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January 1995, Week 4

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Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
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Thu, 26 Jan 1995 15:05:27 CST
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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
 
Any comments?
 
DIRECTION AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE CAMERA
 
 
Course Description:  This 11 week, 5 credit hour course will provide
                          interaction between students from the Media
     Communications and Technology Department, and
     students from the Drama Department, to help prepare
     both for the demands of presenting dramatic material for
     the electronic and film media.  This will be accomplished
     through a series of lectures, exercises, scenes, film and
     video clips, guest speakers, and field trips.  Students will
     take different roles during the shooting of scenes and
     exercises such as Director of Photograhy, Script Supervisor,
     First Assistant Director, Camera Operator, Performer,
     Director and so on.  30% of the course will be devoted to
     history and theory, while 70% will be devoted to the hands-
    on classroom exercises.
 
Course Goals:  1.  To present the benefits of cooperation
         between those in front of the camera, and those
         behind it.
    2.  To present the dramatic and visual requirements that
         are unique to electronic and film media production.
    3.  To acquaint Drama students with the specialized
         techniques of performing in the non-linear style
         required by the electronic and film media.
    4.  To show Media Communications and Technology
         students how to apply their knowledge of electronic
         media to the performance and direction of dramatic
         material.
    5.  To present the future trends and technologies
          affecting the performance and direction of electronic
         and film media.
    6.  To give students practical experience in the skills
          required on a professional set.
    7.  To acquaint students with the different and
          specialized jobs necessary in the creation of
         dramatic material for the electronic media.
 
Course Requirements: The course will meet twice a week for two and one half
                                     hours, for a total of five hours per
week.  Prerequisites
    for admission are:  Media 112, 210 and 212, Drama
    101, and either 151 or 153.  Students will be allowed no
     more than three unexcused absences.
       A written mid-term test and final exam based on the
 
    course material will be required.  In addition, major hands-
    on projects must also be completed.  Projects
    will account for 60% of the student's grade.  The mid-
    term and final exams will account for 20% each of the
    final grade.  The required texts are:  Film Directing
    Shot By Shot, by Steven D. Katz, and Secrets of Screen
    Acting, by Patrick Tucker.
 
 
Objectives and
Weekly Topics:  All objectives begin with the phrase:  "Upon completion
    of the class, the student will be able to..."
 
                             Week 1 -   INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
 
    1.  List at least five differences between live theater
                  and electronic dramatization.
    2.  List and discuss three styles of directing and
         performing that existed before the introduction
                                    of broadcast media.
                           3.  Cite three contributions of Constantine
Stanislavsky
                and Vselevod Myerhold to the practices of directing
                         and performing.
    4.  List at least five contributions of D.W. Griffith to
         performing and directing for the camera.
    5.  Discuss the evolution of continuity shooting and
                                  the development of the Classic Hollywood
Style.
    6.  Trace the development in America of the
                           Provincetown Players, the Group Theater, the
                       Actor's Studio and their influence on live
         television drama, and media performance.
    7.  Explain the "Kuleshov Effect".
 
                              Week 2 -   WHAT THE CAMERA "SEES"
 
    1.  List three ways to overcome inhibition in front
                   of the camera.
    2.  Cite at least three ways in which the optics of the
          camera differ from the visual system of the human
                eye.
    3.  Cite and explain three or more specific ways the
         electronic media can enhance, exaggerate or
            diminish a performance.
    4.  Explain and demonstrate Persistence of Vision.
    5.  Demonstrate the electronic media's ability or           inability to
differentiate between lies and truth.
    6.  List and discuss at least three ways the electronic
         media can manipulate time and space.
 
 
                               Week 3 -   THE ELEMENTS OF ELECTRONIC DRAMA
 
    1.  List  and discuss the five component parts of story
                        structure:  exposition, complication, crisis, climax
                                  and resolution.
    2.  Chart the arc of action of a dramatic scene.
    3.  List and demonstrate the four basic shots used
         to shoot dramatic scenes:  master, two or three
         shot, over-the shoulder, and close-up.
    4.  Cite and demonstrate the dramatic use of the
                                             pan, the tilt, the crane, the
tracking and the hand-held
         shot.
    5.  List and discuss the functions of the various crews
         and individuals that make up a professional shooting
         set.
    6.  List at least five pre-production preparations that
            need to be done for dramatic video work.
    7.  List three ways that the use of improvisation can
         improve or weaken a dramatic scene.
    8.  Discuss at least three differences between directing
         and performing in four-camera vs. one-camera style.
    9.  List three ways that changing the context of a
         dramatic scene can alter its content and meaning.
 
