VSAR 309, Generating Narrative in Video and New Media, Fall 2009

Tuesday, 3-7 pm, Arts 340

Instructor: Kristine Diekman

Office and hours: Arts 309, Tuedays, 1:30 - 2:30pm, or by appointment

Course description:

This studio course explores narrative or storytelling structures in video and new media through hands-on, research and writing projects. Projects include creating narrative videos, sound design, an interactive DVD, and a database narrative. The student may also experiment with expanded media forms such as an interactive 3-D art installation or a web-based video project. Sound, video, and new media applications and technologies are covered. Methods and theories of story structures across cultures will be discussed through readings and screenings.

Many classes incorporate a workshop during lab. Class starts promptly at 3pm, so if you want to fully participate, arrive on time. These workshops are in class group projects, so get there early to form your group and to get the desired equipment. I will have some equipment on reserve for the shoots.

Course Goals:

To encourage a high degree of creativity and experimentation through workshops, assignments and hands-on writing and video exercises; and to create an environment where you feel motivated and supported to do so
To understand the role of narrative and storytelling across cultures
To introduce you to the basics of traditional and alternative narrative structures and approaches
To assist you in building on the basic technical skills needed to produce a video
To help you learn how to write about your work and the work of others

Required Texts:

Film Art: Introduction, 8th Edition, David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson (csusm bookstore)

Finding Your Writer's Voice, Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall (csusm bookstore)

Software and Hardware

If you have never used Final Cut Pro for video editing, I recommend that you buy this book and complete the tutorials outside of class time. Apple Pro Training, Final Cut Pro 6, Diana Weynand. An online version can be found at the CSUSM library website, and can be accessed with your pasword and username, using keyword "apple pro training". The tutorials do not include the media.
In addition to using FCP for editing, compositing and sound, I will provide instruction in Soundtrack Pro, Color, DVD Studio Pro, audio recording equipment, and advanced cameras.

Materials:

All video, audio and editing equipment is available to you to check out at VPA checkout in Arts 239A. See checkout rules and lab rules.

You will need to purchase a notebook or sketchbook in which to write, take notes, make storyboards, and record ideas. You will need to buy 2-3 60 minute miniDV tapes (or more) and 5-10 DVD-R. If you don't own an external hard drive, it can be checked out at the VPA check out or at the library student help desk.

Lab Hours: are posted on the doors of the lab. You have 24 hour access to Arts 340 by calling dispatch at 750-4567 when you arrive. They will let you in, but you must have your student ID.

Grading and Attendance:

Distribution of Grades is as follows:

Video Project #1, The Episode, Writing From Your Life: 25%
Due October 20: Video Assignment #1: Video Project #1 •The Episode: Writing From Your Life
Video/Audio Project #2, Database Narrative: 25%
Due December 8: Video Assignment #2: Database Narrative
Participation in exercises (both in-class and out of class): 25%
Reading, writing, and class participation in discussion 25%

Attendance: After three missed classes, your grade will drop one full letter. After four missed classes, you will fail the course. Attendance is taken at the beginning of every class with a sign in sheet. If you don't sign in, I won't know that you have attended.

Arts Events:

Arts and Lectures events which incorporate video and new media are scheduled for this class.http://al.csusm.edu/A&L/index.php

I also email internships, jobs and video competitions to the vpa listserv. Check your college email account if you want updates.

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Part I: Content, Form and Structure: in the first part of this course, we will concentrate on finding stories from your life and how to structure them in film form

Week 1, September 1

Intro to the course
Skills assessment
Overview of Arts 340 Video Lab
Using the tutorials

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Week 2, September 8

Screening:

Anna Deveare Smith, "Twilight, Los Angeles", 90 minutes

Twilight is the retelling of the "story" of the Rodney King beating, trial and aftermath of the trial which happened in 1991-92 in Los Angeles. Anna Deveare Smith is a performance artist and writer who focuses her work on flashpoints in American media and socio-political history, especially those which center on race and culture in the U.S. She interviews a variety of people who are connected to the event, then retells the story from multiple viewpoints through enacting their characters.

Twilight Study Questions : print these questionsout, bring to class for discussion

Reading due today:
Finding Your Writer's Voice, Part One: Voice, pgs. 1 –69. Discussion; read these pages for Excersise #1

Assignment Due today:
Exercise #1 • Experimenting with Voice, Be prepared to share with class. Experiment with several exercises which intrigue you from part one of Finding Your Writer's Voice, Part One, pages 1 - 69. Take one and develope it further. Be creative in your approach. Results can be in video, writing, live performance, sound, or other art form. These do not have to be finished pieces. See assignment details. If you have trouble buying the book immediately, some of the pages from the book have been scanned here. Chapter 6, Chapter 9, Chapter 14.

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Week 3, September 13
Film Form Concepts and Practice

Reading and discussion due today:
Bordwell, Film Art, Chapter 2, "The Significance of Film Form", pages 54 - 71; Discussion about some of these film form concepts. If you have not seen the original Wizard of Oz, you should watch it before reading.

