Editing: Theory and Production
WINTER 2011	back to teaching

Classes meet in Media Center room 221
Office Hours – Tuesdays 1:00-2:00pm, Thursdays 1:00 – 2:00pm in VAF 511A

OVERVIEW:
Make without ceasing.
This will be the crux of our theoretical discussion of Editing. While we will often refer to readings derived from your VIS 70N reader and other writings over the course of the quarter, we will principally focus on a series of focused editing projects. We will treat this class like an intensive visual arts course one might find in another discipline (painting, ensemble performance, etc). The course has been designed as an intensive production and crit class at the Intermediate level of the Media Major and critiques will include discussion of a.) conceptual expression and b.) execution.

Take notes.
You should probably take notes. When films, artworks, artists are mentioned in discussion or lectures, I suggest writing them down and then looking them up later. The Geisel Library is good for this. Google is also easy to use.

VisArts Classes are not Apple Software Sales Demonstrations
This is not a "Final Cut pro" course, insofar as our discussions will be principally concerned with your ideas, choices, and strategies rather than a discussion of Apple software. There will be demonstrations of editing techniques towards this broad pedagogical agenda. I will regularly show specific editing & production techniques using Final Cut Studio software, though students should expect to be able to translate these techniques across a constantly evolving technological landscape.

Collaboration is expected.
There will only be one assignment in which collaboration with a classmate is required (Asgn #2). That said, I expect that students will often collaborate, support, and otherwise contribute to the production of their peers.

There will be blood. . . . er, grades. There will be grades.
60% will be based on all assignments (exercises, quizzes, and papers).
30% will be based on class participation in discussions and critiques.
10% will be based on four museum/gallery visit reports (one-page)
(vists to UAG and Calit2 Gallery are mandatory. Other venues may include, but are not limited to: MCASD, SDMA, MOCA, LACMA, Getty Museum, Hammer Museum, Compact Space, MFA Thesis Exhibitions, AgitProp Space)

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. six 5-second looks at a.) ecstasy or b.) heartbreakn (Due Thursday, January 6)
2. Music Video in Public (collaborative) (Due Thursday, January 13)
3. Over The Shoulder Improv (Due Thursday, January 27)
4. dance video edits / continuity vs. style (Due Feb 7 or Feb 9, by alphabet)
5. comic-timing: make the cut the joke. (Due Feb 7 or Feb 9, by alphabet)
6. make a series of between 5 and 7 short films (final) around a theme. (Due March 7 or 9, by alphabet) - - - works in progress during week 9 (Feb 28, March 2)

DO NOT SHOW:
1. alarm clocks
2. walking/running in Eucalyptus grove
3. working on a computer
4. stuffed animals
5. masculine self-discovery at La Jolla cliffs

 

COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1 - Introduction to Editing, Framing, Pacing
assignment 1 DUE Wednesday

Week 2 - Fine! Just Make A Music Video and Be Done With It! It Better Be Good, Because This Is the Last Time. Expect discussions of pacing, stylistic practice, and public-spaces
assignment 2 DUE Wednesday

Week 3 - (monday holiday) Over The Shoulder Improvisation Lesson.

Week 4 - Body Continuity. Framing, editing, and presenting the body on sreen with attention towards continuity.
assignment 3 DUE Wednesday

Week 5 - The Cut's the Joke. Comic-timing and the role of editing in generating a comic-moment.

Week 6 - Mid-Term Crits
assignments 4 and 5 DUE MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY (by last-name)

Week 7 - Serial Techniques. Both a discussion & presentation of works made in series and a discussion of serialization techniques for generating editing decisions.

Week 8 - (monday holiday) Still Image Motion

Week 9 - Works-in-Progress / FCS workshop

Week 10 - FINAL CRITS (serial works)
assignment 6 DUE MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY (by last name)

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updated JANUARY 12, 2010