All assignments are group projects due at the beginning of class unless otherwise indicated.

Syllabus deadlines are the date and time an assignment is due in its final, approved version. The nature of filmmaking is such, however, that you should plan on soliciting your professor’s feedback on at least two intermediate versions of each project. You ignore the Academy’s proven “draft-and-revise” rhythm at significant peril to your grade.

T Jan 14Skills Testing
R Jan 16Skills Testing (0530p)
T Jan 21Last Day to Drop-Add
T Jan 21Demo & Discuss: Reading the Script; Storytelling as Empathy; Understanding Production Roles; Assembling the Production Calendar
R Jan 23Demo & Discuss: Scheduling for Collaboration; Script Analysis
T Jan 28Assignment: Script Analysis (0300p). Prepare a document which thoughtfully addresses these questions and prompts. Submit the document as a .pdf to D2L. Bring a hard copy to class which you will reference in a detailed discussion.
Demo & Discuss: On-Set Protocols; Shooting for Continuity
R Jan 30Assignment 1.0: Server & Project Organization.
T Feb 04Assignment: Approved Storyboard. Working together on behalf of your group, the director and cinematographer will plan every shot of your film using the Storyboarder app. Include timing notations as an aid to performance pacing, camera movement, and post-production. Upload copies of the storyboard as a single .pdf binder to D2L and to the server's "paperwork" subfolder.
Demo & Discuss: Rudolf Laban; Coaching Actors.
R Feb 06Equipment Tests & Workflow
Assignment: Design Show & Tell. On behalf of your crew, the production designer will submit images of costumes, photographs, and detailed make-up plans as a single .pdf binder to D2L and to the server's "paperwork" subfolder.
T Feb 11Assignment: Scale Drawings. On behalf of your crew, the production designer will submit scale drawings of each location as a single .pdf binder to D2L and to the server's "paperwork" subfolder.
R Feb 13Assignment: Lighting Plot. On behalf of your crew, the gaffer and cinematographer will work together to submit approved, scale lighting plots which facilitate the shots in the previously-approved storyboard. The plot will include a plan for safely routing electricity and a list of necessary lighting, camera, and grip equipment. Upload copies of them all as a single .pdf binder to D2L and to the server's "paperwork" subfolder.
Assignment: Casting. The director and producer will work together on behalf of your crew to cast the actors in believable relationships, irrespective of their individual talent or appeal. Upload copies of the actors' signed personal releases to D2L in a .pdf binder and to the server's "paperwork" subfolder.
Assignment: Location Releases. The producer and production designer will work together on behalf of your crew to secure access to the set with location releases. Upload copies of the releases to D2L in a .pdf binder and to the server's "paperwork" subfolder.
Participation: Peer Evaluation
Sa Feb 15Location Shoot
Su Feb 16Location Shoot
T Feb 18Footage Review
R Feb 20Workday - please remain current in your other classes during this time-intensive production week.
Su Feb 23Location Shoot
T Feb 25Workday - please remain current in your other classes during this time-intensive production week.
R Feb 27Demo & Discuss: Reel Shortcuts
Participation: Peer Evaluation
Assignment: Footage Review. On behalf of your crew, the editor will present an assembly of shots featuring your film's child actor to double-check for coverage and performance consistency.
T Mar 03Principal Photography Completed
Project 2.0. Dailies
Demo & Discuss: Continuity Editing and the 30°/20mm Rule.
Demo & Discuss: Efficiently Preparing the Assembly Edit. In- and out-points; insert and overwrite functions; rolling, ripple, and slip tools. Breaking bad habits of post-production.
R Mar 05Assignment 3.0. Assembly Edit
T Mar 10Spring Break - No Class Meeting
R Mar 12Spring Break - No Class Meeting
T Mar 17Break Extension - No Class Meeting
R Mar 19Zoom: Resource Assessment (0300p). Meeting archived here.
T Mar 24Zoom: Rough Edit Feedback (0330p).
Assignment: Rough Edit.
R Mar 26Zoom: File Transfer Update (0330p).
Individual Assignment: Use your school credentials to download the newest version of Adobe Premiere to your own computer.
T Mar 31Zoom: Dropbox Logistics & Next Steps (0330p). Meeting archived here.