                              Week 4 -   COMMON VOCABULARY, COMMON
                                                 UNDERSTANDING
 
    1.  List the four types of "objectives" used in the
                                       performing and directing of dramatic
scenes:
          "line objectives", "scene objectives",  "plot
          objectives" and "character objectives".
    2.  Define and demonstrate the dramatic uses of an
         "obstacle", a "strategy", and an "action".
    3.  List five ways to help a performer emotionally
         commit to a scene:  1) play an opposite, 2) play
         an action not a feeling, 3) recall the preceeding
         incident, 4) voice the inner monologue, 5) use an
         event from personal life.
    4.  Cite and discuss ten terms and phrases used on
         a media set:
     1.  First team.
     2.  Camera right and camera left.
     3.  Shooting "MOS".
     4.  In five.
     5.  Second team
     6.  On a bell.
     7.  Back to number one.
     8.  Roll camera, sound, speed, action.
     9.  Pick-up.
     10. Wrap.
    5.  List three reasons why performers and directors
         need to communicate clearly with one another.
    6.  List three reasons why performers need to know
         how to direct for the electronic media.
    7.  List three reasons why media students need to
         know how to perform for the electronic media.
 
                              Week 5 -  PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER
 
    1.  Cite and discuss four ways to disguise a cut:
         1) action, 2) dialogue, 3) music, 4) sound.
    2.  List four ways to effectively violate the 180o
         rule.
    3.  List three reasons why performance intensity
         must remain consistent.
    4.  List and discuss three reasons why matching actions
         is important to the smooth presentation of a dramatic
         scene.
    5.  List five reasons why storyboarding is important.
    6.  List  and explain three ways a director can help a
         performer improve a performance.
 
                              Week 6 -   SHOOTING DRAMATIC SCENES
 
    1.  List three techniques for hitting marks and three
         reasons why performers and cameras need to be
         on their marks.
    2.  Cite and discuss three reasons why performers
         need to know their frame lines.
    3.  List and explain the sequence of shots used to
         record dramatic scenes in the electronic media:
         master first, two-shot next, then the over-the-
         shoulder and finally the close-up.
    4.  List two reasons why performers should not overlap
         dialogue in a close-up.
    5.  Cite and discuss three ways in which shooting
         multiple takes affects a performance.
 
                              Week 7 -   Continuation of week 6
 
                   Week 8 -   Continuation of week 7
 
                              Week 9 -   SHOOTING OUT OF SEQUENCE
 
    1.  List two reasons why media productions are shot
         out of sequential order.
    2.  List and discuss three problems that the performer
         faces when shooting scenes out of order.
    3.  List and discuss three problems that the director
         faces when shooting scenes out of order.
                              4.  Cite three ways that performers and
directors can
         overcome the disadvantages of out-of-order shooting.
    5.  Cite five preparations that can make out-of-sequence
         shooting efficient and effective.
    6.  List and discuss five ways that performers and
         directors can aid the work of the editor.
    7.  List five ways that reading a Call Sheet can be
         useful.
 
                              Week 10 -  THE TECHNOLOGICAL FUTURE OF
       PERFORMANCE AND DIRECTION IN THE
       ELECTRONIC MEDIA
 
    1.  List five current post-production processes
         that can alter the elements of an already recorded
         electronic dramatization  (Light saturation,
         background matting, automated dialogue
         replacement, morphing, pacing).
    2.  Cite and discuss two current and three future uses
         of digitized performers.
    3.  List three advantages and three disadvantages of
         computer modeling in pre-production.
    4.  List and discuss three advantages and three dis-
         advantages of shooting dramatic film material with
         video-assist.
    5.  Cite and discuss the ramifications of rotoscoping
         and sampling for performers in the electronic media.
    6.  Cite and discuss five advantages and five dis-
         advantages for the director and the performer of
         500 channel television.
 
        Week 11 -   REVIEW AND SUMMARY
       FINAL EXAM

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