FILM/TV Course Descriptions

An introduction to the international art of cinema through the techniques and procedures of film making, including screen writing, cinematography, directing, editing, and sound; through the formal properties of film, such as mise-en-scene, structure, and style; through the relationships between film and society, and through the critical analysis of works of film art.

A survey of the international development of the motion picture to 1950 as a distinct form of artistic expression, through classic films, notable artists, and key events; an investigation of the aesthetic, technological, economic, and social factors that contributed to the evolution of film; an examination of the value systems reflected in and shaped by these works from diverse cultures.

F/TV 2B History of Cinema (1950-Present)

A survey of the international development of the motion picture since 1950 as a distinct form of artistic expression, through classic films, notable artists, and key events; an investigation of the aesthetic, technological, economic, and social factors that contributed to the evolution of film; an examination of the value systems reflected in and shaped by these works from diverse cultures.

A survey course of the history, aesthetics, technology and social impacts of electronic media, including film, broadcasting, and the Internet. Explores the role of government, advertising, audiences, and emerging technologies, their futures and impacts on global societies.

Digital video production, film-style production techniques including mini-DV half-inch and 8mm formats: camera operation and procedures, basic principles and techniques of sound and scriptwriting; and film and non-linear editing.

Logistics, scriptwriting, sound recording, film and sound editing. Methods by which visual and aural elements of a motion picture may be organized. The study and analysis of exemplary motion pictures as well as of the student's own work.

Analysis of specific film genres such as action-adventure, comedy, film noir, gangster, horror, musical, science fiction, thriller, war film or western within global historical, social, cultural, industrial and aesthetic contexts. The genre studied changes each quarter (see subtitle in quarterly class schedule).

Analysis of major national film developments such as German Expressionism, Soviet Film of the 1920's, Italian Neo-Realism, New American Cinema of the 1960's/1970's or New Chinese Cinema. The national cinema studies changes each quarter.

Analysis of the works of specific film artists, such as Alfred Hitchcock or Orson Welles; or analysis of the works of a specific film craft, such as cinematography or editing. The topic studied changes each quarter (see subtitle in quarterly class schedule).

History and development of experimental film/video; origins in European experimental cinema, American underground film, avant-garde painting, sculpture, music and theater. Evolution of experimental video and electronic and developments.

A survey of the image and role of the American film industry in the United States. Particular attention will be given to the development of images of racial stereotypes, those works attempting an historical portrayal of the African American experience and the roles played by key African Americans in the evolution of film as an art and North American feature films as an industry.

Development and execution of short, single-camera-style projects focusing on the skills of directing and editing.

Principles of digital video production in the production of a short subject using camcorders, lighting and sound equipment and post production digital editing.

Advanced sound film editing, laboratory procedures, interior and exterior lighting techniques, color cinematography. Emphasis on individual student projects.

Advanced production and post-production techniques, including sync-sound production and editing, music editing, preparing for the sound mix and A - B rolling. Emphasis on individual film projects.

Concepts and techniques of nonlinear digital film and video editing, including organization of the editing process, working the timeline and audio editing, with emphasis on the principles and aesthetics of film and video editing.

Supervised use of film and television laboratory equipment and facilities to fulfill assigned projects in other film and television production courses.

An introduction to multi-camera television studio production, the basic procedures and techniques, with emphasis on camera, audio, graphics, scripting, directing and producing.

Concepts, principles and techniques related to the production of an experimental film or video. Examination of the historical roots of experimental film or video. Emphasis on experimentation in the production of a film or video work.

Nonfiction concepts, principles and techniques as related to the production of a documentary video. Examination of the historical roots in nonfiction film and television. Emphasis on extensive production work in documentary programs.

Advanced techniques in nonfiction film and television, including cinematography, sound, lighting, post-production editing, and directing. Analysis of the modern film and television documentary. Emphasis on production of a documentary video.

A workshop in film or video production in which the student works independently or with a crew to produce a film or video to refine skills in cameras, lighting, directing, post-production, and other related skills. The number of units is dependent on the production.

Roles and responsibilities of the media producer. Skills and knowledge required in developing a production proposal; including development, audience analysis, location scouting, production schedule, and budgeting.

Introduction to scriptwriting for film and video; the role of the script in media production; format and structure in the script; the basic skills of scriptwriting for fiction and nonfiction.

Intermediate course in scriptwriting for fiction and nonfiction film and video projects; examination of structure and characterization in dramatic narrative; consideration of approach and structure in nonfiction; emphasis on development and revision of script projects.

Advanced course in scriptwriting for fiction and non-fiction film and video projects; examination of classical and experimental structures in fiction and nonfiction; further practice in the development and revision of script projects.

