University of Nicosia, Cyprus Course Code Course Title Credits (ECTS) COMM- 302 Creative Production and 6 Publishing Department Semester Prerequisites Communications Spring 2014 COMM-117, COMM-212 Type of Course Field Language of Instruction Major Elective Radio, TV and Digital English Broadcasting Media Level of Course Year of Study Lecturer 1 st Cycle 3 rd Ms. Sophia Tsangaridou Mode of Delivery Work Placement Co-requisites face-to-face N/A None Course Days/Times Course Venue Student Consultation Hrs Thur 15:00 18:00 DGLAB Mo 9:00-11:00, Thu 09:00-11:00, Fri 10:00-11:00 Telephone E-mail Office 22-842200 tsangaridou.s@unic.ac.cy Humanities Bld, 102C Objectives of the Course: The objective of the course is to develop further skills acquired from basic level production courses. It includes: applying concepts and techniques of video and film production, working with digital and HD equipment (video camera and editing), shot composition, editing workshops and publishing, sharing and promoting videos for the web. The course will provide an opportunity to the students to create a variety of productions, allowing them to express personal creativity. They are introduced into the making of a commercial, a Public Service Announcement, documentaries, music videos and short dramas. The students will be asked to write a script, shoot, edit their own projects on some of these categories and finally publish/upload them. Learning Outcomes: After completion of the course students are expected to be able to: 1. Develop further skills in creative production and editing 2. Utilize their knowledge from previous courses to creatively work on different kind of television programmes: Commercials, PSAs, Music Videos, Documentaries, Short Movies 3. Learn to edit for posting online 4. Develop their personal style and creativeness 5. Develop self-critical abilities 6. Generate new creative ideas 1
Course Contents: 1. Working with different techniques, Commercials & Public Service Announcements, Animations and Abstract Videos 2. From the idea to the storyboard, shooting and post production 3. Music Videos 4. Documentary i. Choosing the subject, research, interviews, street poll, A-Roll, B-Roll, the pre-production package, the script 5. Short Dramas i. Choosing the subject, assigning roles, research, characters, script, the summary and the treatment. 6. Editing Principles/ Digital Editing 7. Publish, Use Tags and promote videos online Teaching Methods: Interactive lectures, Visual Aids, Workshops Assessment Methods: Participation 5% Equipment handling 5% Project 1 Mood Video 15% Project 2 Music Video 20% Project 3 Final Project Short Drama 30% Prepare your Blog & Upload Your Videos 25% Total 100% Required Textbooks: Authors Title Publisher Year Alan Wurtzel, Television Production N/A 1995 Stephen R Acker. Various Selected Readings (reading package N/A N/A prepared by the instructor) Shalat Andrew How to do everything with Online McGrawHill 2008 Video Osborne Notes of the instructor-sophia Tsangaridou Creative Production- Class Notes N/A N/A Recommended Textbooks/Reading: Authors Title Publisher Year Millerson, G, Video Production Handbook. (5th Oxford: Focal 2011 Owens,J. ed.) Press Kexdel, j., Working with Video N/A 1986 Winston,B. Cury, I. Directing & Producing for Television Focal Press 2002 2. (2 nd Ed.). - Lyver, D. and Swainson, G. Basics of Video Production. (2 nd Ed.). Oxford: Focal Press 1999 2
Attendance Regulations: Students are expected to attend their lectures and labs. Being late to class will be recorded as half absence. Absences more than 20% or a no show during the final exam without a valid and timely excuse will result to a withdrawal and a grade WA will be given. International students are required also by law to attend classes regularly. Attendance will be checked at the beginning of each class. Course Requirements: Projects: All projects will be presented in class and discussion will follow the presentations. Projects/Exercise: You are required to complete all projects and exercises assigned to you (brief description follows). Please make sure that all projects are handed in on time, any late submission will result to a deduction on your grade. All projects will be presented in class and discussion will follow the presentations. Project 1: Abstract/ Mood or Idea Video. Choose a subject /a theme/an emotion and experiment on passing your message to the viewers. You may use music and natural sounds, text and maybe one or two sound bites (a quote or a short poem). The viewers should be able to realize your message and find that single word that describes it with no confusion. The duration of should be approximately 1-2 minutes. Project 2: Music Video. Choose a song or a piece of music that you like and express ideas