new_media

PROFESSOR: John (Craig) Freeman

EMAIL: john_craig_freeman@emerson.edu

PHONE: (617) 824-8862

OFFICE HOURS: 180 Tremont Street, room 1111

Mondays 11:00-12:00 p.m. and Tuesdays 11:00-1:00 p.m. or by appointment.

CLASS MEETS: Mondays and Wednesdays: 12:00 - 1:45 p.m.

at 180 Tremont Street, Digital Production Lab, room T809

PREREQUISITE: MA315 New Media Production 1 or permission of instructor.

DESCRIPTION: This course is the second in a three-course sequence in the theory and practice of New Media Production. Students will gain intermediate skills with video post-production, and interactive multimedia authoring as well as visualization methods for bringing conceptual ideas to fruition as a fully developed final project. The design process and the production flow in interactive application development will be explored in depth.

John (Craig) Freeman, NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION 2
- -

OBJECTIVES: Building from students experience acquired in MA315 New Media Production 1 and other courses in the Visual and Media Arts curriculum, this course is designed to develop students skills in video post-production and interactive media authoring and to expand students conceptual insights in using those skills for creative expression.

REQUIREMENTS: Over the course of the semester, students will be required to complete one project using video post production techniques, and one project using interactive media authoring techniques, followed by a final project using the combined skills. Attendance and punctuality is required at all class meetings and will be reflected in the final grade. According to College policy, unexcused absences beyond five will result in a failing grade. Everyone must come to class prepared and engaged and everyone must participate in discussions and critiques. Students are responsible for meeting all project deadlines, completing all reading assignments and keeping a sketchbook. I reserve the right to issue unannounced exams, based on required reading and class work, if necessary. We will meet during our scheduled final for a comprehensive critique of all final animations. Students will be evaluated on the presentations, so test your work and equipment before hand. All past due work will not be accepted after this final meeting.

GRADING: Late work will suffer a drop in letter grade. I will meet with each student individually by mid-semester to evaluate performance up to that point. The final grade will be determined by;

1) Project #1, 20%.

2) Project #2, 20%.

3) Final project, 40%

4) Attendance, punctuality and preparedness, 10%.

5) Participation in discussions and critiques, 10%.

An Incomplete will only be issued if there are extenuating circumstances related to illness or critical personal emergency and only after administrative notice has been received.

POLICIES: Students should be aware of the College policies regarding creative and academic dishonesty and the penalties for plagiarism and software piracy. While it is accepted that there may be occasion for stylistic or historical inspiration, influence and reference, the student will be asked to produce original work from ones own study and investigation. If you have a disability that warrants accommodations in this course, please register with the Disability Service Coordinator at 216 Tremont Street, 5^th Floor, (617) 824-8415.

READING: Director 8 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide, 5th edition, Andre Persidsky, Peachpit Press. ISBN 0-201-70258-4.

After Effects 5 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickPro Guide, Antony Bolante, Peachpit Press. ISBN 0-201-75043-0.

SUPPLIES: Sketch book, Orb disk, ZIP disks and 650 MB CD-Rs as needed.

John (Craig) Freeman, NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION 2
- -
Course Calendar

Subject to changes if necessary

WEEK #1 Mon. 9/09/02 Introductions, Syllabus, Calendar

Assignment; Begin Dream Journal

Dream Journal must have daily entries for the duration of the semester. Generate media resources based on the journal entries for use in all projects.

Wed. 9/11/02 Demo 01; Generating Resource Media

Assignment; Bring sample resource media to next class

Include at least one example of each of the following:

640 X 480 .psd files

640 X 480 .mov files

640 X 480 .ai files

Audio .aif files

Feature: Un Chien Andalou, Luis Buñuel, 1928, 16 min. Media Classroom

Assignment; Project #1 Dream Montage

Create a 3 minute, Sorenson 3 compressed QuickTime movie, 640 X 480 at 15 fps using all of the media types and various techniques covered in class demonstrations and in the reading. The content should be based on your dream journals.

