OBJECTIVE

An étude is a piece intended to improve a musician’s technical skills. The word comes from the French for “study.”  We’re stealing the word to describe a short film (with a total running time of not more than 90 seconds) that will express formal and historical analysis through collaborative craftsmanship. 

As a final assignment, each group will submit to D2L an original short film in the style of a genre or historical movement. 

VIDEO

Camera
A cellphone shooting at HD or 4K resolution should satisfy the assignment’s technical standards.

Codec
H.264/AVC.  Your final file type should be an .mp4 or an .mov

Aspect Ratio, Resolution, and Rate
Video recordings should be 16:9, 1920 x 1080p, 23.976 fps unless inappropriate to the assigned genre or movement.

AUDIO

Dual System audio is expected unless inappropriate to the assigned genre or movement. A (second) cellphone dedicated to dialogue recording should satisfy the assignment’s technical standards.

Codec
All submissions must be in stereo or dual mono.

Level
The standard for broadcast and streaming is an average target loudness of -12dBFS (deciBels on the full scale).

HEADS & TAILS

Each film must begin with a standard leader.  Each film must conclude with two seconds of end card and 30 seconds of silent black.

LEGAL

Films which violate federal copyright law will earn a failing grade. Student filmmakers should take particular care to avoid the use of copyrighted music, including cover versions of popular and classical songs. Any materials which were not created by the producers (e.g., photos, stock footage, sound effects, [even royalty free] music) must be credited. Student filmmakers may be asked to produce documentation which supports any claim of permission.