VSAR 303: Introduction to Video
Art
http://www.csusm.edu/diekman/vsar303S07/syllabus.html
Time: Tuesday, Lab 3-4:50; Lecture/Screenings/Discussion, 5:15-8pm
Location: Arts 340
Instructor: Prof. Kristine Diekman
Email: kdiekman@csusm.edu; http://www.csusm.edu/diekman
Office: Arts Bldg. 301
Telephone: 760-750-4188
Email: kdiekman@csusm.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, 1 - 2:45 pm; Wednesay, 1:-2:30 pm, or by appointment
V PA Admin. Asst.: Lani Woods, 760-750-4137; lanwoods@csusm.edu
Technician: Chad Huggins; cehuggin@csusm.edu
Vpa website: http://www.csusm.edu/vpa
Student Assistant Lab Hours for extra help: Lab hours, Monday 12-1,Tuesday
2-3, Wednesday 12-2
Course description:
This is is a beginning level video production course in which you will learn
to make videos within the context of art making. This semester will be divided
between production, screenings, readings and discussion. You will learn how
to operate digital video cameras, various forms of digital editing equipment,
lighting, and basic audio recording and mixing. Primary applications you will
use are Final Cut Pro 5 and DVD Studio Pro. A series of technical and conceptual
exercises and assignments will provide the matrix for your course work, equally
emphasizing technique and content. You will also become familiar with historical
and contemporary work by video artists.
Course goals:
To gain a basic understanding of video production and post-production
To gain exposure to video art
To produce videos emphasizing form and content equally
To become conversant in the language of video art
Production assignments
Assignments include in-class group projects as well as individual production
assignments. I encourage you to work on individual projects so that you can
learn the technology better and develop your own ideas. However, if you want
to work with someone, please be specific as to each person s responsibility
in the project.
Assignment #1: In camera edit, group project
Assignment #2: Appropriation/Culture Jam
Assignment #3: Interview Project (can work in pairs
or threes)
Assignment #4: Text and Image
Required Texts
VSAR 303, Reader. This reader can be purchased at CopyServe, 754 S.
Rancho Santa Fe Rd., San Marcos. 760-599-9923. CopyServe is on the corner
of Rancho Santa Fe and San Marcos Blvd. If you are traveling west on San Marcos
Blvd., cross Rancho Santa Fe, take your first right into the mall, and then
an immediate left. Purchase your reader immediately, as when they run out
it may take a day to have them bind a new one. They do not take phone orders.
Final Cut Pro 5, Diane Weynand, Apple Pro Training Series. Available
at the CSUSM Bookstore. You will be using this book every class period to
complete tutorials.
Online at CSUSM LIbrary--can be used only from csusm connection
Readings
There are assigned readings pertinent to understanding history, theory and
practice of video art. We will discuss the readings in class and screen relevant
work. There are also technical reading assignments followed by quizzes. The
quizzes are based on the reading and on demos.
Research
Everyone will complete a research/writing assignment and presentation based
on "Surveying the First Decade", a multi-part history of video art
in the U.S. Research paper should be approximately 5 pages. Presentation approximately
10:00.
Assignment: "Surveying the First Decade", videotapes and workbook;
available at the Media Library, 2nd Floor of Kellogg Library. Choose
one video (not an entire reel) from this collection you would like to research
and present a clip to the class. Write a five-page paper exploring this video
in its historical, theoretical, aesthetic, or technical context using at least
three sources for your research. Include bibliography. You must use at least
five citations total from VSAR 303 Reader, books on video/film in the library,
and online references at the Experimental Television Center, Video History
Project, http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/history/index.html
Plagiarism
Information on what constitutes plagiarism can be found at:http://www.csusm.edu/student_affairs/Policies/academic_honesty.htm
Grading
Your grade is based on total participation in the class including completing
and discussing readings, attending required events, finishing assignments,
working with groups, and helping to care for the equipment and lab. Each assignment
will be given a letter grade. For production assignments, I will grade equally
on form, content and creativity.
60 % production assignments (form/technical; content; creativity)
20% reading/research/quizzes
20 % attendance and participation
Attendance is taken at the beginning of class (lab) with a sign in sheet.
This is my only record of your attendance; so don't forget to sign in.
Four missed classes constitutes a failing grade. Leaving class early without
permission or not attending lab constitutes half a missed class.