Due 10/2/02

WEEK #2 Mon. 9/16/02 Sample media due
Demo 02; Project File Structures, After Effects Interface, Importing Footage, Managing Footage

Feature: Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Deren, 1943, 14 min. Media Studio

Reading; Bolante, pp. 1-106

Wed. 9/18/02 Demo 03; Compositions, Layers, Layer Editing

Feature: At Land, Maya Deren, 1944, 15 min. Media Classroom

Reading; Bolante, pp. 107-189

WEEK #3 Mon. 9/23/02 Demo 04; Properties and Keyframes, Playback and Previews

John (Craig) Freeman, NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION 2
- -

Reading; Bolante, pp. 191-248

Browsing; Sputnik7: http://www.sputnik7.com

Film > Copy Shop, Virgil Widrich, 2001

Wed. 9/25/02 Demo 05; Mask, Effects, Keyframe Interpolation

Reading; Bolante, pp. 249-429

Browsing; Sputnik7: http://www.sputnik7.com

Film > f > 5 Dreams, Luke Jaeger, 2002

WEEK #4 Mon. 9/30/02 Demo 06; 3D Layers, Output

Reading; Bolante, pp. 431-577

Wed. 10/2/02 Due; Project #1; Dream Montage
Critique; Each student will present project to the class followed by a discussion.

WEEK #5 Mon. 10/7/02 Assignment; Project #2 Free Association

Create a Director Projector, 640 X 480 at 15 fps using all of the media types and various techniques covered in class demonstrations and in the reading. The content should be based on free association word exercises.

Due 10/23/02

Demo 07; Director Interface, Cast, Score

Reading; Persidsky, pp. 1-97

Browsing: Ctheory Multimedia: Issue 1: http://ctheorymultimedia.cornell.edu/issue1/

Wed. 10/9/02 Demo 08; Animation, Movies, Stage

Reading; Persidsky, pp. 99-140 and 201-212

Browsing; Ctheory Multimedia: Issue 2: http://ctheorymultimedia.cornell.edu/issue2/

WEEK #6 Mon. 10/14/02 Columbus Day observed (no classes held)

Tues. 10/15/02 (Tuesday) Monday class schedule observed

John (Craig) Freeman, NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION 2
- -

Demo 09; Video, Text, Sound

Reading; Persidsky, pp. 249-302

Browsing: Ctheory Multimedia: Issue 3: http://ctheorymultimedia.cornell.edu/issue3/

Wed. 10/16/02 Demo 10; Projectors, ShockWave

Reading; Persidsky, pp. 303-338

Browsing: Drunken Boat: http://www.drunkenboat.com

WEEK #7 Mon. 10/21/02 Demo 11; Lingo, Behaviors

Reading; Persidsky, pp. 357-405

Wed. 10/23/02 Due; Project #2; Free Association
Critique; Each student will present project to the class followed by a discussion.

Assignment; Final Project Proposals

Proposals must include:

Concept narrative

Storyboard

Production time-line

Browsing; DIA Center; Artist's Projects for the Web: http://www.diacenter.org/rooftop/webproj/index.html

WEEK #8 Mon. 10/28/02 Final Project Proposals due
Proposal Presentations

Each student will have five minutes to present proposal to class, followed by discussion. Late proposals will result in the lowering of the final project grade by one full letter grade and will not be presented to the class.

Wed. 10/30/02 Mid-semester evaluations

WEEK #9 Mon. 11/4/02

Studio; Work on final projects.

Wed. 11/6/02

Studio; Work on final projects continues.

John (Craig) Freeman, NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION 2
- -

WEEK #10 Mon. 11/11/02 Veteran's Day observed (no classes held).

Wed. 11/13/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues.

WEEK #11 Mon. 11/18/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues.

Wed. 11/20/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues.

WEEK #12 Mon. 11/25/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues.

Wed. 11/27/02 Thanksgiving Vacation (no classes held).

WEEK #13 Mon. 12/2/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues.

Wed. 12/4/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues.

WEEK #14 Mon. 12/ 9/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues

Wed. 12/11/02 Studio; Work on final projects continues

All past due work must be turned in or it will not count on final grades
Final Sat. 12/14/02 11:30 am. - 1:45 pm. Final Critique; All final projects are due. They must be burned to CD-ROM as a self-contained Director projector at 640X480, clearly marked with name, date and project title. We will view and critique each of the final projects. No late projects will be accepted.

John (Craig) Freeman, NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION 2
- -