Fall 2013 Syllabus Course Title: Documentary Project (Cream City Soundcheck) Course Numbers: Film 380 Film 420 Meeting times/locations: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM - 10:50 AM, KSE 408 or doc UWM offices (KSE 485 & 487) Office Hours: by appointment Instructor: Ryan Sarnowski Phone: 414-232-3407 (cell) e-mail: rjs8@uwm.edu docuwm Office: KSE 485, phone 229-2890 Film Department Office: Mitchell B70, phone: 229-6015 Course Description: The Documentary Projects course gives students a first hand experience of professional documentary production. Students will learn the art of researching, producing, directing, shooting, and editing a documentary while allowing the student to explore creative ways to express a short, informative, and entertaining narrative. Students in this class will work collaboratively with doc UWM to produce short music documentaries for the Cream City Soundcheck project that features musical performers from Milwaukee playing music and exploring some of Milwaukee s more unique cultural offerings. You can check out previous Cream City Soundcheck documentaries at: http://www.creamcitysoundcheck.com This course is designed as a way for film students to learn professional documentary skills through creative and practical application, the production of Cream City Soundcheck is overseen by doc UWM - the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee s documentary center, housed inside the Peck School of the Arts Film Department. Students working on the Cream City Soundcheck project will gain valuable experience that bridges the gap between academic and real world experience. Not only does the creation of these videos help mold the next era of creative talent in Milwaukee, but they also help to promote Milwaukee as a vibrant, diverse, and artistic city.
Prerequisites: Film students applying for this class should have passed portfolio before doing so. Students in the film department, or those who have yet to pass portfolio, need to see the instructor before they consider taking this course. Students who have taken this course may enroll again. Course Responsibilities Collaboration: Learning to collaborate with others is tantamount to success in this course. In the professional world of filmmaking, a community of talented individuals contributes their time and talents to a project. This is how most films are made. In this class, you will learn that because of the project s intense workload it is more productive and in your best interest to collaborate with your classmates and the doc UWM staff. Each student will be expected to try his or her hand at different production duties. No student can pass this course without having spent sometime producing, shooting, recording sound, and editing. There will be more than enough opportunities for everyone to fulfill these requirements. In fact, there will be a surplus of opportunities and all class members will be expected to jump-in whenever necessary to help complete productions and meet deadlines. Note: those students who volunteer for the most opportunities learn the most. Time and Communication: You will need to understand that the bulk of work for this class is done outside of the regularly scheduled meeting times. Shoots cannot be coordinated to happen during class time and you will need far more than 4 hours a week for post-production. So, you need to be flexible and available to work some long and odd hours. This course is run like a professional documentary film production and you will experience the thrills and agony that often come with any project. Things will not go as planned, that is the only guarantee I can give you. A high percentage of documentary filmmaking is creative problem solving. Ideas may not work out, shoots might fall through, hard drives might fail, and people s emotions might get run through the ringer, just remember that all filmmaking is a continual learning experience and that you are not doing this on your own. You are encouraged to ask questions and you should not be afraid to make mistakes. I am here to help you, as is the rest of the doc UWM staff. Our role is to guide this project and to guide your educational experience. In most cases, we will accompany you on shoots and be available for individual meetings. However, you must communicate with us and let us know when things are not working or you are struggling. Our role is to troubleshoot and help you improve your work. We will always be available to help you, but if we must substantially assist you or you completely fail to uphold your responsibilities on a project your grade for this course will suffer.
Deadlines: Deadlines are the key to keeping a project on track and moving forward. They can also help foster creativity. In the real world of film production, those who can work creatively and meet deadlines are those who find work. Those who do not meet deadlines aren t called back for the next job. Like the real world, this class counts on you honoring your commitment to the project and timeline. Missing deadlines or schedules shoots means you are not just letting yourself down, you are also letting down the team of people connected to the project. Failure to meet deadlines in this class can result in being pulled from a part of the project and potentially failing the course. Attendance in class, production meetings, and on shoots is mandatory in order to get a passing grade in this class. Due to the hands-on nature of this course, and the fact that we pack an extensive amount of information into the first eight weeks, it is crucial that students be on time and present to keep up with the project and comprehend the material. Your time in the field and in production meetings is invaluable to the project and will be documented and evaluated by myself as well as your classmates. This course is designed to simulate the working world. Therefore, the same standards apply. Production companies or clients do not care about alarm clocks that don t work, parking problems, or computer crashes. Give yourself more than enough time to avoid the common scenarios mentioned above. If you need to miss a shoot due to illness or unforeseen circumstance, please notify your team and instructor via cell phone prior to the event so we can be prepared to work without you. If you fail to communicate with the instructor and your team, your grade will be substantially impacted. If you are consistently late or absent in class and in the field, you will fail the course. Any absences without notification prior and proper documentation will not be accepted and will result in significant grade reductions. Two or more unexcused absences will result in a failing grade. An absence due to a health issue, work conflict, or death in the family may be excused with proper documentation, such as: a written excuse from a doctor, boss, or an obituary. Grading Criteria and Policies: Student grades will be based upon quizzes, assignments meeting deadlines, collaboration, rising to technical expectations and each student s exhibition of both effort and creative talent. Each student will have the opportunity to shoot footage, record audio, conduct an interview, produce a shoot, compose a transcript, log footage, organize a edit, work on rough cuts of scenes, and critique one another s work. The sum of each video will be a collaborative process, but each student will be graded upon the following expectations.
