Pasa 6271 Camera 2a Course Outline

COURSE OUTLINE

BPSA THEATRE, FILM & TELEVISION 2009

PASA 6271 CAMERA 2 A Level Course No. Course Name 6 PASA6271 Camera 2A Course Coordinator Dan Wagner ([email protected])

Credits 15

Teaching Staff Dan Wagner ([email protected]) Alan Locke ([email protected]) Guests Production Staff Nikki Baigent (Screen Production Manager) – [email protected] Gayle Jackson (Props & Costume Assistant) – [email protected] Sai Yin Leung (Maintenance Engineer) - [email protected] Theo Gibson (Screen Technician) - [email protected] Programme Co-ordinator Victor Grbic (Film & Television) – [email protected]

Course Outline GOAL The goal of this semester is to cultivate your craft skills and your techniques, and begin applying them to shooting situations in which many specialties work together toward a common outcome. This involves exploring ways to integrate your own personal abilities into a group effort. CONTENT You will look outside of your own department and start engaging in the collaboration of specialties that is a film crew. You will further develop your conversancy with the tools of visual storytelling and learn to integrate those tools, through creative problem-solving, with some of the more complex practicalities that arise when striving to be an efficient yet creative unit – both in the studio and on location. Much of the coursework is designed around the two main exercise projects this semester: PROFICIENCY DRILL is a team-building exercise in the studio, all about clear, quick communication and fast, efficient execution; LOCATION EXERCISE is your first major shoot outside the studio, and calls on a multitude of skills and sensibilities as you shoot scenes with actors in actual locations around the city. We’ll also start the Lighting and Exposure engine, which will drive you for the duration of your tenure - and your career! Additionally, we will address issues around shooting your Y2 DOCUMENTARY and serving as crew on the ADVERTS PROJECT. Through the semester, we will engage in Focus exercises and Lighting exercises, sharpening your skills in those areas. And we’ll end the semester of classes by beginning to bring it all together by touching on what it means to be a DP.

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COURSE OUTLINE

BPSA THEATRE, FILM & TELEVISION 2009

Course Aims and Learning Outcomes Every course has Aims, and every class and assessment has Learning Outcomes. They are what you will achieve by successfully completing each class and assessment. Here are the aims and learning outcomes for this paper: Course aim: To enable students to increase understanding of specialised theories, concepts and techniques for camera while evolving a personal methodology that will give expression to individual creative development and practice. Learning Outcomes: On completion of the course you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate conversancy with fundamental camera and lighting theory 2. Utilise skill in the handling and operation of specialist camera/lighting equipment and technology. - Develop operational knowledge of camera and lighting equipment - Explore basic camera/lighting techniques for a range of environments (location, studio, types of programmes, etc.) - Camera Operate, Camera Assist, Lighting Assist and Grip to a basic professional standard.

Course Assessments and Due Dates Weighting

Nature of assessment

30%

Assignment 1 (Written Test: Lighting & Exposure; Optics & Focus)

30%

Assignment 2 (1st AC – Location Exercise)

40%

Assignment 3 (In-Class Tests: Technical & Operational Skills)

L/O’s

Due Date

1

26 May

2

5 June

1, 2

26 June

Notes on the Assessment events: 1. Timed online test done through Blackboard. 2. This practical assessment involves all aspects of the job. 3.

