What's about the blog

DDA-606B Graduate Seminar 2
Course Title: Graduate Seminar II Course No.: DDA-606B
School: Art and Design Days: Tuesdays Credit hours: 3
Name: Jacques Khouri
Office Faculty Office
Location of Class: 4E-04
Contact Information:
Email address: jkhouri@pratt.edu
Course Section: 03 Department: Digital Arts
Time: Wednesday 9:30 to 12:20
Bulletin Description:
This is a preproduction course for the Graduate Thesis. Students will develop the story, look, sound,
animatic and assets for their Theses. The culmination of the course is a detailed, polished animatic and
vertical slice of their Thesis project.
Detailed Description:
Students will continue the project started in Graduate Seminar 1. Students will need to demonstrate regular
progress in weekly critiques. We will continue to break down and analyze each component of film and
animation in the hopes of developing innovative approaches to Thesis films. Students will learn the art of
critique as they develop their projects.
Students are required to seek project/concept approval from the instructor by the 4th week of the semester.
Once approved, concepts and stories may not be changed without permission from the instructor.
Modifications may be made up to the 9th week (after midterm presentations). After the 9th week, no
fundamental changes to the project will be permitted.
In addition to weekly in-class presentation, students will give two formal presentations of their developing
GraduateThesis to the department, faculty and peers. For the presentations to the department, students are
expected to:
- carefully time their presentations
- test and rehearse their presentations beforehand
- predominantly use images of their own making in the visualization of their projects
Students will develop a comprehensive plan and timeline for their projects, and produce documentation of
all work related to the pre-production (planning) and early production phase of their Graduate Thesis. This
documentation is considered a "Production Notebook" and, for this class, will exist in the form of a blog.
Students are expected to post their progress at least once weekly and adhere to naming conventions.
Students who are working in time-based media should create works ranging from one to four minutes in
length. The 4 minute deadline will be strictly enforced. No student who exceeds it will be allowed to screen
their final project or be eligible for the Pratt Show
Course Goal(s):
Students will develop a unique voice their Thesis Project while building a film with high production value.
Students will gain an understanding of the production process and of well-managed production schedules.
Students will develop creative and technical planning and presentation abilities.
Students will complete a large volume of preproduction work for their Thesis.
1
Student Learning Objectives:
Students will learn how to plan and execute a large-scale film project.
Course Calendar/Schedule:
Please read this syllabus carefully. Deadlines and attendance are important. If you miss a session, you are
responsible for finding out what you missed and making it up.
Week 1
Introduction to course/syllabus—Cover major deadlines
Taking Stock of where we are in the Thesis project.
Screenings
Critique
Week 2
Critique
Presentation schedule & review of presentation requirements
Continue Look Development and Animatic
Week 3
Critique
Color Chart for Story Due
Storyboard Due
Preliminary Animatic Due
3D Students submit preliminary character models.
Week 4
In Class Presentations:
Final Story Pitch with Seven Style Frames, preliminary animatic, script, scratch track, and Preliminary 3D
character
Models where applicable.
Week 5
Critique
Designing Visual and Narrative Transitions
Refining Visual Development and Style Frames
Animatic continued
3D students submit finished characters with finished UVs and preliminary textures
Polish story and animatic for week 7 rehearsal presentation.
Week 6
Critique
Polish story and animatic for week 7 rehearsal presentation.
Week 7
Formal Concept Pitches in class: rehearsal & critique
all presentations for time-based projects must be carefully timed and include
--an abstract
--a working animatic, with all frames colored
--character design sheets
--character models and test rigs (if applicable)
--motion test (if applicable)
--compositing tests (if applicable)
--color palettes
--original concept art conveying final look/aesthetic
--examples of influences
2
--examples/work samples of relevant experience
--production notebooks/blogs.
Week 8
Faculty Critique in E3
Formal presentations will be 5 minutes in length, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.
Arrive early to test your work and get ready
All students must be present from beginning of the session.
Online Production Notebooks are to include preliminary production schedule, concept planning and preproduction
materials
Week 9
Post presentation discussion: how to proceed...
Students will be advised of their midterm grade in writing.
Begin developing a 20 to 30-second “Vertical Slice” test sequence incorporating the most critical features
of proposed project.
3D students submit final character rigs.
3D students begin modeling and assets for their Vertical Slice
Week 10
Critique
Individual Meetings
Studio time: Working on your project...
Week 11
Critique
Individual Meetings
Studio time: Working on your project...
Week 12
Critique
Individual Meetings
Studio time: Working on your project...
Week 13
Pre-Production Materials Finalized
Review and critique of animatic, vertical slice, and other visualization materials
Review and critique of time lines and resource plans
Week 14
Critique
Rehearse Final Presentations of all materials
Week 15
Final presentations to the department & faculty committee:
(arrive early to test your work and get ready)
Summer Production Commences.
I. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Readings, and Viewings:
Film Viewings will be assigned in class
Readings are varied and will be handed out in class. Here is a list of suggested readings:
3
Ideas for the Animated Short with DVD: Finding and Building Stories, Kate Alexander (Author), Karen
Sullivan
(Author), Gary Schumer (Author), 2008,
ISBN: 0240808606
Film Directing Shot by Shot, Steven D. Katz, Michael Wiese Productions, 1991,
ISBN: 0-941188-10-8
Setting Up Your Shots, Jeremy Vineyard, Michael Wiese Productions, 1999,
ISBN:0-941188-73-6
The Art of Storyboarding, John Hart, Focal Press, 1999,
ISBN: 0-240-80329-9
Exploring Storyboarding, Wendy Tumminello, Thomson Delmar Learning, 2005,
ISBN: 1-4018-2715-2
Storyboards Motion In Art, Second Edition, Mark Simon,Focal Press, 2000,
ISBN: 0-240-80374-4
Inspired 3D Short Film Production, Jeremy Cantor and Pepe Valencia, Thomson Course Technology,2004,
ISBN 1-
59200-117-3
The Writer's Journey. Christopher Vogler. Michael Wiese Productions.
ISBN: 0941188701
Suggested reading for interactive projects:
Flow. Mihaly Csikszentmihaly. Harper. ISBN: 0060920432.
A Pattern Language. Alexander, Ishikawa, Silverstein and others. Oxford 1977
Digital Art. Christiane Paul. Thames & Hudson. 2003. ISBN: 0500203679
Creative Code: Aesthetics and Computation. John Maeda. Thames & Hudson. 2004. ISBN: 0500285179
Project(s), paper(s), assignment(s):
Production Notebook/Blog
Students creating 2D/3D projects for Graduate Theses will complete the following for their Pre-production
notebook/blog:
1. Synopsis - Summary Statement describing film
2. Research: related works/visual reference
3. Story/Script
4. Character Model Sheets/ Concept Sketches
5. Background Concept Sketches/Aerial Plans
6. Storyboard
7. Animatic
8. 20-30 second Vertical Slice
9. Production plan/time line with schedule
10. Budget
4th Week, Mid-semester and End of Semester Presentations:
all presentations for time-based projects must be carefully timed and include
--an abstract
--a working animatic, with all frames colored
--a 20-30 second vertical slice (Final Presentation only)
--character design sheets
--character models and test rigs (if applicable)
--motion test (if applicable)
--compositing tests (if applicable)
--color palettes
--original concept art conveying final look/aesthetic
--examples of influences
--examples/work samples of relevant experience
--production notebooks/blogs.
4
Your attendance is mandatory for the entirety of all presentations.
Presentation Breakdown:
Each student is allotted 15 minutes to present their work to date:
This includes 5 minutes to present his/her project, followed by up to 10 minutes Q&A.
The 5 minute presentation includes:
Introduction
Audio-visual of proposed/in-progress/completed work
(animatic, vertical slice)
Show/tell research and storyboard
Show/tell planning (timeline)
Show/tell qualifications (examples, course taken, planned)
Assessment and Grading:
HOMEWORK
Failure to submit work on time will seriously damage your semester grade.
ATTENDANCE
3 absences will result in an automatic failure. Two absences will result in an automatic full grade deduction
(ie. A becomes B). Two tardies equals one absence. You are tardy if you are one second late for class. In
addition, all students are required to present at major critiques during the semester. Be present and on time.
No exceptions.
ATTENDANCE AT CRITIQUES
Any student who is absent for their presentation will receive a 0 for that portion of their grade.
GRADING
Week 4 Presentation: 15%
Midterm Presentation: 20%
Final Presentation: 20%
Weekly Progress: 20%
Professionalism and Attendance 25%
GRADE SCALE DESCRIPTIONS
A= Work of exceptional quality
A-= Work of high quality
B+= Work of high quality, higher than average abilities
B= Very good work that satisfies goals of course
B-= Good Work
C+=Average Work, understanding of course materials
C= Adequate work; passable
C-= Passing work but below good academic standing
D= Below average work; does not fully understand the assignments
F= Failure, no credit
II. POLICIES
Institute-wide policies listed in the “Community Standards” section of the bulletin: All students
must adhere to all Institute-wide policies as listed in the Bulletin under “Community Standards”.
Policy on students with disabilities: Anyone requiring special accommodations for disabilities must
obtain clearance from the Office of Disabilities Services at the beginning to the semester.
Any additional applicable school, departmental, or personal course policies:
Professionalism
5
Students should be mindful that this course employs the computer as a professional tool. Presentations will
therefore be viewed by professional standards, in every respect. These factors include concept, planning,
research, design development, execution, visual communication and presentation.
Technical Problems
Technical delays are not acceptable reasons for a late project. Because of technical issues, problems
frequently occur. You must therefore expect delays, and build them into your project schedule.
Plagiarism
PLAGIARISM is the presentation of someone else's work as one's own. This includes imagery, video,
animation, music, code, writing, and all other forms of original material and creative expression. Absolutely
no form of plagiarism is permitted in the completion of class assignments. Students who practice plagiarism
may be removed from the class, will receive a failing grade, and will be reported to the office of the Dean of
the School of Art & Design. Further questions on academic issues: please contact the DDA Office