Summary of the course
ANI220-401 - Pre-Production Art
Fall Quarter 2009
Instructor: Lisa Barcy
lbarcy@cdm.depaul.edu
Office Hours:
Course Description:
This class will focus on the aesthetic and practical uses of research, treatments, drawings, found images and storyboarding as tools in the production of a short film. Students will complete a series of assignments that will utilize different methods of organizing material and finding inspiration to make a cohesive, narrative work. Various methods used in both commercial and independent productions will be presented as examples, and pre-production work from both live action and animated films will be view throughout the quarter. Students will create several storyboards for short films, as well as develop character model sheets, write treatments, and research design options. You will at some point be asked to work outside your comfort zone, try new things and break bad habits. This is good for you.
This is a class where you will draw every week, both in class and out of class. If you're not a good drawer now is a great time to practice. And remember, great drawers are not born - it's a lot of practice. So the more you do the better you'll get at it. If you haven't taken a basic drawing class or figure drawing I strongly suggest that you do this soon.
Course Objectives: Filmmaking is frequently a collaborative process. Central to any collaboration is the ability to translate abstract concepts into visual media. Students will learn various methods for generating ideas and communicating them successfully, regardless of whether their work is for a commercial market, or a personal film. All students should leave the class with a storyboard, animatic, and adequate pre-production work that will aid them in seeing their project to completion as they continue their studies. By the end of the quarter you should have a few projects to consider for full on production, or capstone projects.
Attendance Policy: Two absences are allowed with the third resulting in a one-letter grade reduction for the course. Two "lates" count as one absence.
What You Will Need to Bring to Class - Always be ready to work:
- A lot of enthusiasm and energy and an open mind.
- A sketchbook for drawing and collecting scrap material and a glue stick.
- A 3-ring binder for storyboards and a package of 3x5 photo holders that hold 4 per page. (Or if you can't find the photo holders, some equivalent way to store and present your boards.)
- Index Cards or Storyboard Paper
- Pencils - mechanical is ok, anything with a soft lead, erasers
- Art supplies for coloring, inking as needed.
- Also useful: a digital camera, scissors or X-acto knife, a straight edge or ruler, your flash drive and extra dvds for backup.
Recommended Reading:
1. From Word to Image; Storyboarding and the Filmmaking Process, Marcie Begleiter
2. Prepare to Board, Nancy Beiman
Grading: A = 100-93, A- = 92-90, B+ = 89-88, B = 87-83, B- = 82-80, C+ = 79-78, C = 77-73, C- = 72-70, D+ = 69-68, D = 67-63, D- = 62-60, F = 59-0.
A indicates excellence, student has worked exceptionally hard and has developed on both a technical and conceptual level. Approaches work with enthusiasm and dedication.
B indicates above average work - Students conceptual approach or skills have improved. Effort is evident. Student has a genuine interest in their work. Needs some improvement either technically or conceptually.
C indicates satisfactory work. Basic requirements have all been met. Work needs improvement in two or more areas. May need to improve attitude, working methods, punctuality, or ability to organize work flow.
D work is unsatisfactory in some respect, key concepts are not understood or assignments are missing. Possible frequent tardiness.
F is substantially unsatisfactory work, or frequent tardiness or absence.
Assignments and Points:
1. Adaptation Storyboard 15 points
2. "Collision" Storyboard 15 points
3. Designing a Character/ Creating a Model Sheet 10 points
4. Writing a Film Treatment 10 points
5. Art Direction - maquettes, inspiration boards, color palates 15 Points
6. Final Project consisting of:
-A One Page Treatment
- Character model sheets
- Research material, inspirational sketches, photos, color palates, etc.
- Storyboard of no less than 40 panels and accompanying Animatic in Quicktime or AVI format. (In the case of a non-linear story or abstract piece, the same # of layout sketches and actual artwork for the animation.) 35 Points
______________________________Course Schedule_______________________________
Week 1 - Sept.10
Intro to the class, each other, and class resources. Where do ideas come from? Storyboarding for yourself vs. others. The language of storyboarding - some techniques to convey motion, camera movement and staging. Creating a sense of flow. Glossary of types of shots and what they mean. Introduce 1st assignment. Film screening.
In class, draw a storyboard sequence to accompany the following sound or text. Re-draw- scenes from an alternate POV or perspective if time.
Assignment #1- Adaptation Storyboard. See assignment sheet. Also posted on COLweb.
Week 2
Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Look at Adaptation Storyboards and critique. Read The Kugelmas Episode by Woody Allen on the Course Reserves for Thursday. Begin storyboards for assignment #2.
Some basic drawing techniques for the newbies. Boarding pans and transitions
Thursday, Sept. 17 - The Short Film - what's in it and what's not. Watch several films and discuss structure.
Assignment#2: When Storyboards Collide. See assignment sheet (also on COL web) Due next week.
Week 3
Tuesday, Sept. 22 - Assignment #2 due. Critique in class
Developing a character. How can the details of a character help create narrative? How do we decide what they should look like? Using resources to design original characters. Finding or making references for faces, body type.
Model sheets - creating a believable character on paper.
Drawing variations of the same character.
Thursday, Sept 24 - In class, write a short history of your character where the small details about this person will help the narrative. Share with the class and consider any changes. Consider time period, age and gender.
Thursday - Continue with character design project in class. Finish in presentable format for next week. See assignment guidelines for more detail.
