Course Syllabus

COMM 101 Introduction to Audio Visual Practices

Fall 2023 Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 am to 12:20 pm

Professor Zeinabu irene Davis (she/her)

 

 

Email: zdavis@ucsd.edu

Please put COMM 101 & your section number in subject line of email

Office: MCC 124A Wednesdays 2:30-3:30 pm & by apmt.

Course Website: https://canvas.ucsd.edu/courses/22110 Zoom Lecture Link: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/96886740217

 

 

TAs:

Julia Kott                    email: jkott@ucsd.edu

(she/her)               Hours: Mondays 11am -12pm

Zoom: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/9708918506?pwd=U0lwVGtSOEhRWXM4ZDh4d3JpbXhrQT09
Meeting ID: 970 891 8506

 

Lindsey Ortega          email: leortega@ucsd.edu

(she/her)                    Hours: Thursdays 4 pm -5 pm

Zoom: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/7567244651?pwd=c0Z3VU5kc2pxcXVSdTZaQzdINzA5QT09

 

 

Labs:

 

Section

TA

MCC 139

A01

Lindsey

Mondays 1:00-3:50 pm

A02

Julia

Tuesdays 1:00 – 3:50 pm

A03

Julia

Wednesdays 9:00-11:50 am

A04

Lindsey

Wednesdays 1:00 -3:50 pm

 

 

Course Description:

This course introduces you to the language and practice of media production. We read film and television as texts by considering history, theory, genre, and practical technique. Through readings, lectures, and activities, you will acquire extensive knowledge of the art and practice of video production, film aesthetics, pre-production planning, production management, and editing aesthetics and technique. The creative process, issues of representation, and genre are also emphasized. With film criticism and production language acquisition, you will learn to recognize the choices available to a media maker with valuable information for media producers and critics. More generally, knowledge of these choices improves your analytical abilities as a student of communication and as an interpreter of media culture and technology.

 

In lab sections, you will be guided through the practice of hands-on media production, specifically digital videography, sound recording, image and sound editing with digital nonlinear editing equipment, and lighting. The course projects provide you with the opportunity to apply concepts of your other Communication courses to the production of single-channel video and sound work. You are strongly encouraged to apply ideas from other Communication Department courses to production practice. A passing grade in COMM 101 is required to take all other upper-division media production courses.

 

Course Structure:

All lectures and labs will be held in-person. This will allow us to come together as a community, check-in with each other, and anchor the course within our schedules.

 

Course Requirements:

 

Reading and Writing

Reading and writing are integral to the course. Keep up with homework and expect to read at least 30 pages of text each week. I recommend that you read each assignment several times. Attention to detail is imperative – pay attention to syllabus requirements for labs and lectures. Some of the work you do in labs or on discussion boards will be conducted in groups. You have a responsibility to participate in your group work as efficiently and with as much energy as you would contribute to your own work.

 

Attendance

Attendance at all lectures is crucial to keep up with the course demands (see Attendance Policy below). Clips and technical information discussed in the lectures will not be repeated in the lab and is not covered in the reading. Please be mindful that you will be tested on this material in-course quizzes. Quizzes and exam prompts will also be discussed in lecture.

 

The Media Teaching Lab Website: https://canvas.ucsd.edu/courses/4441

 

 

Group Work

Most work is produced in groups and your participation in these groups, not just the quality of the finished piece, impacts your grade. Media production takes time, attention, and commitment. You must collaborate with your colleagues, asserting yourself by providing creative input while respecting others’ positions.

Note: This may be the first media piece you make, but it will not be the last. Curiosity is the foundation of any creative project, and it’s endless. You will have the opportunity to develop your ideas further as you take more production courses or workshops in the future.

 

Attendance Policy:

Your presence in lecture and lab are all a part of your grade. Absences and lateness to class and lab (more than 10 minutes will be counted as a ½ absence) are not acceptable. You must arrive at all classes & labs of the course on time. Two (2) unexcused absences in total (either lab or lecture) will result in your grade being reduced by a full letter. Three (3) unexcused absences will result in a Failing grade. Short exams will be given during the lecture period and no make-up will be given without an acceptable excuse. Please email me and your TA if you have an urgent concern and need to be excused and get a dated note from health services if you are too ill to attend class. Late submission of projects is not acceptable. For each day an assignment is late, the grade will be dropped by one full letter.

 

In the chance you contract COVID-19, experience a loss, or have to provide unexpected care, please contact your instructor and TA immediately to make arrangements.

 

If you require accommodations for disabilities, please communicate with the Professor immediately and register with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD). This way, we may make arrangements to fit your needs. http://disabilities.ucsd.edu

 

Community Guidelines:

Please see a separate page in the modules section of the course Canvas page for detailed information on expectations, etiquette, and responsibilities when interacting with your instructors and student colleagues.

 

 

Assignments:

There are two types of assignments you will be responsible for completing over the quarter: Individual and group assignments.

 

Individual:

 

Additionally, in the first half of the course, you will be responsible for three individual media assignments - Photo Storytelling, Editing without Sound, and Editing with Sound. All visual media used in these exercises need to be original and done by you for this class only. Projects that plagiarize other sources will be assigned an “F” grade and will result in your expulsion from the course.

 

Group:

The second half of the course includes three group projects - Group Editing, Audio Storytelling, and your Final Project. These projects will require you to schedule working time outside of the class and lab times. Please plan accordingly and be prepared to share contact information.

