Digital Filmmaking - Documentary Contacts

Title Name / Email Phone
Program Director Rue (928) 649-4284
Dean James Perey (928) 634-6513
Dean John Morgan (928) 717-7721
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Digital Filmmaking - Documentary Certificate

Digital Filmmaking - Documentary Certificate

Note: All students will be required to submit a 1,000 word essay that describes in concept the film that the student desires to produce as well as the expectation to be realized in the program. Students will also participate in an interview process to further their educational goals in filmmaking. All students will be provided written notice of admittance into the program.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Digital Filmmaking - Documentary Certificate program, the learner will be able to:

 

  1. Exhibit a working knowledge of filmmaking equipment. (DFM 102, DFM 103, DFM 106, DFM 107, DFM 108, DFM 109, DFM 201)
  2. Create a short screenplay. (DFM 101, DFM 103, DFM 104)
  3. Produce and direct a three act short film. (DFM 102, DFM 103, DFM 111, DFM 201)
  4. Utilize team building techniques. (DFM 106, DFM 107, DFM 108, DFM 110) 
 

Program-Specific Requirements:

Course Course Title Hours
DFM101 Film Analysis

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 101. Film Analysis (4). Analytical sequence of various disparate film types.Emphasis on story and structure analysis, shot map analysis, artistic design, and character development. Includes the creation of an outline for visual storytelling. Three lecture. Three lab. (Repeatable for a total of 8 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.)

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Story and structure
2.Shot map
3. Interrelations of sound and image
4. Character development
5. Artistic design
6. Theme
7. Subtext
8. Cultural resonance

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Analyze story and structure to create shot map and production paperwork. (1,2)
2.Translate image and sound analysis to shared and personal vocabularies. (2,3)
3. Evaluate character development for dialogue creation. (1,4)
4. Reproduce artistic design interactions. (5)
5. Describe individual perceptions of theme, subtext and cultural resonance through historical analyses. (6-8)
6. Create shot map for camera operator. (2)
7. Create outline for script. (1,3,4)

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DFM102 Image and Sound

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 102. Image and Sound (4). Creation of visual and auditory experiences. Includes core components of motion picture production: idea, image, sound, and sequence. Three lecture. Three lab. [Repeatable for a total of 8 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.] ??

COURSE CONTENT:
1.Recording images
2. Recording sounds
3.Manipulating images
4.Manipulating sounds

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.Construct simultaneous images and sounds. (1-4)
2. Manipulate images and sound experiences. (3,4)
3. Use digital cameras and nonlinear editing formats. (1-4)
4. Use audio recorders. (2)
5. Mix sound. (2,4)
6. Produce sounds and images. (1-4)
7.Direct the recording of sounds and images. (1,2)

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DFM103 Storytelling

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 103. Storytelling (4). Writing and editing elements in the production of visual stories. Analyzing content objectively and addressing structural issues. Three lecture. Three lab. [Repeatable for a total of 8 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.]

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Recording stories
2. Thematic patterns in storytelling
3. Contemporary story forms
4. Commercials
5. Finding the story in the interview
6. Personal story material
7.Visual storytelling structure

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.Transcribe story resources. (5-7)
2. Record story resources. (1)
3. Organize thematic patterns in storytelling. (2)
4. Discuss contemporary story forms. (3)?
5. Identify story themes and structures. (4-7)
6. Identify and correct structural flaws. (2,7)

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DFM104 Screenwriting

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 104. Screenwriting (1). Introduction to screenwriting. Writing, editing and formatting a script for final presentation and professional submission. Issues basic to the art of storytelling in film will be addressed and analyzed: character, dramatic structure, theme, setting, image, sound. Three lab. [Repeatable for a total of 3 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.]

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Three-act structure
2. Script formatting
3. Character development
4. Film treatment formatting ??

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.Describe written conventions of screenwriting. (1-3)?
2. Identify major components of a well-conceived script. (1,2)?
3. Utilize scriptwriting vocabulary. (2)?
4. Describe written conventions of film treatments. (4)

 1
DFM106 Camera Coverage

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 106. Camera Coverage (3).Skills and techniques required to direct cinematography using digital cameras. One lecture. Six lab. [Repeatable for a total of 6 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.]

COURSE CONTENT:
1Script breakdown into shot sequences
2. Storyboarding ?
3. Scene camera coverage ?
4. Basic camera techniques
5. Basic lighting techniques
6. Crew communication ?

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Construct a script breakdown. (1)?
2. Identify camera coverage requirements. (2,3)?
3. Develop camera coverage plans. (1-3)?
4. Finalize camera coverage plans. (3)
5. Use basic camera skills. (4)
6. Use basic lighting techniques. (5)
7. Work with a production crew utilizing communication skills. (4-6)

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DFM107 Editing

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 107. Editing (3). Film editing from analysis to final cut. One lecture. Six lab. [Repeatable for a total of 6 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.]