F/TV 61 TV Scriptwriting for Training and Communications

Scriptwriting for business and institutional film and video; structure, format, and elements of programs for information, training, marketing, and corporate communication.

F/TV 62 Lighting for Television and Film

Introduction to the basic principles of studio and location lighting for film, television animated, and composited production. Focus on evaluation of the aesthetic styles and techniques of media lighting in professional production. An analysis and application of basic electricity, lighting instruments, dimming equipment, light color, media, gaffer equipment. Practical experience in film and television productions.

F/TV 63A Studio and Remote Audio Production

Study of the art and techniques of radio, television, film and media audio recording. Emphasis on pre-production and production in studio and on location. Examines the aesthetics of design and sound mixing, the technologies of analog and digital audio, and manipulation of sound in the aural and recorded environment. Practical experience in media production.

Current creative, technical, economic, and employment conditions in film and video as seen by working professionals.

An exploration of the techniques of three-dimensional stop motion and non cel animation, as applied to a variety of art media (puppet, clay, pixillation, shadow puppets and other under-camera art media). Principles of movement and timing, lighting and cinematography, and multiplane dimensionality, with application to both computer and traditional drawn animation.

Life drawing workshop, designed specifically for animators for study of staging, posing, movement, drapery and character design. Exercises include quick gesture drawings, silhouette form composition, constructive drawing techniques, multiple-pose memory sketches and analysis of action to determine key and breakdown drawings. Emphasis on rendering anatomical details of heads and hands and on keeping character volume consistent when drawn from a variety of angles.

F/TV 67H Drawing for Animation: Animal Expression

Drawing workshop, designed specifically for animators and focusing on animals, birds, insects and objects as anthropomorphic characters. Exercises include quick gesture drawings, silhouette form composition, constructive drawing technique and fast-pose memory sketches from live models and reference film. Design and construction of model sheets for both realistic and stylized characters. Analysis of comparative anatomy and locomotion.

Drawing and art direction workshop for animators, concentrating on expanding storyboards into full layouts. Development of visual style for an animated film production. Design of props and backgrounds, utilizing one-point, two-point and three-point perspective, and including simulation of elaborate camera movements. Drawn representation of telephoto or wide angle lens perspective and depth of field.

F/TV 68 Sound for Animation

Principles of soundtrack design to accompany the unique properties of the animated image. Aesthetics and techniques of film music. Recording, editing and mixing of voice, music and sound effects using location, studio and library sources. Methods of lip-synched character dialogue, musical synchronization to animation, and sound effects ambiences.

Investigation of fundamental principles of movement and timing when animating characters or objects, progressing from simple to complex motion. Experience in creating character weight, power and emotion; portraying the forces of nature in "effects" animation and manipulating the quality of the line and the image. Close analysis of the animation technique in exemplary professional films.

Concept development and scripting for the animated film; dramatic, comic, documentary and experimental. Exercises in story structure, character building, dialogue and visualization for short personal films. Comparison of screenplay formats for television and feature films with the story/sketch method unique to animation.

F/TV 70H The Animation Storyboard

Methods of planning and designing animated films using the storyboard technique. Focus on translating concepts into visuals, selecting camera angles and choosing editing style. Exploration of animation's unique cinematic vocabulary and its potential for personal expression, social advocacy and/or literacy adaptation.

Practice in refinement of animation motion design and timing. Development of initial concept stages for a short personal film in any style of animation (e.g. drawn), stop-motion or computer, suitable for public screening, including creation of storyboards, character models, soundtracks and motion tests. Course content and lecture-demonstration material are driven by student projects and change completely each quarter.

Creation of visual and audio elements for production of a personal film in any style of animation (e.g. drawn), stop-motion or computer, which can serve both as the student's diploma film and as a professional portfolio piece. Investigation of career options and marketing strategies as they pertain to each project. Formulation of portfolios and demo reels. Course content and lecture-demonstration materials are driven by student projects and change completely each quarter.

Supervised use of film and television laboratory equipment and facilities to fulfill assigned projects in other animation production courses.

An international survey of the historical development of the animated film, from its pre-cinema origins to a contemporary art form with emphasis on the contributions of major studios including Bray, Sullivan, Fleischer, Disney, Warner Brothers, UPA, Zagreb, Shanghai, the Canadian Film Board and England's Channel Four, as well as many works of important independent artists. Close analysis of social messages, historical significance and exemplary artistic technique.

An exploration of films produced by major American animation studios during their Golden Age (1933-1948), analyzing their development of narrative form and perfection of animation technique. Appraisal of the films' controversial social content regarding race, gender, and international politics. Studios include Disney, Fleischer, Warner Brothers, MGM, Columbia, Lantz, Terry, and the George Pal Puppetoons.

