deleted by other students or lab assistants. To make sure your files are secure, back them up and take them with you either on CDR, DVD-R, or a firewire drive (recommended). Late or missing projects related to missing, deleted, or damaged files will not be accepted.

Regarding the Mac & OSX: This course requires an intensive use of the Macintosh platform. If you are unfamiliar with Mac OSX it is highly suggested you spend time early in the semester to familiarize yourself with the OSX environment. Unfamiliarity with the platform will not be accepted as an excuse for any problem.


Equipment Checkout

Video Cameras, Microphones, Tripods, and learning materials such as DVD’s and books are available from the lab attendants.

Checkout Rules:
- Take care of the equipment. If you are unsure how to use something, ask Professor Terry or the lab attendant.
- Return the equipment on time personally to a lab attendant or your check out privileges may be revoked for up to 2 weeks.
- Return cameras with batteries fully charged.
- You may not take equipment off campus without prior permission of the professor.
- See lab attendants for other requirements.


Contact Information

Fastest & preferred: dean.terry@utd.edu
Office: Art Building (972) 883-6285
Hours: 10 – 11 AM Tuesdays or by appointment
Note: The best time for a quick meeting is immediately before class at 12:15 in the Mac lab.

Assignment for 8/29

Shooting Assignment I: Basic Visual Aspects

Keep camera in wide or slightly zoomed mode. try not to be fully zoomed in.

II. Still / Tripod shots – 3 of each, 5-10 seconds each:
1 High Contrast
2 Low Contrast
3 Perspective
4 Flat Space
5 Deep Space
6 Ambiguous/Abstraction.
7 Framing/Segmenting

Work on solid compositions, Consistency. Focus on VALUE (B&W) only.

Additional Requirements: 3-4 Person Team Project, 3 shots each. 10 seconds each minimum.

Each person will shoot their own images and later edit them together. Use your own tape and switch as needed.

If you have your own camera with firewire then bring it to class.

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Links to view (look at everything... think... study)

A Guide to the Online Video Explosion

The New Networks

Online Video Selections 1

Online Video Selections 2

vodcast 101

Google Video Exec Interview

PouringDown

Welcome

This is the class Blog. Check here for updates, readings, links, and other info.