ASSIGNMENTS & GRADES: You will be responsible for the on the following assignments: Assignment Possible Points Bio, calendar, and photo 10 Production Sheet 15 Producing 35 Camera 50 Audio 50 Participation 200 Transcript 10 Rough Cuts 50 Fine Cut 50 Peer Evaluation 10 Organization and Delivery 20 TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS 500 Grading Formula: For those of you who like to keep score, here s the point spread: A = 500-480 A- = 479-460 B+ = 459-448 B = 447-436 B- = 435-420 C+ = 419-408 C = 407-396 C- = 395-380 D+ = 379-368 D = 367-356 D- = 355-340 F = below 339 Points will be deducted for the following: poor attendance, habitual tardiness, inadequate preparation, inability to meet deadlines, inadequate in-class or fieldwork participation, poor communication and unwillingness to step in and help out as crew for other classmates. *Please note that all of the assignments are mandatory. Failure to turn in an assignment ON- TIME without prior notification will result in an F for the assignment. To ensure the successful completion of the project you will be expected to make all deadlines. Keys to Success: 1) Meet your deadlines 2) Keep neat and organized files that follow the protocol discussed in class 3) Good communication (promptly respond to e-mails and calls, CC appropriate people on e-mails) 4) Submit all materials and forms (i.e. files, hard drives, production sheets, releases). 5) Give that extra effort to make sure your work is as problem free and technically proficient as possible 6) Push yourself and your classmates to work in a creative and supportive fashion. 7) Do not settle for good enough express yourself creatively Required supplies: A NOTEBOOK and PEN. doc UWM will provide students
with all other essential shooting supplies, (i.e. camera and sound gear, memory cards, batteries, lens tissue, etc.) Students are only required to own a notebook and pen. It is mandatory that you take notes during class, workshops, and feedback sessions. Failure to have your notebook or to take notes will cost you points. Software and Hardware Requirements: All students must edit their work on doc UWM computers and hard drives. Students will be provided 24 hour access to doc UWM computers which they will need to reserve through Google Calendars. All shooting must be done on doc UWM approved cameras, unless the instructor, before the shoot, grants specific permission. Students must use specific camera and editing settings agreed upon in class. doc UWM hard drives are to remain in the doc UWM office at all times. Failure to save your work properly cannot be an excuse for late work. Equipment Eligibility/Access/Checkout: For this class, students will be trained on doc UWM specific equipment. Outside of a few items (i.e. additional lights, tripods) that can be obtained through the Film School s Equipment Room, all equipment will be checked out through docuwm. Those wishing to check out doc UWM gear will need to reserve equipment on Google Calendars. All equipment is for doc UWM productions only. If for any reason it is found that equipment under your care was used for something other than a doc UWM shoot or computers and hard drives are being used for personal projects or work from another class your grade will be lowered. While it is under your care, you are responsible for any equipment that maybe lost, stolen, or broken. Furthermore, you will be responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing the equipment. ALL STUDENTS MUST SIGN AN EQUIPMENT RELEASE CONTRACT BEFORE THEY MAY USE doc UWM s OFFICE, PRODUCTION, and POST- PRODUCTION GEAR. Facility Access & Work Permits: Students will have hand scan access to the Kenilworth building and key access to KSE 487 (the doc UWM edit suites). 24 hour access to Kenilworth is available for all enrolled students. Students will need to register in the hand reader lock system. Students register at the PSOA Box Office in the Zelazo Center. Drops & Incompletes: No drops are permitted after the 5th week of the semester. Incompletes will be considered ONLY for situations in which you are maintaining a B or better grade at the end of classes, and you are unable, because of illness or other circumstances beyond your control, to complete your course work.
