Riverside County Office of Education
Vista Murrieta High School, Murrieta, CA
Course Syllabus

Instructor:	Mr. Jason Seipp
Email Address:	jseipp@murrieta.k12.ca.us
Course Title:	Digital Film Production – Level I
Department:	Career Technical Education
Grade Level:	09-12
Length of Course:	1 year (180 hours - non repeatable)
Elective/Required:	UC A-G approved ‘F’ (performing arts) CTE course & articulated with Riverside Community College (FTV-67)
Prerequisite:	None (preferably a background in music, technology and/or art)

 

Course Description:

The production of film and video is an important field related to marketing & communications that has grown significantly over the last sixty (60) years. This surge in production is indicated by the millions of videos and films that are available for purchase in store and online; the increase of hundreds of television stations available through cable, satellite, & internet providers; and by the increase of many new motion picture production companies, in a landscape which was once dominated by only seven studios. Additionally, many corporations have turned to producing training and promotional videos for their employees, as well as for their consumers. Digital Film Production - Level I is designed to provide students with an introduction into how this professional industry operates. It can be followed up with an advanced course (Digital Film Production - Level II) and concluded with a mastery course (Digital Film Production - Level III). If all competencies are met by the end of this course students may receive 2 units of collegiate course credit via Riverside Community College’s CATEMA system.

 

Instructional Materials: 

• • • Apple iMac computers with video production software: Final Cut Pro X, GarageBand, Photoshop, and Celtx
    • Audio/visual equipment: cameras, microphones, camera stabilization devices, music and sound effects library, miscellaneous digital storage devices

• • • Production software: After Effects, Titler Live, OBS, Wirecast, and Tricaster VMC
    • Scriptwriting materials including storyboard paper, lined paper, film permits, shooting schedules and pencils
    • Textbook: Moving Images (ISBN-13: 978-1435485853)

 

Expectations for Student Learning:

This Digital Film Production course will introduce students to various phases and processes of video/television/film production. Demonstrations, lectures, videos, and occasional guest speakers, as available, will expose students to the reality of industry standards relative to skill, work ethics, effective written and oral communication, and employment opportunities. The ultimate goal of this course is threefold: 

1) To present the student with the opportunity to develop skills along with an appreciation of the various phases and processes of video production and its value as an art form; 

2) To expose students to the world of, and creativity of, telling a story with still and motion pictures, graphics, sound, and speech; 

3) To allow students the opportunity to be exposed to a teamwork setting, designed to allow each person to work and grow within a team environment as an individual.

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• • • produce five (5) short films demonstrating basic to intermediate design principles for video/television/film
    • import and export digital images, videos, music, and graphics in Final Cut Pro X
    • understand and use cameras, camera stabilization devices, and a variety of video/audio equipment
    • understand and use various elements of video editing including transitions, effects, and graphics
    • understand and operate Apple computers proficiently
    • understand the use of audio, ambient sound, music, narration, and sound effects for video production
    • understand how to properly storyboard and script a story
    • work well as a team member, understanding the importance of cooperative and coordinated activities in the workplace environment

 

Course Outline:

This course has been designed to take place over a period of 36 weeks (or 1 full school year). The following is a brief outline of what students will be learning during that time.

• First Semester
• First 6 weeks

• • • Introduction / Overview
    • Main Roles of a Production
    • Pre-production Strategizing
    • Scriptwriting Techniques
    • Storyboarding Techniques
  • Second 6 weeks
    • Quiz #1
    • Final Cut Pro X Introduction
    • Public Service Announcement (Film Project)
    • Quiz #2
    • Music Video (Film Project)
  • Final 6 weeks
    • Quiz #3
    • Commercial Film (Film Project)
    • Finals
      
      
• Second Semester
  • First 6 weeks
    • Film Critique
    • Photoshop / GarageBand Introduction
    • Promotional Film (Film Project)
  • Second 6 weeks
    • Resume / Career Building
    • Short Length Narrative Film (Film Project)
  • Final 6 weeks
    
    • College Articulation (CyberCollege)
    • Finals

 

Instructional Methods:

This course is presented thusly: 20% through lecture, 10% through demonstration, 10% through training videos/texts, and 60% through hands-on activities. Students will be provided supplementary materials, handouts, projects, and tutorials for the purpose of completing assignments. Examples from the industry including motion pictures, motion picture trailers, TV commercials, TV shows, and documentaries will be viewed in part or in whole and used for evaluation and reference for projects. Projects are assigned to develop skill and competencies in the areas listed above.