Week 4
Tuesday, Sept. 29 - View model sheets and critique.
Writing film treatments specifically for the short form. Synopsis versus theme. Brainstorming with found text or images as a means of generating ideas. Writing to, about, or from the point of view of the image.).
In class writing assignment: Based on the image and sentence you have, write a treatment for a short film that is one page, that introduces characters, setting, important plot elements and main themes running through your piece.
Begin brainstorming for Assignment #4 - Choose an approach or structure you have not yet used.
Thursday, Oct. 1st - Read in-class treatments aloud if time. Give a copy of your treatment to your neighbor. In class, we will spend time storyboarding another's treatment. Concentrate on camera work and composition more so than character design. Bring in the finished boards next week Tuesday.
Assignment - One page film treatment. See guidelines. Due Oct. 6th
Week 5
Tuesday, Oct.6th -Treatments are due - Read in class and critique each other.
Creating maquettes, inspiration boards, researching the "look" of your film as well as the contents. Begin collecting material and/or building a maquette. Use room 803 for this.
Thursday, Oct. 8th - Continue working on research material and maquettes. Using a digital camera and your maquette to compose storyboards.
Assignment #5 - Create one marquette based on a previous storyboard. Also create an accompanying inspiration board on 18x24 museum board. See guidelines for more requirements.
Week 6
Tuesday, Oct. 13th - View maquettes and inspiration boards. Discuss art direction. Scanning your storyboards, working out the timing, managing file sizes, and getting everything into a timeline. Ways to represent staging with Flash or AE.
Introduction to The Final Project - Your final piece must consist of the following:
1. A well thought out and finalized storyboard (this means no rough sketches or something you hastily drew on the bus) and an accompanying animatic for a short film. Choose whichever program you are most comfortable with to compile and edit it (After Effects, Premiere, Final Cut, or Flash). Quick time or AVI files are ok. Hand in your animatic on a disk, thumb drive, or ColWeb.
2. You finished storyboards should be submitted in a binder.
3. A one page treatment and theme. Theme should be expressed in a single sentence.
4. Character design sheets. These can be drawn or made digitally. Make one for each character. If you make them digitally please have a color print-out of each character.
5. Presentation board with research and inspirational artwork. This can be mounted on 18x24" foamboard or "museum" board. You are allowed two images on your board to be from the web. The rest you will need to make or find in more creative ways. Think of it as something that will give your client a sense of what the finished product will look like.
6. One maquette representing a location - can be constructed out of chipboard or foamboard.
Rough storyboard of your ENTIRE piece is due next week. Your storyboard must consist of no less than 40 panels. Be prepared to present it to the class. Be prepared to pitch your initial concept next week and give each other feedback that helps them. Be honest, even if you like that person. They will thank you for it (perhaps).
Thursday, Oct. 15th - Continue working on final storyboards in class. Come prepared to work in class for the remainder of the quarter.
Week 7
Tuesday, Oct. 20th - Pitch rough storyboards. Everyone must suggest changes during the critique. You must make at least 3 of those changes for next week, whether or not you agree with them. You can change things back later if you really disagree, but for now make those changes.
Thursday, Oct. 22nd - Continue storyboard presentations.
If there is time left during class, please use it to work on your final.
Research and inspirational material due next week. These can be image, text, or even sound based. They can be things that influenced either the content or the aesthetic of your work. It does not have to be mounted yet. Bring in 3-5 images at least.
Week 8
Oct. 27th and 29th
View revisions and research material. Individual meetings and technical trouble shooting.
Work on character model sheets. You may still make changes to your story, as long as you keep me updated. Regular attendance is expected although you may work in the lab at this time.
Week 9
Nov. 3rd and 5th
Work on final projects in class. Regular attendance is expected although you may work in the lab at this time.
Week 10
Nov. 10th and 12th
Final Projects are due today. Do not be late - Have your work ready to show and be critiqued. This means no one is still working or exporting anything. Give each other honest feedback about what works and what doesn't. Have a good break. Remember to actually make that film now.
Grading
School policies:
Online Instructor Evaluation
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over two weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online at https://mycti.cti.depaul.edu/mycti
Email
Email is the primary means of communication between faculty and
students enrolled in this course outside of class time. Students should
be sure their email listed under "demographic information" at
http://campusconnect.depaul.edu is correct.
Academic Integrity Policy
This course will be subject to the academic integrity policy
passed by faculty. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/
Plagiarism
The university and school policy on plagiarism can be summarized as follows: Students in this course should be aware of the strong sanctions that can be imposed against someone guilty of plagiarism. If proven, a charge of plagiarism could result in an automatic F in the course and possible expulsion. The strongest of sanctions will be imposed on anyone who submits as his/her own work any assignment which has been prepared by someone else. If you have any questions or doubts about what plagiarism entails or how to properly acknowledge source materials be sure to consult the instructor.
Incomplete
An incomplete grade is given only for an exceptional reason such as a death in
the family, a serious illness, etc. Any such reason must be documented. Any incomplete
request must be made at least two weeks before the final, and approved by the Dean of the
College of Computing and Digital Media. Any consequences
resulting from a poor grade for the course will not be considered as valid reasons for
such a request.
Resources for Students with Disabilities
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential. To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted either: - PLuS Program (for LD, AD/HD) at 773-325-4239 in SAC 220
- The Office for Students with Disabilities (for all other disabilities) at 773-325-7290 Student Center 307
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