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Mechanical, aesthetic and personal elements of film editing ?
2. Digital editing ?
3. Film analysis of image and sound ?
4. Low-budget editing solutions ?
5. Director/editor relationship
6. Editing terminology

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.Use industry standard editing systems. (1,2)?
2. Convert shooting script to usable images. (1-3)?
3. Illustrate basic editing techniques. (1-3, 6)?
4. Compensate for ineffective coverage using stock and graphics. (1-4)?
5. Generate personal editing techniques. (1-5)?
6. Edit film shot by others. (1-6)

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DFM108 Guerilla Filmmaking

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 108. Guerilla Filmmaking (4).Producing low-budget professional independent films. Includes funding, distribution and marketing of films. Two lecture. Six lab. [Repeatable for a total of 8 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.]

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Production relationships ?
2. Shooting schedules ?
3. Scripts ?
4. Pre-production ?
5. Budgets ?
6. Script breakdown ?
7. Business aspects of guerrilla filmmaking

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.Identify production relationships. (1)?
2. Identify alternative financing models. (5,7)?
3. Plan scripts and pre-production strategies. (2,3,4,6)?
4. Prepare film budget. (5,7)
5. Prepare script breakdown. (6)
6. Develop shooting schedule. (2,3,5,6)?
7. Prepare business paperwork. (7)?
6. Identify and recruit appropriate crew. (1,4,5,7)

 4
DFM109 Managing Post-Production

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 109. Managing Post-Production (4).Professional post-production issues and responsibilities. Two lecture. Six lab. [Repeatable for a total of 8 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.]

COURSE CONTENT:
1.Post-production expense budgeting ?
2. Post-production scheduling ?
3. Post-production facilities ?
4. Attracting and employing professionals ?
5. File transfer and editing ?
6. Domestic and foreign distribution requirements ?
7. Protection of digital core assets ? 8. Protocols for film post-production

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.Organize post-production. (1-3)?
2. Schedule the post-production process. (1-3,5)?
3. Apply post-production process to audio. (5,8)?
4. Recruit professional filmmakers. (4)
5. Choose domestic and foreign distribution. (6)?
6. Protect film assets. (7)?
7. Plan protocols for film post-production. (8)

 4
DFM110 Thesis Film Pre-Production

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 110. Thesis Film Pre-Production: (6). Pre-production of thesis film. Three lecture. Nine lab. [Repeatable for a total of 12 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.

COURSE CONTENT:
1.Preparation and organization of thesis film
2. Script breakdown
3. Shooting schedule
4. Storyboard
5. Cast and crew recruitment
6. Site location
7. Procurement credentials

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.Prepare all materials and schedules for shooting thesis film. (1-3)
2. Coordinate equipment and personnel scheduling. (3-5)
3. Identify site location. (6)
4. Recruit cast and crew for filming. (5)
5. Obtain procurement credentials. (7)

 6
DFM111 Interview Techniques

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 111. Interview Techniques (1). Introduction to interviewing techniques. Professional use of lights, sound and camera for interviews. Questioning to elicit a useful response. Prerequisite: Prospective students must apply to be accepted in the Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking documentary program by submitting a competitive 1000 word essay and successfully completing a personal interview. Three lab.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Interview styles and techniques
2. Research methodology
3. Image
4. Sound
5. Narration vs On-Camera
6. On-location and studio setups

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Create engaging discussion with person being interviewed. (1)
2. Produce images and sound to evoke the right emotion from the audience. (2-5)
3. Set up proper lighting and sound for on-location and studio set-ups. (6)
4. Use clues heard in the interview to define cut-away shots to be filmed later. (1,5)

 1
DFM201 Thesis Film Production

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DFM 201. Thesis Film Production (6). Production and post-production of a 20-minute digital film. Directing original short film project. Required to crew on and support at least two fellow student productions. Eighteen lab. [Repeatable for a total of 12 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.

COURSE CONTENT:

1.Replication of a commercial feature length production
2. Collaborative filmmaking techniques
3. Field production
4. Video post-production
5. Audio post-production
6. Original student work
7. Technical complexity
8. Production oversight
9. Twenty minute digital short

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Oversee digital film production. (1-3,8)
2. Direct original short film. (1-3,8,9)
3. Collaborate in a field production. (1,2,8)
4. Integrate technical complexity in digital editing. (4-7)
5. Adapt to production schedule. (1,2,8)
6. Prioritize camera plan. (3)
7. Synchronize video and audio files. (4,5)
8. Schedule ADR in sound booths. (5,7,8)
9. Record Foley. (5,7)
10. Export final film. (4,7,9)
11. Create digital archive. (7,9)

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Note:  It is always best to discuss educational and career goals with an academic advisor prior to enrolling in any courses.  Learn more about Academic Advising.