A survey of international animation from 1970 to the present, concentrating on England, Canada, Eastern Europe, Japan, China and other animation centers, including many masterworks never released in North America. Emphasis on short films created by independent artists in art media ranging from traditional hand-drawn to puppets, cutouts, clay and computer. Close analysis of social messages, historical significance and exemplary artistic technique.

A survey of the evolution of the full-length animated film from its origins in the silent cinema to the present, including rare masterworks. Emphasis on hand-drawn, puppet, and computer creations from England, France, Russia, Czechoslovakia and Japan, as well as Hollywood and the San Francisco Bay Area. Close analysis of the social messages, historical significance and artistic technique.

An examination of the post-1960's evolution of animated films in Japan, a national cinema famed for its exciting range of subject matter and outstanding graphics. Screening of exemplary and influential works by distinguished artists, writing collectives and production studios. Close analysis of social content, reflections of history, adaptations of literature and artist technique.

Concentrated investigation of an influential film artist, studio, national cinema, genre, movement or historical period. The topics studied is different for each section of this course and may include Bay Area film festival and nonprofit-organization screenings and events.

F/TV 77X, Y Animation History Area Studies

Concentrated investigation of an influential animated film director, studio, genre, movement, national cinema, historical period or applied technique. The topic studied is different for each section of this course (e.g. Aardman and the U.K., Disney, the Canadian Film Board, Bay Area Animation, the Animated Documentary or visiting animators).

Intensive workshop in a specialized area of drawn or puppet animation production (e.g. writing, storyboard, layout, fabrication, lighting, motion design, soundtrack construction, etc.) with an instructor with full-time experience on feature films or national television commercials at a major Bay Area animation studio (Industrial Light & Magic, Wild Brain, Twitching Image/Skellington, Phil Tippett Studios, etc.)

Intensive workshop in a specialized area of computer animation production (e.g. character/prop modeling, texturing, lighting, skeletal articulation; animation, special visual effects or compositing techniques) with an instructor with full-time experience on feature films or national television commercials at a major Bay Area animation studio (Industrial Light & Magic, Pixar, PDI/Dreamworks, Wild Brain, Phil Tippett, Electronic Arts, etc.)

Advanced individual and group creative projects in animation production or animation history.

A course designed to record the completion of a student's certificate/degree film. Students enroll in this course only in the quarter in which the film will be completed.

Intensive workshop in a specialized area of animation production (e.g. puppet animation, gesture drawing, special visual effects, the role of the producer, advanced computer techniques).

Utilization of the computer in the creation of two-dimensional animation with application to educational CD-ROMs, video games, television or the internet. Strengths and limitations compared to traditional animation techniques. Concentration on methods of creating sequences of character movement in the drawn image, timing and soundtracks for synchronization, constructing storyboard reels, and adding color and texture to artwork.

Deployment of computer software in the production of professional narrative drawn animation, such as feature films or television series. Emphasis on digitizing and layering imagery, designing simple and complex movements of the virtual camera, and employing digital coloring techniques in lieu of traditional cel inking and painting.

Orientation to the concepts and production process of three-dimensional (3D) computer animation. Introduction to the software interface, to basic design and construction of computer models, and to fundamentals of texturing, lighting and rendering culminating in the creation of 3D cinematic stills.

Application of the classic principles of traditional animation regarding movement and timing to computer animation. Digital motion design in a professional software program via techniques such as keyframing, motion path animation and shape blending. Fundamentals of rigging models for expressive movement, including introduction to forward and inverse kinematics. Principles of simulated cinematography and visual aesthetics.

Utilization of sophisticated professional computer programs to produce individual or collaborative animated projects with increasingly complex character models, animated movements, lighting schemes and visual effects. Exploration of advanced computer animation procedures, such as particle systems, or digital compositing, including the use of complementary software.

The analysis and interpretation of the arts and design involved in the production of on-the-air graphic design. The creative integration of type and image in motion is stressed through the use of directed laboratory exercises.

The investigation of techniques and procedures utilized by a guest artist for the production and development of their work. Concepts, theory and practice pertaining to the specific topic as predetermined by the guest artist.

Advanced workshop in the writing, producing, or directing of complex scenes or multiple scene works of narrative/dramatic film or video.

Advanced workshop in cinematography, art direction, sound recording, and other techniques and craft skills essential to the production of narrative/dramatic film and video projects.

Advanced workshop in the post-production phase including elements of picture and sound editing and sound mixing for narrative/dramatic film and video projects.