Film class inspires students’ creativity in a new way

by Abby Davis

Students enrolled in MM 308, Intro to Film and Video Techniques, learn the fundamentals of filmmaking and gain hands-on experience in creating their own projects. From mastering camera functions and lighting techniques to storytelling and editing, MM 308 is the perfect class for novice students and aspiring filmmakers alike.

MM 308 is taught by Sam Finch, a lecturer who has been teaching film classes in the Mass Media Department for five years. Since the class is an introduction to filmmaking, Finch begins by teaching students the basic functions of a camera and image control – controlling exposure with the aperture, using manual focus, and creating custom white balance settings.

Once students get comfortable with the basics of a camera, they learn how to properly frame and compose a shot, which includes learning the difference between a close-up shot and a long shot and the appropriate times to use them. Next, students tackle Adobe Premiere Pro, a video editing software.

“All students get the same footage, but there are as many ways to cut that footage as there are people in the world,” said Finch. “It teaches them how visual continuity works, but it also shows them how different they are from each other as editors.”

Finch adopts an active learning approach for this course, emphasizing the importance of students practicing and applying the skills they learn during the lectures. When Finch is not lecturing in a classroom, the class can be found in the computer lab, Henderson 17, or the TV studio, Henderson 2, actively practicing their newly learned techniques.

Olivia Watson, a junior with a concentration in creative advertising and public relations, gained a new outlook on future career options due to taking MM 308. With no previous experience in videography, the idea of using the software was daunting. After Finch’s teachings, she found enjoyment in the editing process, and is grateful to possess knowledge of film and video techniques.

“I was really scared of Adobe Premiere because I heard that the editing process can be very stressful,” said Watson. “But now I think it’s kind of fun putting everything together and seeing how it works especially when it comes to scenes and making it coherent.”

Another student in the class, junior Karli Bayliss, concentration in creative advertising and public relations, is also thankful to have taken the course. She particularly enjoyed the thorough teachings that Finch provided

“If you’re even the slightest bit interested in making videos or you think you might need the knowledge for a future job, I think it’s great to get it from this course,” said Bayliss. “Professor Finch is very knowledgeable about this subject. Have an open mind coming into the class and you’ll get a lot out of it.”