SCHEDULE
Note: This schedule is subject to change. The instructor reserves the right to modify the schedule at anytime to best fit the needs of the class. Check Canvas or the class blog for the latest version and updated information about upcoming homework assignments and lecture material. The instructor will do his best to inform students about schedule changes. Updates to the blog and group e-mails will be the most used forms of communication.
Class 1, January 31st
LECTURE
-Introduction to class dynamic and student expectations. Construct class blog and
sign in all students as contributors.
-Discussion on the types/styles of multi-media projects you will encounter during
the semester.
-Examples of good Multi-Media projects.
-Final Project Criteria: Start thinking about a final project topic/idea now. A proposal will be due on/by Class 5.
-What makes a good photo? Why do I want to look at this image? Discussion of techniques and compositional skills used by photographers. Entry points, visual stop signs, the Rule-Of-Thirds, Color v. B&W and Angle-Of-Attack are all discussed.
HOMEWORK: Oh Maryland, Your Maryland
Photo Assignment #1 (50 points): Let me see what you can do. The University of Maryland is a great campus, big, but great. Each of you travels differently through its many walkways, corridors and buildings. You each see various locations and admire different aspects of this campus. For your first assignment, I want you to show me what makes College Park special to you. Document your travels during one day, a typical day, from start to finish. From dawn to dusk and beyond. You will need a minimum of four photos for uploading to the class blog. Strive to shoot a lot of image. The more the merrier. Bring all unedited images to class for editing during next class.
Class 2, February 7th
LECTURE
-Introduction to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge. From start to finish. Designing a basic workflow. Getting your images off your camera/phone. Basic does and don’t with editing. File types, file size, file saving and display options.
-Blog posting basics. Short discussion on how to post and what to post. Image sizing, captioning information and labels.
LAB
-Edit and post Photo Assignment #1.
IN CLASS
-Discussion and short exercise on the three types of images every good photographer looks for when documenting a scene.
HOMEWORK: People, Portraits, and Profiles
Photo Assignment #2- (75 points) Find a friends, coworkers, faculty members or family members and shoot a series of portraits of them. One could be a new LinkedIn profiles photo. You will need a minimum of three distinctly different portraits. Think about light, location, framing composition and style. Try not to photograph all your portraits in the same place. Editing will be done in class next week. Bring all your unedited images with you. You will unload the best portrait from each of your photo sessions. Extra points awarded if one of your subjects uses your image for their LinkedIn profile.
Class 3, February 14th
LAB
-Lets get to editing right away. Edit and post to the blog your images from Photo Assignment #2.
LECTURE/DISCUSSION
-Where are we at with Final Project ideas? View and discuss a few examples of good projects. And lets not forget a few bad projects.
IN CLASS
-Knowing how to take a good portrait is an imperative skill for the well-rounded photographer. Why are some portraits so damn good? What sets them apart? Lets figure that out. We will look at and critique some famous portraits and discuss different styles of portraits. Then we will train our lenses on each other.
-Students will pair up and take simple environmental portraits of each other.
HOMEWORK: Three, It’s a Magic Number
Photo Assignment #3 (75 points): Attend a campus/local event and document it visually. The event can be a sporting event, political event, social event or other “happening.” Stay away from house parties, bars and other events where you are a participant or that are inappropriate for class. Look for visually interesting angles. Document with the three styles of images that photographers have in their arsenal. You will need at least one Detail image, at least three Medium images and one Overall image Editing and posting will be done in class. You will need to bring in all your unedited images to class.
Class 4, February 21st
LAB
-Edit and post Photo Assignment #3
IN CLASS
-More examples of Multi-Media projects. Some different styles will be shown. The use of music will be discussed.
-Telling a more in-depth story with photos. Looking for the details, the little things, and the often overlooked elements of a scene. Think of your images as a cast of characters. What are their rolls? Who is the lead? Who is an extra? Who is the nutcase we can’t stop talking about.
-As a class, in 20 minutes, document Knight Hall from top to bottom and inside and out.
HOMEWORK: Strive For Five
Photo Assignment #4: (100 points) Attend an event (sporting, academic, social) and tell the story of that event in exactly five photos. Make your audience want to attend. Think about how each image would/could be displayed. Which is your Lead, Supporting Cast, Extra, Wild Character, and Location Identifier?
Class 5, February 28th
LAB
-Edit and post Photo Assignment #4
IN CLASS
-Final Project Proposals are due. (25)
-Open call Brainstorming session. This is not a case where too many cooks spoil the broth. The more input you can get, the better.
HOMEWORK: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Pre-Video Assignment: (25 points) Find and post to the class blog an example of a good and bad multi-media project. Provide a short blurb about why each is
fantastic or forgettable. Examples should be posted before the start of class next week.
Class 6, March 6th
DISCUSSION
-Look at and discuss several examples from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly multi-media projects that you posted
LECTURE
-Introduction to Video Storytelling.
-When video works best.
-Tips and Technics for better video.
IN CLASS EXERCISE
-We will do some simple video interviews, discussing the does and don’ts concerning lighting, framing, being a good listener, backgrounds and ambient sound.
