FILM78001
Smartphone Film-making
Sheridan
 
  I: Administrative Information   II: Course Details   III: Topical Outline(s)  Printable Version
 
Section I: Administrative Information
  Total hours: 14.0
Credit Value: 0.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Fall 2021
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents: N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Program(s): Photography Workshops
Program Coordinator(s): N/A
Course Leader or Contact: N/A
Version: 20210907_00
Status: Approved (APPR)

Section I Notes: Access to course materials and assignments will be available on Sheridan's Learning and Teaching Environment (SLATE). Students will need reliable access to a computer and the internet.

 
 
Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
Learn how to control smartphone camera settings to achieve optimal exposure, visualize and produce cinematic video that demonstrates depth of field and advanced composition. Learn to maintain consistency in colour and style settings throughout video productions, evaluate and work in different lighting scenarios on film locations, and devise a creative shooting plan that meets professional standards.

Program Context

 
Photography Workshops Program Coordinator(s): N/A
This is a stand alone workshop


Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

  Critical Performance:
By the end of this course, learners will confidently produce video content with their smartphones suitable for social media, film festivals and commercial and brand work.
 
Learning Outcomes:

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Manipulate smartphone camera settings to achieve optimal exposure in any location
  2. Visualize and produce cinematic video clips showing depth of field and motion.
  3. Ensure colour settings and style is consistent throughout production using colour management tools.
  4. Devise a creative plan for storytelling in a smartphone video production.
  5. Assess available light on any location shoot and devise a shooting strategy to ensure optimal lighting.
  6. Formulate a list of b-roll / cover visuals that intuitively tell the story of a specific location, scene or setting.
  7. Compose video shots that offer the widest creative choices in post-production.
  8. Monitor and record audio to professional standards.
  9. Plan and produce on-camera interviews which form the narrative structure of smartphone film projects.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

 Evaluation Plan: ONLINE
 Pre-production planning through storyboarding5.0%
 Filmic Pro camera control interface test10.0%
 In-class b-roll challenge10.0%
 Cinematic techniques & creative shot composition25.0%
 Shooting & producing an on-camera interview20.0%
 Planning and shooting a b-roll sequence30.0%
Total100.0%

Evaluation Notes and Academic Missed Work Procedure:
Note: A passing grade is defined as 50%.

Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Colleges and Universities requirements:


 

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

  • Communication Skills - Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken, visual form that fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.
  • Communication Skills - Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills - Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.
  • Interpersonal Skills - Show respect for the diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.
  • Personal Skills - Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact (if course is PLAR-eligible) - Office of the Registrar

  • Not Eligible for PLAR

 
 
Section III: Topical Outline
Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Instruction Mode: Online
Professor: Multiple Professors
Resource(s):
 TypeDescription
RequiredOtherFilmic Pro Users Manual available online as PDF
RequiredSoftwareFilmic Pro, This is a smartphone app that raises the technical quality of your smartphone camera to that of a pro-grade DSLR.

Applicable student group(s): Continuing Education Students
Course Details:

Module One - Comparing smartphone filmmaking to conventional film and video production.

  • Discovering the advantages of contemporary smartphone technologies and form factor.
  • Managing the camera settings that allow us to control exposure, composition and colour.
  • Exploring the Filmic Pro interface on our smartphone cameras.

Pre-production planning through storyboarding assignment 5%

 

Module Two - Navigating the Smartphone filmmaking workflow.

  • Changing various camera control settings to lock down optimal exposure.
  • Preparing our smartphone cameras for smartphone film production.
  • Comparing various film project formats and delivery systems.

Filmic Pro camera control interface test 10%

 

Module Three - Tools and Techniques to elevate our filmmaking skills.

  • Breaking down various smartphone film formats.
  • Assessing peripheral smartphone filmmaking tools that augment cinematic shooting. (Lenses, gimbals, filter and microphones, etc)
  • Lay out pre-production and storyboarding plans.

In-class b-roll challenge 10%

 

Module Four - Cinematic Shooting.

  • Applying dynamic camera motion to our shots.
  • Using in-camera continuity and shot-transition techniques.
  • Producing cinematic compositions with our cameras.

Cinematic techniques and creative shot composition 25%

 

Module Five - Capturing B-roll shots.

  • Calculating the style and variety of b-roll shots needed for our projects.
  • Using peripheral tools and creative shooting techniques to expand our b-roll shooting repertoire.
  • Producing b-roll shooting opportunities in the field.

Planning and shooting a b-roll sequence 30%

 

Module Six - Lighting and On-Camera interviewing.

  • Evaluate existing and ambient lighting to professionally light on-camera interview subjects.
  • Planning and producing on-camera interviews to build a compelling narrative for our smartphone film projects.
  • Monitoring and recording professional audio during both on-camera interviews and natural / ambient sound opportunities.

Shooting and producing an on-camera interview 20%

 

Module Seven - Editing

  • Managing, labelling and organizing our workfiles (video clips) to set ourselves up for a smooth editing experience.
  • Exploring both mobile and desktop editing platforms.
  • Utilizing shot selection, pacing and rhythm to edit our projects, via the Adobe Rush app.

 



Sheridan Policies

All Sheridan policies can be viewed on the Sheridan policy website.

Academic Integrity: The principle of academic integrity requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original, unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the professor, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own, violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic integrity are advised to review the Academic Integrity Policy and procedure and/or discuss them with the professor.

Copyright: A majority of the course lectures and materials provided in class and posted in SLATE are protected by copyright. Use of these materials must comply with the Acceptable Use Policy, Use of Copyright Protected Work Policy and Student Code of Conduct. Students may use, copy and share these materials for learning and/or research purposes provided that the use complies with fair dealing or an exception in the Copyright Act. Permission from the rights holder would be necessary otherwise. Please note that it is prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote. It is also prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own or your own work with the intent to assist others in cheating on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote.

Intellectual Property: Sheridan's Intellectual Property Policy generally applies such that students own their own work. Please be advised that students working with external research and/or industry collaborators may be asked to sign agreements that waive or modify their IP rights. Please refer to Sheridan's IP Policy and Procedure.

Respectful Behaviour: Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that supports academic achievement by respecting the dignity, self-esteem and fair treatment of every person engaged in the learning process. Behaviour which is inconsistent with this principle will not be tolerated. Details of Sheridan's policy on Harassment and Discrimination, Academic Integrity and other academic policies are available on the Sheridan policy website.

Accessible Learning: Accessible Learning coordinates academic accommodations for students with disabilities. For more information or to register, please see the Accessible Learning website (Statement added September 2016)

Course Outline Changes: The information contained in this Course Outline including but not limited to faculty and program information and course description is subject to change without notice. Any changes to course curriculum and/or assessment shall adhere to approved Sheridan protocol. Nothing in this Course Outline should be viewed as a representation, offer and/or warranty. Students are responsible for reading the Important Notice and Disclaimer which applies to Programs and Courses.


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