 

Materials:

For some of your projects, media material will be provided. In other projects, you will be making your own media material and will need to create a Google Drive Folder for your group to share materials and keep your master files so that everyone has access to both.

 

Additionally, the learning curve for media practices at the beginning is steep. It is impossible to teach everything equipment, and software can do or be present for every troubleshoot (which will happen). YouTube is full of tutorials that cover just about everything you would want to know as you go through your projects. Going to YouTube and other media instruction platforms is a part of a career in media. Using it often, you will learn the correct language to use for problem-solving or discovering new techniques.

 

 

Required Readings and Media:

All required readings, films, and other media will be posted on the Canvas site in each weekly module as instructors determine them.

 

Grading:

 

Projects: The purpose of the class is to encourage and emulate group effort in the real media production world. Also, and fundamentally, the class’s purpose is to  instruct adequate media production and media management habits that can only be achieved with the people’s professional support at the Media Lab. Although we may have limited access to the Media Lab equipment and spaces due to construction, we still have access to the wonderful people who work there. I encourage you to edit during office hours while support is available. Your TAs will provide directions for submitting your projects.

 

Pre-production materials for all projects: description/crew list/shot and sound list/ storyboards/ to be discussed with TA before shooting and handed in with each project.

 

  • Participation: (Includes attendance, engagement in both labs and lectures and required meetings with your TA) 20%
  • Photo Exercise, Project 1: Tell a Story + Continuity 5%
  • Project 2: Editing (includes all editing assignments) 15%
  • Project 3: Audio Storytelling (includes pre-production materials) Project 20%
  • Project 4: Final Project (includes pre-production materials) 20% & Personal Reflection 5%
  • Quiz: 5%
  • Film Festival paper & attendance 10%

 

 

Grading Scale:

 

100-98: A+   97-93: A   92-90: A-

89-87:   B+   86-83: B   82-80: B-

79-77:   C+   76-73: C   72-70: C-

69-67:   D+   66-63: D   62-60: D-

59-0:      F

 

 

Meeting Schedule:

Because life right now is full of abnormal interruptions to our ability to learn and complete assigned work, we will be making regular weekly updates to this schedule as needed on Canvas. Please read Canvas announcements carefully and make sure to ask for clarification.

 

Readings & viewings are due before the first lecture of each week.

 

Week One: 10/3 & 10/5 - Introduction, Visual Storytelling & Composition basics (note: Labs will meet this week)

Read:

Schroeppel, Chap. 1, pgs. 1-17; Chap. 2 pgs. 21-42;

(pdf on Canvas)

Watch: See list of clips seen in class,

Due:

Student Questionnaire by Tuesday October 3 @ 5 pm.

Week Two: 10/10 & 10/12 - Composition & Mise-en-Scene

Read:

Schroeppel, Chap. 3 pgs. 43-55

Watch:

Media Lab’s “Introduction to Adobe Premiere” (on Canvas under Media Gallery)

Due:

 

Week Three: 10/17 & 10/19 – Editing & Notions of Time

Read:

Watch:

Media Lab’s “Photo Slideshows in Adobe Premiere” (on Canvas under Media Gallery)

Due:

Tell a Story in 6 Photographs

Week Four: 10/24 & 10/26 - Film Form & The Moving Image

Read:

Watch:

Media Lab’s “Avid Quick Guide” (on Canvas under Media Gallery)

Due:

Editing #1 ~ Photo Slideshow with sound

Week Five: 10/31 & 11/2 - Sound: Mood and Emotion

Read:

Watch:

Media Lab’s “Collaboration in Adobe Premiere” (on

Due:

Editing #2 ~ Bank Robbery (first group project)

 

 

Canvas under Media Gallery)

 

Week Six: 11/7 & 11/9 – Types of Movies

Read:

Watch:

Due:

Sound Project Treatment

Week Seven: 11/14 & 11/16 – Experimental Cinema & Documentary Practice

Read:

Watch:

Due:

Sound Project Final Draft

Week Eight: 11/21 – TBD (THANKSGIVING WEEK)

Read:

Watch:

Due:

Final Project Treatment (includes pre-production materials with production dates. You must meet with Prof and TAs for approval before production begins)

Week Nine: 11/28 & 11/30

Read:

Watch:

Due:

Final Project Rough Draft

Week Ten: 12/5 & 12/7 Wrap-up & Review

Read:

Watch:

Due:

Final Project Complete Draft

FINAL: Wednesday, Dec 13th, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm

 

 

Due:

Final Project Final Draft (including all

pre-production materials)

 

Personal Reflection Paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Film Festival Experience Paper – You are required to attend one film festival or screening with a question and answer session. The Fall brings many wonderful festivals to San Diego.  You may choose one in San Diego or another one in your hometown area provided you get permission from the instructor. Guidelines for the Paper are provided on the Canvas website.

 

List of Festivals:

Festival of Columbian Migration Films, October 1-8 Various at Digital Gym & Tijuana - free

See flyer & links posted on Canvas course website

San Diego Filipino Film Festival, October 3-8 https://sdfff.org/2023/

The Lot in Point Loma & AMC Plaza Bonita

Festival of Columbian Migration Films, October 1-8 Various at Digital Gym & Tijuana - free

San Diego International Film Festival, October 18-24 https://sdfilmfest.com/film-festival-2023/

San Diego Asian Film Festival, November 2-11, https://sdaff.org/2023/