Individual Assignment: Test the Dropbox file paths by opening the Adobe Premiere Pro project file. Wait for all the media to load (could take as long as two hours). Name a new sequence employing standard nomenclature. Close the project file. Be mindful of any problems in the process. Report them to the class. (0300p)
R Apr 02
T Apr 07Analytical Screening: Silent Masters. Modern Times (Chaplin, 1936) or The General (Keaton & Bruckman, 1927).
Assignment instructions here.
Individual Guided Assignment: Developing Good Post-Production Habits - Projects, Sequence Settings, & Leaders (0330p).
Participation: Submit to D2L one copy of timecode-specific feedback notes on the 200405c NMS cut of My Mom Kills Small Animals. Send a second copy to Shettel (1159pm).
R Apr 09Analytical Screening: Music & Screwballs. Top Hat (Sandrich, 1935), Bringing Up Baby (Hawks, 1938), or The Philadelphia Story (Cukor, 1940).
Assignment instructions here.
Individual Guided Assignment: Developing Good Post-Production Habits - Metadata & Subclips.
Zoom archived here.
T Apr 14Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting: https://edinboro.zoom.us/j/8132429472. Meeting ID: 813 242 9472.
Analytical Screening. Some Like it Hot (Wilder, 1959).
Assignment instructions here.
Individual Guided Assignment: The Assembly Edit.
In preparation for today's class meeting:
Create a properly-labeled duplicate of your editing sequence.
Create a broadcast-standard leader.
Familiarize yourself with the project footage by dividing it into subclips. Force yourself to use shuttling keyboard shortcuts "J," "K," "L" and the arrow keys.
Download three selections of royalty-free music into your media files. Import them into the project. Track their rights usage information in Premiere Pro's metadata.
R Apr 16Analytical Screening: Mel Brooks. Blazing Saddles (Brooks, 1974) or Young Frankenstein (Brooks, 1974).
Assignment instructions here.
T Apr 21Analytical Screening: RomComs & Gender Confusion. Zoom archived here (Password: 4J#73?G4).
Tootsie (Pollack, 1982) or Victor/Victoria (Edwards, 1982).
Assignment instructions here.
R Apr 23Workshop: Need help with the Personal Intro project? Visit your professor during virtual office hours from 0330 - 0500p. Not a scheduled meeting for the whole class, just a time when you can drop in as needed with individual problems. Join Zoom Meeting:https://edinboro.zoom.us/my/brianfuller
T Apr 28Analytical Screening: Capers & Crime. Raising Arizona (Cohen, 1987) or Hot Fuzz (Wright, 2007).
Assignment instructions here. (1200p)
Zoom: Intro Critique (1230p). Join Zoom Meeting: https://edinboro.zoom.us/j/95670808921. Meeting ID: 956 7080 8921.
Final Exam (Practical): Personal Intro (1200p)
share your folder (includes all footage and project files) with the professor via OneDrive
Video Assessment Standards/Expectations
• Well lit. Face the room's largest natural light source.
• Well composed. Angle the camera. Diagonal lines suggest depth
• Dual audio recorded between -6 and -9 dBFS (no fewer than 20 words of dialogue). The more robust the recorded waveform, the lower the noise floor. Separate audio and video tracks merged and synchronized.
• Leader (as specified here). Don't forget 30 seconds of black after your video.
• J, L, insert edits, and cross dissolves, where appropriate.
• Color corrected (using Lumetri Color panel).
• Dialogue checker-boarded (if necessary) with micro-fades; frequencies and levels sweetened (using Essential Audio panel).
• Complimented with (properly attributed) royalty-free music.
• 6-second credits (as specified here).
• Uploaded to Vimeo. URL entered in D2L Assignment "0428 Personal Intro."
• Organized Project Window and bins: *Sequences, Graphics, Audio, Video, Merged, ZZRetired
• Sequences duplicated and properly labeled using EUP nomenclature: 200428c BDF
R Apr 30Final Exam (Essay): International Comedy. Three Idiots (Hirani, 2009) or Life is Beautiful (Benigni, 1998).
Assignment instructions here.
Final Exam (Objective Test). 80 multiple choice questions covering the following units of instruction: Comedy Films; Safety & Protocol; Lighting; Composition; Movement; Dialogue Recording; Post-Production: Editing, Color, Audio. Your access to the exam via D2L begins at 0900a and concludes at 0500p. Grades will be posted immediately upon completion.