Syllabus: Producing and Directing Digital Video (THTR 3890)

THTR 3890:0001 Cross Reference: DANC 3890:0001 | INTM 3890:001
Fall, 2019 || T&TH: 3:30p-5:20p

Instructor: Daniel Fine, Assistant Professor of Digital Media in Performance

Course Description: An introduction to the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of digital video production for multiple distribution streams, with a focus on aesthetic and technical principles, that is open to students from any department. The primary focus of the course is for students to develop proficiency in contemporary approaches to digital media production, by understanding the production pipeline, from Ideation to Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production and through to Distribution. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills in writing, producing, directing, shot composition, lighting, location sound recording, non-linear editing and other skills necessary to create a compelling and engaging digital video. Working in groups, students will be assigned practical projects using professional grade media software and hardware.

Course Objectives and Goals:

  • Understand the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of digital video production for multiple distribution streams.
  • Understand the production pipeline of digital video production.
  • Develop skills in writing, producing, directing, shot composition, lighting, location sound recording, editing and other skills necessary to create a compelling and engaging digital video.
  • Operate digital video production gear, including a DSLR camera package, sound package, lighting gear, and grip packages.
  • Be able to perform basic video editing, compositing and fundamental sound editing.
  • Develop the organizational skills necessary to successfully produce digital video projects.
  • Learn how to make digital videos on a small or non-existent budget using guile, guts and problem-solving techniques.
  • Improve teamwork and communication skills.
  • Collaborate across disciplines.
  • Critique and evaluate work.

Course Topics:

  • Intro, check-outs, studio, reservations
  • Camera, A+B, Vimeo
  • Workflow & pipeline
  • Copyright, fair use, creative commons
  • Who does what
  • Audio gear
  • Audio editing with Audition
  • Lighting gear, grip
  • Style, design
  • Animation, keyframes
  • Inclusion and casting
  • Script, budgeting, scheduling
  • Pitches, ideation, visualizing
  • Shooting & editing greenscreen

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Syllabus: Video for Performance (THTR 3876)

THTR 3876:0001 Cross References: DANC 3876 | CINE 3876 | INTM 3876 | DIGA 3876
Spring, 2020 || T & TH: 3:30p – 5:20p Studio: ABW250 || Computer Lab: ABW360

Instructor: Daniel Fine, Assistant Professor of Digital Media in Performance

Course Description: An introduction to the aesthetics and practical applications of digital media design for live performance, including content creation, system design and content optimization for media servers. Open to students from any department with an interest in designing, creating, and displaying digital media for theatre, dance, concerts, corporate events, gallery installations, VJ sets, and architectural projections. Working with professional software (Adobe Creative Cloud including Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Audition, and After Effects) students learn how to create digital art work and integrate it into live performance and entertainment events via projections, media servers and digital displays.

Course Objectives and Goals:

  • Understand the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of incorporating video into live performance.
  • Develop applied knowledge of creating video by designing and realizing projects with various analog, digital and new media technologies for a variety of live experiences.
  • Understand the meaning making, workflow, process, technology and creative process for implanting video into live performance.
  • Work collaboratively across disciplines to investigate multimedia approaches to contemporary live experiences and new modes of storytelling with video.
  • Develop skills in manipulating digital assets such as photos, videos, text, and live video streams.
  • Operate computer, video, projection, sensor, and camera equipment.
  • Be able to perform basic-intermediate, media server skills in QLab and basic-intermediate content creation in After Effects CC.
  • Develop the organizational and artistic skills necessary to successfully design and implement video into live performance.
  • Improve teamwork and communication skills.
  • Critique and evaluate work.

Course Topics:

  • Intro, gear, space
  • Content creation, research, design concept, cueing
  • After Effects (Compositing)
  • After Effects (Shapes, Animate On)
  • After Effects (Perfect loops)
  • QLab
  • Projectors & Media Servers
  • Process, workflow, integrating into the team
  • Masks
  • Surfaces
  • Projection Mapping
  • Cameras & Displays
  • Systems & Lensing
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