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Montage in Filmmaking FMPR 339/b Wednesday - 13:15- 17:15 FB-403 (Lab) Instructor: Stéphane Calce Office Hours: On Appointment Only Booking: Office Hours contact: stephane.calce@concordia.ca ______________________________________________________________________________
Course Objectives This course is a studio class that has both an aesthetic and technical component. Students will learn how to use Avid’s Media Composer, and will examine the aesthetic implications and expressive potential of montage in film. This course will give an overview of working methods and approaches linked to the major film genres - drama, documentary, experimental. It is also designed to introduce students to the MHSOC post-production workflow.
Theory The course will examine aesthetic notions in montage and the construction of image sequence. It will introduce students to the basic workflow of digital editing (importing process, synching rushes, organisation of media, etc.) in the editing of a short film.
Practice Students are required to work with Avid’s Media Composer to edit and complete the course assignments. These assignments will help students develop and practice essential editing skills such as: the sense of rhythm and pace, transitions and continuity; as well as to introduce the basics of data management, conventions in media labelling and organisation; essential back up workflows for digital editing. Students will also learn basic sound editing techniques.
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Main Assignments #1 - Nature & Animals OR Technology and Urban Life. Due Week 6 (October 12). Choose footage from either the Nature & Animals folder or the Technology & Urban Life folder. Edit a one (1) minute clip. You may not use footage of your own. Pictures and sound will be available to download from the Class_Shares folder located in our school’s server. Further details will be given in class.
#2 - Found Footage OR Scene in Continuity. Due Week 13, Last Class (November 30). Choose footage from either the Found Footage folder or the Cosmonaut folder. Edit a 3 minutes collage piece or a 3 minutes scene in continuity. You may use sound effects and music of your choice for this assignment, but you cannot use rushes and footage other than those provided by the instructor. The footage will be available to download from the Class_Shares folder located in our school’s server. Further details will be given in class. In addition, there will be required in-class workshops and tutorials. Due dates for the workshops and tutorials will be announced in class.
#3 - The Journal. Due Week 13, Last Class (November 30) Write a 5-6 pages Journal (Typewritten, Times New Roman, 12pts, Double-Spaced about 1,500 words) about your experience in completing the course assignments. The Journal should: describe your decision-making process; describe issues (both aesthetic and technical) you had to deal with and the ensuing troubleshooting/problem-solving process; provide the reader with insights into your own theory of montage - you may refer to class material and/or examples from movies you like to support your ideas.
Participation Grades for participation in the course will be based on: Screening of work in class Contributions to class discussion Performance on class assignments Attendance (regular attendance is required) Grading Attendance, participation, class tutorials and assignments Editing Projects Journal
25% 50% 25%
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Important: A) Students are expected to supply their own thunderbolt/USB3 external Hard Drive. Specs: Must have both Thunderbolt and USB 3 port, and be 7200 RPM, minimum 1 TB recommended, Formatted Mac Os Extended Note: The hard drive must be purchased at the beginning of the Fall term. Be prepared to bring your hard drive to class whenever needed (with proper cables). Recommended Course Material: USB Key (8 gb) for back ups of Avid’s MC Project Folder. B) Students must pay the Cinema Resource Fee to access the lab, and gain access to the school’s server, download the rushes and found footage needed to complete assignment #1 and #2 (See Cinema Resource Fee Section Below). Students are responsible for ensuring that they have access to the server at the beginning of the semester. They are also responsible for downloading and uploading their media on the server. Lab Access Students have access to the Lab (FB 403) from 9 to 5 pm, during weekdays, except during class time. See schedule posted on door. No food or beverages allowed in the lab at all times. Editing Suites Access Students have access to the Editing Suites for Film I and II (FB408-1 thru 8 / FB 402-1-3-5-7). Access to rooms can be obtained by getting the key at the Depot (See Charlie). For after-hours access, you must go through Security. No food or Beverages allowed in the editing suites at all times. Cinema Resource Fee All Film Production students are required to pay a $60 / academic year Resource Fee to access the school’s equipment, computers and computer lab. Students must first create an account with the CDA (Centre for Digital Arts), and then make the payment in order to validate the account for the academic year. To create account go to CDA account web page: http://cda.concordia.ca/index.php/my-account Log in using your MyConcordia username and password. For all students, the $60 fee should be paid online. Students should bring their proof of payment to Colette Brière in person or via an e-mail. Please
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provide the proof of payment as well as the student’s name, ID and the class they are registered in. Online: log-on to Concordia's web page, choose quick links-> Campus services-> bookstore/ campus store-> Buy on line-> Fine- Arts Fees-> choose CINEMA, name of class, either FMPR 231, FMPR 332 or FMPR 432 Important: Choose Cinema-Production upon payment of resource fees. The $60 resource fee covers both fall and winter semesters. All fees should be paid by September 19, 2016; accounts will be locked after that date. Colette Brière Animation Tech Coordinator Office: FB 321-1 515-848-2424 ext. 4275 Colette.Briere@concordia.ca Academic Code of Conduct All students are bound by the regulations and offences described in Section 17.10 of the Concordia University Undergraduate Calendar of 2015-2016. Please familiarize yourselves with its content. Available here: http://registrar.concordia.ca/calendar/17/17.10.html Academic Integrity is concisely explained on the Student Services website, particularly concerning plagiarism: www.concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity.html Please take note: In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University's control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.
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Recommended Readings The Filmmaker’s Handbook - A comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age 4th Ed. Asher and Pincus, Plume (2013) Media Composer 6 part 1: Editing Essentials. Plummer, Mary, Avid Tech / Engage Learning, 2013. Media Composer Editing Guide. Avid: Media Composer 8 Editing Guide In the Blink of An Eye. Much, Walter. Silman-James Press, LA: 2001. The Technique of Film & Video Editing - 4th Edition, Ken Dancyger, Focal Press (2011) Avid Editing - 5th Edition, Kauffmann & Kennedy, Focal Press (2012) The Conversations: Walter Murch and The Art of Editing Film. Ondaatje, Michael, Vintage (2002) Film Form. Sergei Eisenstein. Harvest Book, NY (1969). Film Sense. Sergei Eisenstein. Harvest Book, NY (1969). Sculpting in Time, Andrey Tarkovsky. The Bodley Head Ed. London, 1987.
Web Resources: http://community.avid.com/forums/ https://www.creativecow.net http://www.avid.com/education http://www.ubu.com https://archive.org http://freemusicarchive.org http://www.mobygratis.com
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FMPR 339/B - Course Outline (Subject to Changes)
Week 1 to 5 Introduction, Course Objectives and Requirements Overview of Editing Assignments Post-Production / MHSOC Workflow Tour School’s Facilities: Editing Suites Overview of Editing and the Editing Process Organisation, Media Management Basic Digital Editing in Avid’s MC8 In-class Workshops and Tutorials Aesthetics of Editing - Visual Dynamics Screening of 1st assignments Screening WIP during class time : Assemblies / Rough Cuts, etc. Week 6 to 10 Screening of 1st Assignments - Fine Cuts Overview of Assignment #2 Aesthetics of Editing Cont’d Rhythm, Pacing Continuity Collage Documentary Screenings TBA Offline & Online Workflow Screening of 2nd Assignment WIP to be shown in class: Assembly, first rough cuts, etc. Week 11 to 13 Second Assignments - WIP and Fine Cuts Journal due (Week 13)
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