and emotions that this specific choice awakes you. Shoot and edit the visual to show us the story that you see behind the song or the music. The duration of the song/ music should be approximately three minutes. Examples will be presented and ideas will be discussed in class. A shot list should be handed in with this project. Project 3: Short Drama. For this final project you are asked to produce a short drama following a particular idea, by the use of one or two actors. You have to work in groups since television and especially the particular area is all about team work. Ideas and subjects will be discussed in class; usually you have a choice among three to five main ideas. The duration of your short drama should be approximately four- five minutes. A treatment should be handed in for this project. Please keep in mind that: - you will need to cut from one person to the other- use dialogue, not a narration or an interview - the project will be done using a single camera set up, so be careful on your planning of master shots and medium/ close up shots - keep visual and audio continuity during editing Equipment to be used: For the purpose of this course you will be using DVCAM Cameras, AVID Editing suites, Lights and microphones provided by the university. You will need to purchase: 3
1. Two DV tapes to be used as follows: one for shooting-rushes tape and one as your master tape (optional) 2. Three empty DVDs +R (for the lecturer- also 3 extra ones if you want to save your projects for your portfolio) For cameras, please reserve online on Mediazone s webpage http://mz.unic.ac.cy Attention though, for each project there is a maximum amount of time that you are allowed to use, make sure you use that time productively since you might not get to have another chance. For the completion of the projects you are using equipment and facilities of the studios of the University of Nicosia- mediazone. The rules and regulations of the studios apply to this course. Remember that you are responsible for the equipment assigned to you. Grading Policy: Letter Grade Meaning Numerical Grade Grade Points A Excellent 93-100 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ Very Good 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ Good 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ Poor but Acceptable 67-69 1.3 D 63-66 1.0 D- 60-62 0.7 F Failure 0-59 0.0 4
Schedule of Lectures and Assessment: Week Date Topics Reminder 1 06/02/14 Course Introduction Revision on Production Phases, Who is who on Television. Revision on Framing & Composition, Camera movements 2 13/02/14 Digital Technology Creative work starting from shooting Workshop: Hands on Camera and Exercise Assign Project 1 (view sample of projects), The storyboard. 3 20/02/14 Working with different techniques Abstract Videos Editing Principles/ Digital Editing with AVID XPRESS PRO 4 27/02/14 Digital Editing with AVID XPRESS PRO Creative work through editing Workshop: Exercise in class on editing 5 06/03/14 Presentation of project 1 Graphics & Effects for TELEVISION Keying and Chroma key Workshop in Studio 6 13/03/14 Music Videos-choosing the song, theme, location scouting, copyrights, shooting and editing Assign project 2 (view examples in class) Editing tips on Music Videos-workshop Editing using Chroma Key workshop 7 20/03/14 Short Dramas- Choosing the subject, assigning roles, characters, script, the summary and the treatment. Assign project 3 Assign groups for project 3- mini drama, start working on the idea, writing the treatment 8 27/03/14 Work on the short drama- Writing the outline and the treatment, work on short biography and draft script 9 03/04/14 Presentation project 2 Publishing, Blogs, Use Tags and promote videos online Bring one DV tape in Class Reserve Cameras for project 1 Shooting Project 1 Reserve Editing Time for project 1 Editing Project 1 Project 1 due Remember to hand in your storyboard along with the DVD Reserve Cameras for project 2 Reserve Editing Time for project 2 Shoot project 2- music video Edit project 2 music videos Due Pre-production package and the first draft script Edit project 2 music videos Due Project 2- Music Videos Remember to hand in your shot list along with the DVD Reserve Cameras for project 3 10 10/04/14 Shooting project 3- mini drama, Shooting project 3- mini drama Reserve time for editing project 3- mini drama 14/04-28/04/14 HOLIDAYS HOLIDAYS 11 01/05/14 Last Shootings on project 3- mini drama, Parallel Editing and preparation of the Blog 12 08/05/14 Last Edits on Project 3- Mini Drama Presentation of the Blog and uploading Presentation of Project 3 if it is ready Hand in Project 3 during exam week, LAST DAY 21 st May 2014 Edit Project 3- Mini Drama Due Project 3- Mini Drama Remember to hand in your treatment 5