A Comic Life Learn how to create amazing real life comics using the art of digital photography. Students will take photographs, write, and research to improve their digital artmaking skills. Students will be use Photoshop, Comic Life and iMovie to produce comic book and animations. Grading Students earn points by completing assignments and projects. They also earn points by attending class each day. Points may be taken away for any unexcused absences, tardiness and/or leaving class early without notice. Week One
Introductions Introduction of each student, the classroom and rules that applies to the class. (see Classroom Rule Hand-out) Each student is assigned a computer. A folder should be added to the desktop to help keep work organized. Students should also be assigned a box in the classroom for their paperwork. Critical Viewing What is a comic? View and critique a series of comic books and comic strips that will strengthen vocabulary. Overview of history and outlook comics. Camera Operations, Compositions and Angles Go over the operations of camera. (see equipment operation handout) iPhoto and Photoshop Basics Show students how import pictures into iPhoto to organize. over tools, colors, filters and layers in Photoshop.
Week Two
Go
Assignment #1 Search the net and books. Research a character that speaks and relates to you. Write a one-page finding. Assignment #2 Create a poster. Take a photograph of yourself. Bring it into Photoshop. Manipulate the photograph into a character you would see in a comic.
Week Three
Assignment #4 Watch the movie Spiderman, directed by Sami Raimi, about a high school boy who gets bitten by a spider. He discovers he has great powers. Go over criticism and have students write a onepage critique of the movie. (see The Language of a Critic)
Week Four:
Comic Life and Production Packet Overview of program basics. Review production packets and brain storm ideas for a comic book. Production Planning Have students begin on their comic book. Each student must complete the packet before they begin on assignment. (see comic book assignment)
Week Five Week Six
Comic Book Production Comic Book Production
Week Seven
Review and Quiz Go over camera operations, compositions and angles. Quiz on Photoshop and comic life programs. Assignment #5 Watch the movie Transformer Beginnings, an animated prequel about what happen before Optimus Prime and Megatron came to Earth. Assignment #6 Create an animation. Each students must complete a script and storyboard to begin. (see animation assignment)
Week Eight
iMove Overview of program basics. Animation Production Planning
Week Nine Week Ten
Animation Editing Animation Editing
Week Eleven
Assignment #7 Watch the movie Transformers, directed by Michael Bay, about two extraterrestrial clans, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons who comes to earth to find a clue to the ultimate power held by a young teenager. Write a one-page critique of the movie.
Week Twelve
Make Up Finish all assignments.