Advanced Video: VSAR 304
California State University, San Marcos
Instructor: Katherine Sweetman


A week-to-week outline of the course is available at the course website.
The online schedule is subject to change.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
-The student will gain experience in the planning and execution of professional video production.
-The student will learn about the grant writing, pre-production, production, and post-production processes in video/film production.
-The student will produce and direct quality, dramatic video productions with a realistic understanding of resources, capabilities, and goals.
-The student will engage in verbal and written critical evaluation of his/her own work as well the work of others.

This is an upper division video production course, and a main objective of the course is to give students the opportunity to create professional quality work for their portfolios.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Three Professional Quality Projects
Project One-Students with last names in the first half of the alphabet present on 2/17
Students with last names in the last half of the alphabet present on 2/24
Project Two- Students with last names in the last half of the alphabet present on 3/17
Students with last names in the first half of the alphabet present on 3/24
Project Three- dates TBA
Specific assignment requirement will be given in class and on week to week website

FINAL SCREENING:
A MAJOR part of this course is the final PUBLIC screening of one of your completed projects. You may choose your favorite project from the three projects completed during this course. All projects from the course


WRITTEN REQUIREMENT:
Students will complete a written synopsis of each of their projects, revisions to these synopsis if necessary, one formal proposal as grant writing exercise, and one review of the work on their peers.

RESEARCH PRESENTATION:
Students will give a 10-minute presentation on a work of video art or film that they find in their own research during this course. This is a sharing presentation about a specific work or scene in historical or contemporary film/video piece. This should include approximately 5-minute screening and 5-minute talk about the clip, movie, director, and the importance of the work.

READING REQUIREMENTS:
All readings will be posted on the course website.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
1) External Hard Drive can be purchased or checked out from the Vis Arts Check out
2) Blank DVDs (DVD-R) and hard-shell DVD cases to turn in final projects and works in progress
3) Notebook for ideas, notes, story boarding exercises, and hand-outs
4) Paper to print out required readings from the course website
All projects must be handed in, on clearly labeled DVD with hard-shell case.
1) Project title, Date of completion;
2) Project length
3) Name(s) of director/producer.

CRITIQUE SESSIONS:
Students will present their completed projects to the class at critique sessions on days assigned by the instructor. You are expected to be on time at the beginning of class on your assigned screening day (lateness will carry a penalty to be levied against your score on that project). All students are expected to display an open and positive attitude at these sessions, to participate fully and welcome criticism from their classmates and instructor.

CRITIQUE NOTE:
Students will be required to ask for specific feedback from the class during critique and come prepared to ask questions and carry the critique of their work. Students are expected to demonstrate a positive and healthy attitude at all times. Students must demonstrate a willingness to accept criticism as part of the ongoing creative production process.

GRADING SYSTEM:
Scores on specific assignments will be awarded up to a maximum as follows:
Research Presentation 10 Points
Written Assignments (grant and review) 10 Points
In Class exercises / Participation 15 points
Project one, summary, critique 20 Points
Project two, summary, critique 20 Points
Project three, summary, critique, and final screening 25 Points

ATTENDANCE:
Every student must attend appropriate lab and class periods. Lateness will be recorded and will be weighed in your final grade. More than two unexcused absences will result in the lowering of your final grade ONE FULL letter grade. If you miss a class you must make up the work. All in class exercises, assignments, reading discussions, etc, must be made up during my office hours--after class 7-8pm.


STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Please see me. I will facilitate.