Class Related Communication Info: E-mail 1. Respond within 24 hours. 2. Begin the subject to all of your e-mails as such: [CSS] 3. Check your e-mail often, when you get up in the morning and before you go to bed, at least. Always try to check it before coming to class or the day of a shoot. 4. CC Ryan, Jenny and Matt on all e-mails. Whether they are to your subject, your crew members, or anything water documentary related, please CC us. If we don t see e-mails from you, we ll assume you are not being productive. Plus you will be graded on how well you Keep Us In The Loop (KYITL). Google Link We use Google Calendar to help reserve equipment and editing station. The first assignment for this class will have you gaining access to these calendars and posting events to each calendar. You must start using Google Calendar to determine what doc UWM resources are available for your use. REPORTING PROBLEMS: Problems happen (a lot): At least 80% or maybe it s 90% of documentary filmmaking is really just problem solving. However, when you are starting out one of the biggest problems you can make for yourself is NOT asking for help. If any problem arises whether its something production based or post-production based you need to inform Ryan, Jenny, or Matt - ASAP. Can t find something in the kits? Not sure why the gear is not working? Hearing a weird buzz through the microphone? Hard drives aren t mounting? Footage is offline? Let us know right away. Office Related Info: We want to welcome you to the doc UWM family and make you feel like you are a part of something special, because you are. We take great pride in our projects but our projects wouldn t be possible with out you. So, please use the office as a workspace. doc UWM is not only a place to edit, but it is a place for you to produce your shoots. Please note, sometimes the office is used for meetings or classes. Using the Phone We have two lines on the phones. Line 1 is 229-2890, our main number. We generally try to use line 2 for outgoing calls, so we can still receive incoming calls. For local calls or 800 numbers - press 9 then the number. Receiving Calls When answering, say docuwm, this is.
Ask who is calling before putting them on hold and informing the person that they have a call. Or you can tell them that they are unavailable/out of the office/at a meeting/etc. and take a message. Then, e-mail person and inform them of the message. Locking the Door and Safety Please make sure the office and the edit suite are locked if you are the last one to leave. Double check the door is locked when you close it. We ask that if you are in the office alone late at night you take the precaution of locking the door while you are in the office. Windows and Lights Before leaving, be sure you turn out the lights in both the main office and the edit suite. Also, check that the windows are closed. Rain can get through the windows and windows left open in the winter can freeze pipes and cause lots of damage. Food and Drink Absolutely NO food or drink next to the computers. You may keep drinks on the floor if they have a cap or top that can prevent spills. Do NOT let me find you breaking this rule. You are free to eat your heart s delight in the main office (485).. Cleanliness Simple stuff folks, don t leave your items lying around, especially trash. Wash out the cups you use. Turn off the coffee pot, especially when it is empty. Don t leave food in the fridge for days on end (everything gets tossed on Fridays). Try not to burn or spill things in the microwave. Office Supplies Paper, printer ink, notepads, envelopes, shipping supplies, and all that other fun stuff is located on the east side of the office under the white board. If you take the last of something or see we are running low or simply can t find a supply please let us know. UNIVERSITY POLICIES: Participation by Students with Disabilities: If you need special accommodations in order to meet any of the requirements of this course, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. Accommodation for Religious Observances: Students that have schedule conflicts due to a religious observance must notify me within the first three weeks of semester. If appropriate, these students will be allowed to complete course requirements, at a mutually agreed upon alternate date. Students called to active military duty. Accommodations will be made for absences due to call-up of reserves to active military duty.
Complaint Procedures: Students may direct complaints to the head of the academic unit or department in which the complaint occurs. If the complaint allegedly violates a specific university policy, it may be directed to the head of the department or academic unit in which the complaint occurred or to the appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy. Grade Appeal Procedures: A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow the established procedures adopted by the department, college, or school in which the course resides. These procedures are available in writing from the respective department chairperson or the Academic Dean of the College/School. A more detailed description of the grade Appeal Policy may be found in UWM Selected Academic and Administrative Policies, Policy #S-28 and UWM Faculty Document #1243. Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is reprehensible and will not be tolerated by the University. It subverts the mission of the University and threatens the careers, educational experience, and well being of students, faculty, and staff. The University will not tolerate behavior between or among members of the University community, which creates an unacceptable working environment. Incompletes: A notation of "incomplete" may be given in lieu of a final grade to a student who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond the student's control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of term work. An incomplete is not given unless you prove to the instructor that you were prevented from completing course requirements for just cause as indicated above. A more detailed description of the Incomplete Policy may be found in UWM Selected Academic and Administrative Policies, Policy #S-31 and UWM Faculty Documents #1558 and #1602. Also, a description of this policy may be found in UWM Schedule of Classes. Academic Misconduct: Academic misconduct is an act in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation, uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise, forges or falsifies academic documents or records, intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others, engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student's academic performance, or assists other students in any of these acts. I will refer cases of academic midsconduct to the College of Letters and Science with a recommendation for disciplinary action. A more detailed description of Student Academic Disciplinary Procdures may be found in Regents Policy Statement, UWS Chapter 14 and UWM Faculty Document #1686. If you have more questions on University policies please refer to the Secretary of the University Web site (http://www.uwm.edu/dept/secu/syllabuslinks.pdf)