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Syllabus - Intensive 16mm Production
New School For Social Research
Instructor: Joel Schlemowitz
email: schlemoj@newschool.edu
New School Film Production Office: (212) 229-5899
This course is designed to introduce the student to filmmaking through hands on training. It covers the necessary skills needed in the production of a non-sync film from concept to completion. This includes screenwriting; working with the Bolex camera; the deciding on the right filmstock for the project; knowledge of continuity, coverage and composition; lighting; working with the laboratory; analyzing the success of the dailies screened in class; logging footage; editing; sound editing; and preparing for the negative cutter and the final print.
Students must develop, write shoot and edit a short non-sync film outside of class time, using equipment reserved by the students through the New School Film Production Office. Students are encouraged to work together on each others films.
Credit students must write a 2 page paper on one of three possible topics assigned session 8 and due session 10.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Write 1 page scenario for a short (3 to 6 minute) film
Write 3 to 6 page script
Shoot short film outside of class time
Edit short film outside class time
Screening of footage from project in class
Attendance and participation in group in-class shoots
2 page written assignment (credit students only)
4 take home quizes (credit students only)
Required Reading:
New School Film Production Handbook
Cinematography by Kris Malkiewicz, Simon & Schuster, 1992
Suggested Reading:
The Filmmaker’s Handbook Edward Pincus and Steven Ascher;
Plume/Penguin
The Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats, Part I: The Screenplay Hillis Cole and Judith Haag; CMC Publishing, 1991
American Cinematographer’s Handbook
Eastman Kodak Motion Picture Films Kodak Publication No. H-1
Motion Picture Camera Techniques David W. Samuelson; Focal Press, 1979
Filmmaking Study Aids on the Web by the Instructor:
http://cepa.newschool.edu/~schlemoj/film_courses
(If you do not have web access please talk to me about getting a copy of the Bolex and Seconic study aids)
SESSION 1
Introduction
Review of course requirements
Lecture topic:
An introduction to 16mm film
In-class exercise:
Loading and working with the Bolex
Discussion topics:
The script
What makes a good short film.
Lecture topic:
Lenses and exposure
Discussion topic:
Filmstocks and general procedures
In-class exercise:
using the light meter
Reading assignment:
The New School Film Production Handbook
Assignment for next week:
Write both a shooting script and a one page scenario of the film you plan to shoot.
SESSION 2 - scenarios and scripts due
Students read scenarios
In-class exercise:
Bolex and light meter review session
In-class exercise:
Camera exercises
SESSION 3
Scripts returned with written suggestions
Screen and discuss:
Camera Exercises footage
Discussion topic:
Coverage, Continuity and Composition
Discussion topic:
Lighting
In-class exercise:
Lighting Workshop
SESSION 4
Screen and discuss:
Lighting Workshop footage
Screen student dailies
Lecture topic:
The Laboratory
In-class assingment:
Students collectively write script for a short film for in-class demonstration of editing.
SESSION 5
Screen student dailies
In-class exersise:
students shoot short film
SESSION 6
View student dailies
Lecture/demonstration:
An introduction to editing
In-class exercise:
The splicer, the editing bench
Logging footage
SESSION 7
In-class exercise:
The flatbed
Discussion topic:
the aesthetic princbles of editing
SESSION 8
Students show rough cuts
Critique of work
Lecture topic:
An overview of sound
In-class exercise:
Using the Sony TCD5-M Cassette Recorder
Credit student assignment:
2 page paper due session 10, on one of three possible topics, T.B.A.
SESSION 9
Students show rough cuts
Critique of work
Demonstration/In-class exercise:
Building tracks and preparing for the mix
SESSION 10 - papers due
Guest Artist visits
Disscusion topic
the final steps: negative cutting, the mix, etc.
SESSION 11
Students show fine cuts with sound
Discussion topic:
Producers, Distributors, film festivals
SESSION 12
Students show fine cuts with sound
Discussion topic:
Where to from here?
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