Ctpr 376 - Intermediate Cinematography

CTPR 376 - INTERMEDIATE CINEMATOGRAPHY

CLASS SCHEDULE ( 310 Green )

Spring 2013

1:00 - 3:50 PM / Stage D / Zemeckis Center

Cinematography Faculty & SA

Robert Kositchek

/ 310-315-9465

Ruben Contreras

/ 916-807-4398

Week 1 August 27

All Students to come to class having completed the 1st Day Assignment

Introductions and discussion of class.

Syllabus review.

Safety and Ethics of the Movie set.

Review of Camera Equipment

Instructor to meet with each team to discuss 1st Day Assignment for Project 1 Cinematography.

End of first week students will pick up camera packages from PEC. Both members of the team must be present at PEC to receive their cameras (PEC Policy).

Spend the weekend studying operations manual and practice using camera.

For second week class bring in writing no less than 2 questions you have about set up and operation of the camera.

Reading Assignment: Voice & Vision: Chapter 8: The Film System / Chapter 12: Basics of Exposure

Week 2 September 3

All partnerships bring to class all camera equipment packages.

You and your partner will practice setup and basic operation under supervision of instructor and S.A.

Instructor will demonstrate use of Grip and Electrical equipment that will be loaned to each group for the remainder of the term. Pick-up will occur at end of week.

Instructions will be given for Camera Test Weekend. (see attached doc: 1st. Camera Test .doc)

Reading Assignment: Voice & Vision: Chapter 10: The Lens / Chapter 11: Camera Support.

For week 3: Each Team to bring Hard drive with selected shots from test footage for viewing at 9:00am dailies / SCA 316.

Additionally...

Each team to bring a photo of the human face that they find interesting and photographically creative (tear sheet from magazine, Book or on your lap top). Using your chosen portrait, make a corresponding lighting diagram to show how it was done. This is to be used in Week 3 class.

Week 3 September 10

9:00 am – View Test Weekend Dailies / SCA 316

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab (3 EX-1 camera packages and 3 mole lighting kits)

Basic lighting demonstration using the “three” lights. Key, fill and back. Discussion of light qualities, direction, contrast, color. Combined with lens choice and camera position. Exposure tools in the camera.

Exhibit and discuss the photographic portraits of the human face the students have brought in along with their lighting diagrams.

Class divides into 3 crews. Complete portrait assignment in class using the digital cameras. Review in class exercise at end of class.

Reading Assignment: Voice & Vision: Chapter 13: Basic Lighting for Film and DV.

Week 4 September 17

9:00 am – View Project 1/ week 1 Dailies / SCA 316

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab (1 EX-1 camera and doorway dolly with track)

“Working as a crew to cover a scene” Instructor will demonstrate on set procedures for Directing the Photography of a scene with a film crew. Additionally Instructor will demonstrate, with help of class as crew “Traditional Scene Coverage”. Review in class exercise at end of class.

Reading Assignment: Voice & Vision: Chapter 14: Lighting and Exposure: Beyond...

Week 5 September 24

9:00 am – View Project 1/ week 2 Dailies / SCA 316

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab (3 EX-1 Cameras / Class to be held at SCA Exterior (location TBD) / dolly with track and Grip equipment)

Day Exterior workshop: Class will be instructed of ways to work with Day Exterior locations. Controlling light and exposure. Subtractive Lighting / Use of Dolly on location. Safety / Stands, silks, solids, nets, reflectors, sand bags etc.

Reading Assignment: Voice & Vision: Chapter 18: On The Set

Week 6 October 1

9:00 am – View Project 1 / week 3 Dailies / SCA 316

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab: Class will be held in SCA Post Facility Room B152 and involve instruction and supervision of Color Correction, Exposure, Gamma and Chroma Adjustment for digital film projects. All teams must bring their hard drives with existing edited footage for.

Week 7 October 8

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab

Lonely: Instructor will provide class with a non-dialogue scenario to film. Class will be assigned specific positions. The exercise will be a practice in basic lighting and scene coverage using Tungsten lights: lighting the room; lighting the close-up; metering; composition; coverage; movement of camera and subject. (doorway dolly use). Review in class exercise at end of class.

For Week 8:

Two Teams will be created. Each team will bring to class a Lighting and Camera exercise they feel would instruct them in how to accomplish different photographic and lighting scenarios. They may be based on scenes for the upcoming projects or questions they have in general about the techniques used in film. Each team should bring in a photo, clip or written scenario that depicts what they would like to try to accomplish.

Week 8 October 15

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab

In class exercise will be based on Lighting and Camera exercises the two teams have brought to class intended to instruct them in how to accomplish different challenges and lighting scenarios they wish to create. Teams will come to class with clips, photos or a written scenario that depicts what they want to accomplish and make a presentation to us.

Instruction for 2nd camera test. (see attached doc. 2nd 376 Camera Test weekend.doc)

Week 9 October 22

9:00 am – Acting Workshop with Eugene

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab – Teams will screen their 2nd 376 Weekend Camera Test and make their presentation before the class. This is followed by a creative discussion of style and mood for Project Two. Students to present clips and photographs that represent the look they are striving to achieve in their second project.

