Digital Cinematography Arts Col 752, 5 credits TR 3:00-4:48

Professor Alan Price aprice@accad.osu.edu office hours: TR 1:00-3:00 by appointment

 

Course Description:
This course explores elements that enhance storytelling, such as digital lighting, shading techniques, and camera composition.

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:
Establish a methodology for lighting design.
Develop an understanding of shading techniques and applications.
Develop an understanding of composition through lighting, camera, and color.
Create a collection of still images and shaders that demonstrate student's understanding on the topics covered in this course.
Create an on-line "process book" in HTML format that documents the conceptual, technical, and artistic development throughout the quarter.
Use computer graphics as a medium by developing artistic and technical skills and integrating them.
Apply the principles and techniques learned in the class to student's own research.
Develop new vocabulary related to digital cinematography.
Enhance ability to discuss current issues related to digital cinematography.
Demonstrate the ability to offer both technical and aesthetic criticisms of the work of peers and self.

Course Methodology:
Students are expected to be participating and working in each and every class. Students are encouraged to collaborate in solving some of the difficult technical and conceptual problems that are part of their project. While class sessions will consist mainly of studio work, this time will be supplemented by lectures, demonstrations, critiques, video reference, and discussions focusing on class assignments.
The class format will take on a variety of styles, as the subject dictates. Examples will be presented and discussed in lectures, videos and demonstrations. Students will present their work in critique sessions.

Students are encouraged complete all work at ACCAD's facilities in order to benefit from collaborative learning with your peers. Students choosing to use "offsite" hardware and software must have their current working files on the system and available for review at the beginning of each and every class. Problems with "offsite" systems and/or incompatibility will not be an acceptable excuse for missed assignments.

Grading Policy:
Students must demonstrate satisfactory achievement of course objectives through fulfillment of course assignments and by contributing to class discussions and critiques. Course assignments will require students to use a variety of software and equipment at ACCAD. Collaboration between students in the course, other faculty, staff and students at ACCAD is encouraged. Course evaluation will be based upon the following:

Assignments 1 - 3: 30% each, where 15% of each assignment grade is given to process book research.
Remaining 10% based on class participation and progress on in-class work and presentations.

All students are required to be on time and in attendance for each and every class. Students arriving to class more than 10 minutes late may be counted as absent. Two unexcused absences will lowered a final grade by 1/2 a letter. Three unexcused absences will lower your final grade by one letter. Four unexcused absences will result in a failing grade ("E") for the course.
Adherence to deadlines is expected. It is the individual student's responsibility to keep track of the goals and deadlines and to present the work to the class and instructor on the specified dates. Late or missed goals will be given a failing grade. Students will be expected to make a formal presentation of their progress on dates specified by the course timeline.

Assignments
1: Time of day and mood
2: Shaders
3: Individual Proposals

Required Text:
Digital Lighting & Rendering, Jeremy Birn

Recommended Texts:
Maya 2008 (or current version) for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide
Maya (version 6 may have been the last) Killer Tips, Eric Hanson, New Riders -( will be referenced in class)

Statement of Academic Misconduct: In accordance with Faculty Rule 3335-5-487, all instances of alleged academic misconduct will be reported to the department chairperson and the Committee on Academic Misconduct (The University’s rules on academic misconduct can be found at http://oaa.osu.edu/coam/home.html). Academic misconduct is grounds for failing the course and may be grounds for further sanctions. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, giving or receiving information during an exam and submitting plagiarized work for academic requirements. The University provides guidelines for research on the web at http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/.

Students with Special Needs/Disabilities: If you need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, you should contact us to arrange an appointment as soon as possible. At the appointment, we can discuss the course format, anticipate your needs, and explore potential accommodations. We rely on the Office of Disability Services for assistance in verifying the need for accommodations and developing accommodations strategies. If you have not previously contacted the Office of Disability Services, we encourage you to do so by calling 292-3307.