Checkout of Production Equipment
Please read and review checkout policy. Checkout hours are posted in checkout,
Arts 239. A complete list of checkout items is available at Checkout. You
are responsible for any damage or loss of equipment. Do not keep equipment
in your car. Do not keep it in hot or dusty areas. Always check your
equipment when checking it out to make sure it works and has all of the parts
you are signing for. You are responsible for everything you sign for. If a
piece of equipment is damaged, tell us immediately so we can fix it. DO NOT
RETURN EQUIPMENT WHICH SEEMS TO BE IN DISREPAIR. PLEASE INFORM CHECKOUT UPON
RETURN. I am providing trouble reports for you to fill out if you encounter
problems with checkout equipment--give these to checkout when you return equipment
if there is a problem. Trouble reports for problems with editing workstations
must befilled out and left at the workstation.
Remember, if you do not report broken equipment or problems at the workstations,
it will come back to bite you or your classmate.
Supplies to purchase
3 x 60 minutes MiniDV tapes minimum
DVD-R, several
Highly recommended: Headphones (about $20 dollars)-headphones should be of
the enclosed kind
Most of these supplies can be purchased at Frys, Circuit City, and San Diego
Audio Video.
Arts Events:
The VPA Department and Communication offer many arts and film events which
have been carefully programmed to benefit students. Although not all of these
events are during this class time, I encourage you to go as many as possible.
You are required to attend one of the events which are listed on this schedule
(besides the one which is scheduled in class). A one page response is due
after you participate in the event.
The Arts and Lectures website is: http://al.csusm.edu/A&L/index.php
The VPA department events: http://www.csusm.edu/vpa/events.html
Visiting Mediamaker's Series
VPA listserv : if you are a student in the VPA department, you are
automatically on the listserv. I send out frequent calls for interns, production
job announcements, film screenings, and competitions. This is sent to your
college email. If you are not a vpa student, I will send info to you through
your college email if you would like.
Week-to-Week Schedule
This schedule may change. If you do not attend class, it is your responsibility
to find out if changes to the schedule were made.
Productions assignments are given prior to the date they are due, and due
dates are listed on schedule.
Research assignments and reading assignments are listed on the dates they
are due.
Week 1
January 23
Introduction
Skills Survey
Lab Rules and Checkout
Week 2
Jan 30
FCP Tutorial; Types of shots/film language; In camera
edit
Introduction to DV Cameras, Tripods, Timecode; Introduction to FCP
In class project: Go over cameras and tripods in groups
Assignment #1: In Camera Edit; In class, group project; shoot
material paying attention to timecode and timecode breaks and shot composition.
BRING MINI DV TAPE. Do all editing in camera. Finish for next week. In this
assignment you will be using shot composition to create a portrait of a place,
object or person. These are your requirements:
1. Video must have no more than 15 shots
2. Must be edited in camera (you can capture and edit another version if you
want)
3. Must include at least 1 macro shot, 1 extreme close up, 1 change of focus
(rack focus), 1 wide shot, 1 pan, 1 tilt, 1 tracking shot, 1 zoom, 1 dutch
angle. Create a simple storyboard before shooting to develop shot order.
4. Sound must be diegetic (no sound not present in the scene)
5. Must have unbroken timecode
Screening: Eames, Tops ; Benning, Selected Works
FCP Tutorial: Lesson 1 Working with the Interface. Lesson
9 Capturing Footage
Reading Assignment due :
VSAR 303 Reader:
Low Budget Video Bible , Camcorder Basics (Chapt. 3);
All in Good Timecode
Broadcast Technology Worktext, Timecode
Editing Techniques with FCP, Chapter One, pages 1- 29; Chapter 2, pgs. 31
-54
FCP Tutorial: Lesson 2 Marking and Editing; Lesson 3 Drag
and Drop Editing
Show work from last week if we already haven t done so.
Demo: Introduction to editing techniques and technology;
preparing appropriated imagery for editing; discussion of montage
Assignment #2: Appropriation and Culture Jam
In this assignment, you will use appropriated footage, that is footage
from other sources such as TV, film, web, home movies, etc. You are asked
to capture and re-edit the images to give them a new meaning in a different
context. You can add your own footage to it. The goal is to take footage with
a pre-existing meaning and use, and repurpose it to create a critical, humorous
or personal video. Length: approximately 1-3 minutes. You can use sync sound,
sound you create, music, or silence.
Screening: Dara Birmbaum, Technology Transformation, Wonder Woman; Dan Reeves, Mosaic for the Kali Yuga; Unknown White Male footage