Project 1 Screening in Norris Theatre October 27, evening

Week 10 October 29

9:00 am - View Camera Test 2 Dailies

1:00 pm – In class exercise “Poor Man’s Process” location TBD

Preparation of students for Week 12

Each Student to bring in a clip on DVD they want to re-create. We will review the clips and select two to reproduce week 13 as a Final Exam.

Week 11 November 5

9:00 am – View Project 2 / week 1 Dailies / SCA 316

1:00 pm – Cinematography Lab

Class to review Clips bought in by students. Two will be selected for Final Exercise week 14.

Class will be divided into two crews. Each team will have one week to prep for the three hour shoot. Preparation should include Props, production design, wardrobe and casting. Special equipment approved by faculty only. Sound should be used in this exercise.

Each crew will be graded as a whole. This is considered your Final Exam and we will be watching very carefully how you prepare, work and solve your challenges as well as how well you achieve your goal.

Week 12 November 12

View Project 2 / week 2 Dailies / SCA 204.

1:00 pm – Final Exercise. Two Crews re-creating selected scenes. Review at end of class.

Each crew will be graded as a whole. This is considered your Final Exam and we will be watching very carefully how you prepare, work and solve your challenges as well as how well you achieve your goal.

Week 13 November19

9:00 am – View Project 2 / week 3 Dailies / SCA 204

1:00pm Cinematography Lab: Field trip to Major Camera Rental Company for demonstration of current equipment used in professional film making at this time.

Week 14 November 26

No Cinematography Class.

Week 15 Decembrer 3

No Cinematography Class.

Week 16

Project 2 Screening in Norris Theatre December 15, 5:00 pm.

Safety:

The personal safety of yourselves and your cast and crew members is a vital consideration as you plan and shoot your projects. Please check with your instructors before shooting if you have any questions or concerns. Read the Safety Handbook and understand the contents. Footage shot in unsafe or unethical conditions will be withheld from the final project; students’ privileges may be suspended; your grades may be lowered, including the possibility of failing. All students are expected to understand and abide by the USC School of Cinematic Arts guidelines. Violation of any safety guidelines may result in disciplinary action from confiscation of footage to expulsion from the University. Discuss and permit all hazardous shooting conditions listed in the USC Safety Handbook with your instructors. Both partners are equally responsible for production safety and ethics. The use of any special equipment (i.e. dollies with jib arms, steadicams, scissor lifts, condors, cranes, helicopters, camera cars, car mounts and generators – (with the exception of faculty approved portables) is PROHIBITED.

Faculty Sign-Off sheets are required for all Hazardous Shooting Conditions prior to production. They must be presented to Faculty in class no later than Tuesday before the weekend they are intended for.

Use of any equipment for which the School of Cinematic Arts has not provided instruction is prohibited. (See attached form 2nd semester camera, grip & electrical equipment petition list)

If your actors are doing anything other than walking or sitting, talk to your instructors about what you intend to do. If your camera is not on a tripod on safe, solid ground out of harms way, talk to your instructor! We are here to help you get the shot safely and professionally without harm to anyone or anything.

Under no circumstances may you hire or retain professional technicians like Grips, Electricians and Camera crew.

Camera Operation and lighting design must be done by your Director of Photography Partner.

Your additional crew must be made up of students currently enrolled at USC School of Cinematic Arts. Preferably they should be enrolled in this particular section of 310. Make-up, Stunts and FX approved by faculty are the exception.

Grading:

Your grade is based on how well you participate in the process. If you work hard, show up on time and participate intellectually and physically in the class you will receive a very good grade. Here are some breakdowns of how these things are valued. You are not being graded solely on how “great” a film you make.

Attendance 10% ( Be on time and have no unexcused absence )

Class Participation in discussions and workshops 20% ( Share each week in dailies and workshop. Be attentive and active to the exercise being shot on stage. )

Proper preparation of footage for Dailies Screenings 20% ( Sample of each set up shot over the weekend exhibited in timeline. Slates visible at head or tail of all takes )

Cooperative collaboration within your partnership and with faculty 30% ( be productive and creative within the framework and restrictions of this 310 process. Be of maximum service to your partner. )

Demonstrating the use of information and skills imparted to you during the course in your workshops, discussions and projects. 20%

Digital Dailies: Students will come to the dailies section of the class prepared to watch 10 minutes of selected footage from their weekend shoot. Footage must be in a timeline. It should represent the master and coverage of scenes. Be prepared to discuss technical decisions as well as creative ones. All shots must be properly slated on screen.

Students with Disabilities: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure this letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open from 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday. The phone number for DSP is 213.740.0776

Academic Integrity: The School of Cinematic Arts expects the highest standards of academic excellence and ethical performance from USC students. It is particularly important that you are aware of and avoid plagiarism, cheating on exams, submitting a paper or exercise to more than one instructor, or submitting an assignment authored by anyone than yourself. Violation of this policy will result in a failing grade and be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. If you have any doubts or questions about these policies, consult SCAMPUS and/or confer with instructor or TA.

Robert Kositchek

Assistant Professor of Practice / University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

Home: 310-315-9465

Cell: 310-365-4655

e-mail:

Students are encouraged to contact me at anytime regarding challenges, questions and problems they may have pertaining to this course. I will make myself available for discussion after class each week for any students or Teams who wish to meet with me regarding their projects. Please do your best to give me a little notice if you feel you would like to meet out of class time.