In-class projects assigned may include, but are not limited to:

• creating text for video/television/film
• outlining work, writing scripts/narratives, and developing storyboards
• selecting appropriate and properly licensed music and/or sound effects
• shooting, capturing, and editing video footage
• using peripheral equipment including microphones, lights, camera stabilization devices, and external HDDs

 

Assessment and Evaluation: 

Students will be evaluated based on five (5) different factors including:

• Cooperation & Class Participation (25% of Final Grade)
• Performance on Videos (40% of Final Grade)
• Performance on Midterm / CyberCollege  (20% of Final Grade)
• Performance on Assigned Quizzes & Final (15% of Final Grade - 1st Semester Only)
• Performance on Career Documents & Final (15% of Final Grade - 2nd Semester Only)

 

Grading Policy:

Reports of student progress will be provided upon request, with final grades provided at the end of each term/semester. Final grades will be determined by classroom assessments of student proficiency levels based upon individual student achievement of the course content standards included within this course outline. Final grades reflect only academic factors and do not include non-academic factors such as attendance, although these factors do impact the student’s ability to master concepts and skills. 

 

All final grades will follow the Riverside County Office of Education Policy, including adhering to the approved grading scale below:

	99.9 - 89.6 = A
89.5 - 87 = B+	86.9 - 84 = B	83.9 - 80 = B-
79.9 - 77 = C+	76.9 - 74 = C	73.9 - 70 = C-
69.9 - 67 = D+	66.9 - 64 = D	63.9 - 60 = D-
	59.9 - 00 = F

 

Classroom Etiquette: 

Students are expected to behave responsibly and respectfully towards one another as well as the instructor. As such, the following rules should be observed:

• no hats (except Bronco related gear) shall be worn in class.
  --- There are no exceptions to this rule. This class should be and will be treated as a job environment

• equipment shall not be operated unless the instructor gives the go-ahead.
  --- There are no exceptions to this rule. The instructor is the arbiter of what equipment is to be used and at what time.

• equipment should be respected and treated properly.
  --- Failure to abide by this rule may result in a student’s legal guardian being financially responsible.

• the copying/use of pirated or copyright materials (such as music, games and movies) is prohibited.
  --- This rule is enforced to help avoid legal issues if a student’s video is entered in a film contest and to keep the student’s family from being held financially responsible for unintended uses.

• students must remain seated unless directed otherwise by the instructor.
  --- This rule is enforced to ensure each student has the ability to grasp information and knowledge being taught by the instructor equally.

• cell phones are not to be used while class is in session unless permission is given by the instructor (CA.Ed.Code.48901.7 / CA AB 272).
  --- This rule is enforced due the distractionary nature of cell phones to student learning.

• questions should ALWAYS be asked if knowledge of the material being presented is not understood.
  --- There are no exceptions to this rule. ALWAYS ask a question regarding the material if you have one.
• all rules stated in the Vista Murrieta High Handbook shall be observed.
  

 

Consequences for failing to abide by these rules will vary depending on their degree and frequency according to the Vista Murrieta High School Handbook.

Please note: Any part of this syllabus is subject to change at anytime, without notice, at the instructor’s convenience. 

COVID-19 DISCLAIMER/DISTANCE LEARNING: Please be advised that due to the current coronavirus pandemic, instructional methods are subject to change at any given time per local health officials and MVUSD directives (distance learning, blended classroom model, etc.). All hands-on skills and practices will be modified as necessary to accommodate these modifications. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with any assignments in google classroom or any other method the instructor chooses to use for learning purposes. Students should contact the instructor immediately with any questions or concerns in regards to distance learning.