Introduction to digital media design and production

Introduction to digital media design and production

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  Introduction to DigitalMedia Design and Production Instructor: Michael Weston, University of Houston-Victoria Required textbook: Musburger, Robert B. & Gorham Kindem. Introduction to Media Production: The Path to Digital Media Production. Fourth Edition. Focal: 2009. ISBN: 978-0-240-81082-9 Course Description: This course provides the design, theory and development of production skills and techniques for a variety of digital media. Students are required to participate in labs dealing with the operation and utilization of production equipment and the actual production of materials. Course Objectives: After successful completion of the course, the student will: • Be able to prepare, propose, plan, and carry out a small-scale media production. • Gain experience and ability in digital photography and image manipulation. • Gain experience and ability in visual and audio storytelling. • Gain experience and ability in digital video and audio editing. • Gain experience and ability in collaborative media production. • Have explored narrative, aesthetic, legal, and technical aspects of mass communications and media production. • Gain experience and ability in working with Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Story, Audacity, Adobe Premiere and other computer applications WEEK 1 • Introduction to the Course A discussion of tools to be used, necessary software, time commitments, work to be produced and mutual expectations. WEEK 2• HISTORY OF VISUAL MEDIA / AESTHETICS AND TECHNIQUES Read: Introduction to Media Production, Chapters 1 and 2 Due: Registration on course blog Read: Introduction to Media Production, Chapter 8 WEEK 3 • DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY Shooting Day Reading: Roland Barthes Essay on Image Construction Due: Digital Photography Assignment
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  WEEK 4 •PHOTOSHOP Feb 8 Read: Introduction to Media Production, Chapter 11 Read: Knight Digital Media Center: “PhotoShop” (http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/photoshop/pdf) Due: Photoshop Assignment WEEK 5 • PROJECT MANAGEMENT Read: Introduction to Media Production, Chapter 3 WEEK 6 • PROJECT PLANNING and PREPRODUCTION Due: Informal Project Presentations Project Proposal and Powerpoint Presentations WEEK 7 • PROJECT PREPRODUCTION and PROPOSAL Due: Project Proposal Presentations WEEK 8 • FALL/SPRING BREAK WEEK 9 • RECORDING AUDIO and AUDACITY Read: Introduction to Media Production, Chapter 6 Watch Audacity Tutorial WEEK 10 • AUDIO MEDIA Read: Introduction to Media Production, Chapter 4 Due: Podcast Project Script WEEK 11 • AUDIO PROJECTS Working Week: Audio Projects WEEK 12 • PROJECT CONVERGENCE Due: Podcast Project Due: Peer Podcast Evaluations WEEK 13 • VIDEO PRODUCTION USING ADOBE STORY AND PREMIERE ELEMENTS Watch Adobe Story Tutorial Develop Script in Adobe Story WEEK 14 • PRODUCTION Due: Movie Project Script WEEK 15 • POSTPRODUCTION Bring video into computer, begin editing
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  WEEK 16 •POSTPRODUCTION Due: Premiere Elements Project FINALS WEEK Final Movie Project Presentations Assignments: Digital Photography Assignment: Using a digital SLR camera, you will shoot a series of photographs. The subjects and composition of these photographs will relate directly to aesthetics and techniques covered in lecture and in reading assignments. Assignments will be handed in digitally and made available via the course blog. Photoshop Assignment: In class, we will cover the basics of digital image manipulation via a series of PhotoShop tutorials and assignments. Initial assignments will inform the student on the basics of digital image manipulation, scanning, editing, cropping, resizing, layering, and rendering for the web. Final assignments will be renderings of digital photo(s) taken by the student and will be uploaded by the student to the course blog. In addition, graphics and title screens for Adobe Premiere projects will be created during “postproduction.” PowerPoint Project: Following discussions on the logistics and utility of visual aides in public speaking/presentation, your group will develop a PowerPoint presentation to accompany your Adobe Premiere Project proposal. The proposal will be delivered to the class who will act as a body charged with the duty of determining whether or not to “green light” your project. You will be expected to relay to the class your project title; description; crew; cast; preproduction, production, and postproduction schedule; shotlist; and locations shouting. In addition, you will explain how the narrative of your project will be related sans all visual aides via an audio podcast that will act as a story about your Adobe Premiere project, an addendum to your Adobe Premiere project, and publicity for your Adobe Premiere project. Podcast Assignment: You will script and record a short three minute audio podcast about your project. Details to be given in class. Adobe Premiere Project: Your final project for the course will be an Adobe Premiere project incorporating video, still photography, graphic design, and narration. The project (the subject and focus) will be entirely of your own design with only minimal direction. The project will be overseen trough a structured schedule of preproduction, production, and postproduction. Your grade will be determined via an assessment of several criteria including: Plan, Proposal, Preproduction, Production, Postproduction, Peer Assessment, and Final Edit.
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  Grades: 20% – Attendance,Attentiveness, Class Work, & Participation 10% – Digital Photography Assignment 10% – Photoshop Assignment 10% – PowerPoint Project 10% – Audacity Assignment 40% – Adobe Premiere Project This course proposal was developed by Michael Weston and may not be repurposed in whole or in part without express permission. Copyright 2010.