These tests of technical and operational skills will be comprised of: a. Build / Operate / Focus – 20% b. Lighting / Grip – 20%

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COURSE OUTLINE

BPSA THEATRE, FILM & TELEVISION 2009

Class Schedule DATE / Tutor

LESSO N#

Tues-26Feb AM AL / DW

2 / A1

Plan for year / Wants & Needs / The Law / Warm-up for year

Tues-4Mar AM DW

2 / A2

Making of a Shot - The Order of Things: The step-by-step creative process of shot-making

TOPICS COVERED

PROFICIENCY DRILL Lens Choices: using the Zoom as a Variable-Fixed-Focal-Length Lens Framing/Staging/Operating I PROFICIENCY DRILL

Tues-11Mar AM AL

2 / A3

Tues-18Mar AM DW

2 / A4

Wed-26Mar PM AL

2 / A5

Lighting I: direction, quality, units Location I: photographic considerations

Tues-1Apr AM DW

2 / A6

Documentary Shooting: checklists for technicals, quality, protocols; Projects discussion

Focus I: the 1st AC; optics review; Responsibilities of the 2nd AC PROFICIENCY DRILL

Y2 DOCO SHOOTS TERM BREAK Camera Movement I: survey of methods and practicals Daylight Control

Mon-5May PM DW

2 / B1

Wed-7May PM AL

2 / B2

Mon-12May PM AL

2 / B3

Lighting II: Exposure

Wed-14May PM DW

2 / B4

Lighting III: lighting a FACE, lighting a SPACE

Mon-19May PM DW

2 / B5

Wed-21May PM AL

2 / B6

Mon-26May PM DW

2 / B7

Wed-28May PM AL

2 / B8

Wed-4Jun PM DW

2 / B9

Fri-6Jun AM DW

2 / B10

Framing/Staging/Operating II: Balance and Tension between FG, MG, BG Focus II: intermediate focus-pulling drills Location Ex Intro

Location II: protocols for camera Cheating Focus III: advanced drills Location Ex RECCES Location Lighting ASSESSMENT #1 Loc.Ex specific issues 1st AC'ing review Location Exercise Reference Shoot #1 LOCATION EX SHOOT - N/___ View Rushes & discuss shoot Grammar of the Shot: simple, complex, developing Loc.Ex Reference Shoots #2 & 3 LOCATION EX SHOOT - D/___ & N/___ View Rushes & discuss shoots Loc.Ex Reference Shoot #4 LOCATION EX SHOOT - D/___ Being a DP: 1st Script Impressions to Grading ADVERTS (crew for Y3's) ASSESSMENTS (#3)

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COURSE OUTLINE

BPSA THEATRE, FILM & TELEVISION 2009

Required & Recommended Items REQUIRED TEXT Cinematography: Theory and Practise – Image Making for Cinematographers, Directors and Videographers, Blain Brown, Focal Press, 2002 ISBN: 978-0-240-80500-9

REQUIRED ITEMS Staedler Lumocolor Non-Permanent Universal Pens You want the Fine (316WP4) or the Superfine (311WP4). You want the pack of 4. Torch http://www.hollywoodprops.co.nz/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=57 [some sort of small torch – doesn’t have to be this brand] Space Blanket http://www.hollywoodprops.co.nz/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=31 USB flash drive at least 1GB

RECOMMENDED READING Ballinger, Alex, New Cinematographers, Collins Design, 2004 Elkins, David D., The Camera Assistant’s Manual, 2nd Edition, Focal Press, Boston, 1996 Giannetti, Louis, Understanding Movies, 10th Edition, Prentice-Hall, 2004 Hines, William E., Operating cinematography for film and video: a professional and practical guide,

Ed Venture

Films Books, 1997

Malkiewicz, Kris, Cinematography: a guide for film makers and film teachers, 2nd Edition, Ward, Peter, Picture composition for film and television, Focal Press, Boston, 1996

Simon & Schuster, 1992

Also: see Blackboard for more RECOMMENDED READING

RECOMMENDED ITEMS [not necessary to purchase from these vendors - these web pages are for reference]

Fiberglass Tape Measure http://www.hollywoodprops.co.nz/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=34 Tool Pouch http://www.hollywoodprops.co.nz/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=303 Ditty Bag http://www.hollywoodprops.co.nz/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1011 Work Gloves http://www.hollywoodprops.co.nz/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=975 Compass http://www.aucklandmapcentre.co.nz/default,1614,compasses.sm

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