HOMEWORK: MOTS
Video Assignment #1: (50) Man-On-The-Street interview. Come up with a question related to a local, national, social, political or regional topic and interview five to seven people about that topic. Remember to pay close attention to where the light is coming from, distracting ambient sound and good “look space”.
Class 7, March 13th
LAB
-Introduction to Adobe Premier Pro.
-Discussion of the Interface, importing media, trimming clips, adding effects, structuring your video and exporting the final product.
-Edit, organize and export MOTS projects. Upload to YouTube or Vimeo and post to class blog.
LECTURE
- Making your videos more visual appealing. The art of sequencing.
- Looking for the Overall Shot, Medium, Detail, Ultra-wide, odd angle and more
-When to use a tripod and when not to.
-Breaking The Plane, also known as the 180-degree rule.
IN-CLASS
-Edit and organize a series of provided video clips into a logical sequence.
HOMEWORK: A Sequence of Sequences
Video Assignment #2: (50 points) Find three tasks that have repetitive movements or a logical sequence of movements. Document that task from a minimum of six different angles. Keys here are visual diversity. And remember not to Break The Plane. Examples of good tasks would be: bowling, riding the elevator, doing laundry, riding Metro or taking a walk in the park.
SPRING BREAK March 14th to March 22nd.
Class 8, March 27th
LAB
-Edit, export and post Video Assignment #2.
LECTURE
-Sound and how it can make or break your videos projects. Short discussion on collecting good sound and what makes good sound. Distance, duration, distract.
-Music. Using or abusing music in a project
IN-CLASS
-Break up into teams of two.
In 30 minutes, find at least five distinctly different sounds
that you can record video of.
HOMEWORK: Sound It Out
Video Assignment #3: (75) Over the next week, find a variety of visual situations that also incorporate unique and distinctive sounds. Your situations do not have to relate to each other, but should have some sort of cohesion. You will need at least ten “sound” clips. Examples of a cohesive group include a person playing tennis, running on a treadmill, swimming in a pool, hitting a golf ball, shooting a free throw, doing sit ups. Or, sounds from the game. Ten unique sounds from a sporting event or other game. Sounds of campus. Sounds of the city. And don’t forget about sequencing.
Class 9, April 3rd
LAB
-Edit and organize Video Assignment #3.
-Introduction to more advanced Premier Pro operations.
-Titles, overlays, sound/video fades, P-in-P, etc.
DISCUSSION
-Where are we with your final projects? Open discussion concerning final projects.
LECTURE
-More info on telling a story.
-Decide, first, what story it is you want to tell.
-What is the structure going to be?
-How long does it need to be?
-Who is your audience?
IN-CLASS
Lets look at a bunch of examples of multi-media projects. From student projects, to professional projects, to marketing videos, to web based how-to videos. Lets figure you which project style and project flow works best for you.
HOMEWORK: A Day With Me In A Minute
Video Assignment #4 (75 points) Produce a short (60 to 90 seconds) video about your typical day. You can use still photos only with a voiceover or text screens, an assortment of video clips, again with voiceover narration or text screens, or a combination of still photos and video clips. You could also set your video to music. Remember, this does not have to be a “timeline” style project where you start with getting up, brushing your teeth, catching a bus to your first class, going to the gym, running to class two and ending with you pulling the covers over your head at 12:35 am. It could be that, but think more creatively. Your video does not, repeat, does not, have to be shot all in one day.
Class 10, April 10th
LAB
-You guessed it. Edit and post Video Assignment #4
-This should take a good bit of time.
LECTURE
-Weekly reminder to keep focused on Final Projects.
-How to stay organized.
-Keeping your project files organized.
HOMEWORK
-Work on shooting, making contacts and organizing your final project media. What don’t you have yet? What do you need to reshoot? Is everything you have already in the right place?
Class 11, April 17th
IN CLASS
A visit from a pro. We will either have a visit from a working Multi-Media journalist or Multi-Media producer. He/she will discuss how they got started. Working through all the software and equipment changes. Dealing with client needs, etc.
Class 12, April 24th
LAB
Video Assignment #5: Don’t Be A Tease
Final Project Trailer (50 points): Edit and post a trailer/teaser video for your final project. This should be 60 to 90 seconds of the good stuff, but not so good that you give away the storyline.
Class 13, May 1st
Documentary
Screen a noteworthy documentary about an influential photojournalist.
Class 14, May 8th
LAB
Editing day. Last chance to button up Final Projects. It is a good idea to have other students watch and listen to your project. They may see or learn problems or issues that you have overlooked. Think of this as Proof-Viewing, a visual way to Proofread your project.
Class 15, May May 15th
MOVIE DAY:
Presentation of Final Projects. Students need to have their final projects ready to view before the start of class. We will watch and critique each project, time permitting.
Final Project: (200 points): The final project should demonstrate the skills you have learned throughout the course of the semester. Video clips and/or still photos should be clear, focused and have good composition. Interviews should be framed correctly, have good lighting and clear audio. Formatting of all text screens and graphics should support the overall dynamic of the project, they should not overshadow or distract from the other visuals you are using. The length of the final project is fluid. It should be as long as you need it to be. Having said that, you should be shooting for a run time of between 2:30 and 4:30 minutes.
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