Film 203/380 Media Workshop DIY Camera Movement theory, practice and construction KSE 408, Tuesdays + Thursday

y 4PM 7:45PM, June 14 to July 23 Summer 2011, 3 Credits Instructor: Daniel Kelly Email: Office / Studio location: KSE 473 Office Hours: Note that even during standard office hours, students should email in advance to insure a meeting; while Im happy to chat with walk-ins if Im available, I may be meeting with another student already, potentially in their studio, the lab, or elsewhere. Better to play it safe and contact me in advance! Catalog Description Over 6 weeks we will discuss, explore, build and use the following three pieces of DIY camera equipment: the track dolly, jib crane, and hand-held stabilizer. Students will produce a series of short videos/films highlighting the directed use of each construction. Course Description Students will learn basic construction techniques, supply sources and safety. Assignments will include the construction of each piece of gear, documenting their progress and the creation of a small video or film which demonstrates the use of each completed project. Class time will include demonstrations, in-class work/technical activities, work days and critique. It will be the goal of the class that each piece of gear is completed in class, and that the resulting project using each construction is completed outside of class time. There will be occasional readings and/or screenings in class, on D2L / e-reserve, and provided via web links; students will be notified as to when, and are expected to follow up on their own time. There may be visiting artists in class. In these instances, the class may be moved to a different room and/or end early. Objectives Students will learn: basic construction and modification skills safe use of DIY and modified camera equipment how to obtain materials for construction under budget canstraints how to apply film theory to create directed camera movements specific to each contruction or modification

Project Outlines

Track Dolly The track dolly is basically a wheeled platform which is use to support a camera and allows for consistent and smooth motion along a set of tracks or rails. Once constructed, we will explore as a class the different ways the dolly is used to communicate through the moving image. Jib Crane: The jib crane is a platform which supports a camera attached to a set of parallel arms which allows a camera to be raised vertically while maintaining the direction of it's lens independent of the crane position. Once constructed, we will explore how the crane is used to translate between spaces and times. Handheld Stabilizer: The hand-held stabilizer, (the most well known being the Steadicam) is a balance-rig intended to balance the camera so that operator motion is minimized or specifically controlled. This allows the camera operator to maintain a frame while walking, climbing stairs, running, etc. Once constructed, we will examine ways in which to exploit the stabilizer in order to allow points of view, actions and situations not well executed with a simple handheld camera. Final Project: For their final work, students will either choose to modify/enhance one of their completed constructions or create a new piece of equipment not covered in class. This modified or newly constructed piece of equipment will be specifically made to create a short video or film which reflects the use, properties and capabilities inherent in gear design. Evaluation Most classes you will have ongoing exercises and assignments to show technical development, and timely construction. Each project (above) will require you to share a short example of work which uses the commercial equivalent of our DIY gear project. Final projects require a written proposal. All projects due, in their entirety, on their published due date. Extensions are not normally granted unless there are extenuating circumstances, and they must be negotiated between the student and instructor well before the due date in question. Incomplete or late work (including preliminary work) will be downgraded accordingly. The final grades will be based on the summed percentages of the projects and exercise grades, and will include an evaluation of attendance, participation in critiques and discussions, intensity of work ethic, and applied use of constructed equipment. See below for an exact breakdown.

Required Materials/Supplies sketchbook or notebook

tape measure safety glasses or goggles other materials as needed for each students specific project ideas.

Text

Killer Camera Rigs that You Can Build available on d2l for a limited time in the 2nd edition http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/ will tell you where to purchase the current edition (recommended)

Recommended Materials/Supplies Drill Screwdriver set Adjustable wrench(s) Locking pliers Course policies: Attendance: Attendance is mandatory because of the nature of studio classes and the emphasis on group discussions, critique, in-class demonstrations and presentations. You will be allowed 1 unexcused absences; each additional absence after that will lower your grade by a full letter. It is possible to fail from absences. Doctors notes or letters from family are required for excused absences. Excessive absences from illness require you to contact the chairs office regarding your situation. You are responsible for tracking your absences and being aware of credit lost due to these absences, as well as for turning in assignments due to excused absence in the following class (unexcused absences require proxy submission). Tardiness: Students must have materials and be ready to work when class begins. Since the class generally begins with announcements, new information, critiques, etc., tardiness is inconvenient, annoying, and disruptive to the rest of the class. 2 lates = 1 unexcused absence (see above). If you are late you are responsible for alerting/reminding me after class, so that I can update my attendance sheet; otherwise you may be marked as absent and it will affect your grade. Deadlines and Critiques: Each project has a due date announced when the project is assigned. On this designated date all projects will be looked at for critique. Your presence and the presence of your finished work at these critiques are important to the structured learning in this course. Projects not available for critique will be considered late and downgraded one full letter grade for each class day it is late. An F is given after two weeks. Unexcused absences on due dates still require you to turn in your assignment that day, via a classmate. Project Assignments: Each project receives a written evaluation and a letter grade. They are evaluated based on your own descriptions, with a concentration functionality, creative modification and aesthetic interest incorporated into each construction. You will receive comments during the critique. It is suggested that you keep notes of both faculty and peer comments and insights. Missing Projects: No student will pass this course unless all projects are turned in.

Cancellation of Class: If the canceled class is a work period, the assignment is still due on the scheduled date. If a critique is canceled, it will be held on the next class day. If weather conditions warrant the cancellation of class, the radio or TV will announce the closing. You can also call 229-4444 for a recorded message from the university. Grading 20% Track Dolly completion and demonstration 20% Jib Crane completion and demonstration 20% Stabilizer completion and demonstration 10% Participation 30% Final project It is important to note that the participation grade is not about required attendance absences and lateness can only hurt your grade but in-class work, and active participation in critiques and demos. Ongoing exercises are about your preparedness with technical exercises and other assignments, as well as sketches and ongoing work related to your projects that will not be part of each projects letter grade. Tool requirements: This class will require that you have a minimum set of tools, safety equipment, and the ability to purchase or recycle/re-purpose the materials needed to construct each project. These are of course very low-budget interpretations of expensive camera rigging gear, however there is still a cost to contend with. You are encouraged to re-purpose, recycle and reclaim the necessary parts. University Policies Please visit this link: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf The link to University Policies and Procedures is: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/policies.html Click on Uniform Syllabus Policy. This is a guide for best practices in creating syllabi. This includes the policy info in the pdf above. Schedule Although the schedule for the session is tight in terms of assignments and critique, there is room for a handful of technical demonstrations later in the semester, whilst you are working on projects. Please do not hesitate to tell me if there are specific skills you wish to learn, and feel free to conversely offer your own skill-sets to the class. Week 1 - Track Dolly Introduction to the class, syllabus, work and projects. Discuss, share track dolly shot examples. Begin work on Track Dolly. Order/acquire parts for Jib Crane. Week 2 Jib Crane Track Dolly demonstrations due. Discuss, share Crane shot examples.

Begin work on Jib Crane. Week 3- Stabilizer Jib Crane demonstrations due. Discuss, share Stabilizer shot examples. Dicsuss stabilizer plan options. Begin work on Stabilizer. Prepare for final projects. Week 4 Stabilizer demonstrations due. Discuss, review dolly, crane and stabilizer projects. Week 5 Final project outlines due. Open workshop, be prepared to work on your gear. Week 6 Final project demonstrations due. Share, discuss final projects, possibility of final project screening/exhibition.