H56.0045
Instructor in Film & TV
Course Level: Intermediate
4 Points
Prerequisite: Multimedia Workshop (H56.0040) or equivalent. Class is limited to 12 students
This 4 credit core production class is open to upperclassmen, and is repeatable
Course Description
Intermediate New Media Workshop is a core production course that explores the use of digital technologies to create interactive storytelling pieces. Although some coverage of technology is necessary, the emphasis of the class is on the creative telling of a story rather than the technology involved; said another way, content. The technology of broadband delivery of media/content is here and statistics tell us that it will soon be widespread, the CD-ROM is used in this class as exemplary media toward meeting the anticipated demand for that creative content (DVD/Web). DVD authoring is expected to replace the CD-ROM in this class in the near future. The individual student is required to create one final project during the semester and a trailer of that project to reside on the class web site. Each student will work with, or assist at least one student on his or her project and will have the collaboration of at least one other student. Projects may include the use of the World Wide Web using links from within the project. Students use Macromedia Director Shockwave Studio as the final authoring tool and employ primarily Adobe Photoshop for image manipulation, Macromedia SoundEdit16 (or Peak le) for sound manipulation, and Quicktime Pro to create digital video to incorporate into projects. Other (unsupported) applications such as Final Cut Pro, Media Cleaner Pro, Flash and others, can be used to create media to be used in their project. Throughout the course, new technologies will be examined and and possibly incorporated as they become available. Each student project goes through several stages including proposal, planning, flow chart, preliminary design, wireframe, prototype, and user testing. All projects will be interactive and will be classified as either narrative, documentary, experimental, or informational, such as a portfolio.
Class Objective
This class assumes that the student has taken or has the skills acquired in New Media Workshop. The student will achieve a more refined understanding of the software tools, collaborate with others, will be assigned readings and given assignments toward the goal of creating content resulting in an interesting and engaging piece. The CD-ROM is used as exemplary media toward a larger interactive piece which may reside on DVD. Each student will end a semester with an interactive CD-ROM.
About the Instructor - Joseph Citta
His Curriculum Vitae can be found at http://homepages.nyu.edu/~jac1. He teaches many of the New Media Workshop sections. Joseph would be glad to answer any questions you might have about this course or multimedia and film in general and would also appreciate any feedback about this course or the class web site. You can contact Joseph Citta, through this browser by clicking on his name, or by sending e-mail to joseph.citta@nyu.edu.
Joseph wrote an article called Learning to Communicate through the Still Image (In Action) on this course which appears in the Fall 1996 issue of NYU's Connect Magazine.
Class requirements
Attendance
Consistent, prompt attendance is required (both lab and lecture). The instructor must be advised of a necessary absence at least 24 hours before or after the class absence. If a class is missed, it becomes incumbent on the student to acquire any handouts or materials, and complete any assignments that were given. Un-excused absences will result in a lowering of the final grade, in most cases to a significant degree.
Production Assignments
One project done by the individual student will be due at the end of the semester. The contributions of at least one other student must be engaged. Proposals for the final project must be approved by the instructor by class three at the latest, and production must begin at that time. Each student must collaborate on at least one other final project beside his/her own (extra credit may be given if a student collaborates on more than one project). Contributors include specialists in sound, imaging, animation, writing, design (both screen and interactive), programming, and any other area can be submitted. A trailer of the project for the class web site is required. The central thrust of the class is the final production piece/project and web trailer.
Grades will be based on prompt attendance (mandatory), final project with accent on content and effective interactive storytelling, (technical execution and achievement also considered), class participation, the web trailer, weekly assignments, meeting of deadlines and due dates, production journal, and overall effort/improvement. Effort, along with the final project, is usually the single most important consideration.
Weekly assignments include readings, storyboards, flow charts, and papers. The class will have its own web site used for class information, deadlines, syllabus updates, and other useful web sites. Each student must have a trailer for their final project (shockwave, digital video, etc.). In addition, each student will have web space on the class site for their own use - it may be used to hold data accessed by their final CD-ROM.
Production Journal
Each student is required to keep a journal of their work. It must be in a loose leaf binder and should contain all class handouts, plans for projects, readings, flow charts, storyboards, and any other paper pertaining to this class. It should contain periodic writings of personal experiences (good and bad) including suggestions and criticisms. The production journal must be brought to every class and will be inspected by the instructor periodically.
Overall Class policy
- Work will be done on the
Macintosh computer
- Two un-excused absences
will lower your grade by one half of a letter grade point
- It is incumbent on the
student to complete each assignment and keep track
- Students must check class
web site syllabus weekly and e-mail several times weekly
- One special project can
be assigned to each student for extra credit
- Attendance and effort is key
Textbooks/Materials/Equipment
Required Text Book - Director 8 Demystified by Phil Gross and Jason Roberts, Macromedia/Peachpit Press
Optional Text Book - The Photoshop 6 Wow! Book by Linnea Dayton and Jack Davis
Recommended Text Books:
The Principles of Interactive Design by Lisa Graham
To Dress a Nude, Exercises in Imagination by Yvette Biro
On A Silver Platter edited by Greg M. Smith
Designing Interactive Digital Media by Nicholas V. Luppa
Firewire Filmmaking by
Scott Smith
The Little Digital Video Book
by Michael Rubin
Motion Graphics Essentials by Harry Mott and Anthony Bolante (April 2002)
Director in a Nutshell by Bruce A. Epstein
Photoshop Collage Techniques by Gregory Cosmo Haun
Lingo In A Nutshell by Bruce A. Epstein
Interactivity by Design by Ray Kristof & Amy Satran
The Web Design Wow! Book by Jack Davis and Susan Merritt
Writing for New Media by Andrew Bonime and Ken C. Pohlmann
Writing for Interactive Media by Jon Samsel & Darryl Winberley
Hamlet on the Holodeck by Janet A. Murray
Being Digital by Nicholas Negroponte
Equipment
Allotment - for storage, students will use blank CDs and Zip disks for smaller amounts of data.
Students will work on a Power Macintosh with the complementary software needed for the course, including Macromedia Director Shockwave Studio, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia SoundEdit16 or PeakŠ LE - other optional (unsupported) software such as Final Cut Pro, Media Cleaner Pro, Flash, and others, will be available. Students will have access to other hardware including flatbed scanners, slide scanners, and a CD-ROM burner on each classroom station for archiving work during the semester and to present the final project at the end of the semester.
Computer lab work can be done in the classroom 1103 or the lab at 1109. Check schedules and times at both rooms.
Important note: This production class requires that the student invest a great deal of time in addition to normal class time. A minimum of 12 hours per week of work outside of class is required to successfully complete this class - in most cases, considerably more time is needed.