Screen:

Campion, "Passionless Moments" ; One film made of a series of short films depicting the daydreams and fantasies of ordinary people in their mundane routines. Utilizes p.o.v. to represent each individual's fantasy.
Soderbergh, "Traffic", excerpts; Presents a mix of interrelated stories and uses color as a key formal element

Workshop: Review of Cameras, mics, tripods. Bring video tape. Workshop: "A narrative presents a chain of events which are situated in time and space". This hands on cinematography and editing exercise is intended to explore how to change shots from a "random" string of events (Film Art, page 75) through utilizing patterns of development to linearized images in time and space. Workshop description.
Screening, time permitting:"En Chien Andalou", Bunuel; A short experimental film made by Surrealist Luis Bunuel which relates a series of seemingly disconnected sequences through metaphor, continuity editing in space and time, and composition. Creates a semblance of continuous time and space.
"Meshes of the Afternoon", Maya Deren; An experimental film which alters notions of time and space through fragmenting the body or subject; she asks the viewer to rethink our acceptance of filmic reality through utilizing filmic conventions to make something unreal happen

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Week 4, Sept 22
Screen: In class workshop projects from last week.

Screening and discussion:
5:30pm; Special Presentation by Minda Martin. Filmmaker statement: I became fascinated with film at an early age. I visualized life as encompassed in films and started experimenting with mirrors in the desert. This "reflection on life" is depicted in my latest film, Monsoon St. , '77. My films and videos have been strongly informed by my upbringing, in a family deeply affected by sexism, violence, and poverty. I make films and videos about the lives of the people I grew up with; these are representations that are simply absent from mainstream media. My work tells these stories as accessibly as possible while still using an innovative formal structure that rejects the easy stereotypes of women, people of color, and the working poor.

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Week 5,Sept 29
Narrative Structures: Plot and Story
Faculty Furlough Day--you will watch Citizen Kane on your own and complete study questions for discussion

Reading due:
Bordwell, Film Art, Chapter 3, Narrative as a Formal System, pages 74 -107; plot and story, cause and effect, time and space; Complete these study questions. Save your answers for future discussion. Hand in a copy to me in the next class.

Screen and analyze on your own:
Orson Welles, "Citizen Kane"; can found at CSUSM Library on reserve, at your video store, or I am preparing it for online streaming (TBA)

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Week 6, October 6

Visiting Artist, Thaisa Frank, author of Finding Your Writer's Voice, will conduct a writing workshop and will read from her work.

Due today:
Reading due: Finding Your Writer's Voice, Part Two: Story, pgs. 97-126
Assignment Due: Writing Exercise #2: Writing From Your Life: Finding Your Narrator's Voice. See assignment details online. Bring to class.

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Week 7, October 13
Voice Over Narration
I will demonstrate how to record a voice over narration using the sound booth. Bring audio and video to work on for your project today.
NEW ASSIGNMENT DUE TODAY:
Based on writing you did last week for exercise #2 (Finding Your Narrator's Voice) and the workshop, write a short voice-over narration (1 - 2 minutes long) that might be used in your first video project. To accompany the voice over, create a storyboard or shot list. Bring the writing and the storyboard/shot list to class. Working in small groups, you will use the writing to practice recording a voice over narration in the sound booth. Turn in both the written narration and the storyboard or shot list to me. While groups are working in the sound studio, you are required to start logging, capturing, or editing your footage for the first assignment so you must bring footage to work with. I will be available to work with you individually on Final Cut Pro. This will be a good day to get some one on one help.

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Week 8, October 20

Video Project #1 due •The Episode: Writing From Your Life . Have this output on DVD or tape, ready to show the class. Be prepared to discuss your work according to some of these guidelines.

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Week 9, October 27
Visiting Artist, Jose Yenque

Jose Yenque will conduct a workshop in acting and directing for the camera. He will also screen the film, Between.

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Week 10, November 3
Mise-en-scene: Staging the Scene

Reading due today:
Bordwell, Film Art, Chapter 4, "The Shot: Mise-en-Scene"; pages 112 - 153

Screening:
Jane Campion, "The Piano". We will screen excerpts from this film. and have a discussion, study questions.
Reading due: Bordwell, Film Art, Chapter 5, "The Shot: Cinematography"; pages 162-194

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Part 2: Narrative Elements in Space and Time; Viewer Interaction
Week 11, November 10

The Database Narrative
Workshop: DVD Studio Pro as Interactive and Database Tool

Video Assignment #2: Database Narrative: This last project utilizes sound, image and possibly interactivity to explore the possibilities of a "database narrative". "A database can be seen as a collection of many trajectories across various fields of possibilities and options." (See essay "Run, Lola, Run—Film as Narrative Database"). After watching and studying various films considered "database", you will work in groups or alone to write and produce your own database narrative. This work can be a narrative on video, a multimedia installation, a website, or an interactive DVD. See assignment details.

Reading due today:
Jim Bizzocchi, "Run Lola Run, Film as Narrative Database"

Screening today:
Run Lola Run, Thomas Twyker, 76:00

Lab Workshop today:
DVD Studio Pro as Interactive and Database Tool
Exercise #3: Workshop: In class group exercise using DVD Studio as an interactive tool. Demo of DVD Studio Pro

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Week 12, November 17

Review reading, Flow of Story Information, Bordwell,Film Art, pages 88 - 93. Prepare for discussion.

Screening "Memento", Christopher Nolan; discussion about range and depth of story information

Continued Lab Workshop today:
DVD Studio Pro as Interactive and Database Tool
Exercise #3: Workshop: In class group exercise using DVD Studio as an interactive tool
Show finished projects

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Week 13, November 24

Introduction to Sound Design

Faculty Furlough Day

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Week 14, December 1
Introduction to Sound Design

Reading due :

Bordwell, Film Art, Chapter 9, "Sound in the Cinema"
Screening: "Summer of the Serpent", CSUSM Library or streaming online (TBA)

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Week 15, December 8
Final Assignment due: Video Assignment #2: Database Narrative