Course Name (short): Sequential Narrative and Perf
School: Animation Arts and Design
Program(s): Bachelor of Animation
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Mayerson
Course Leader or Contact: Nancy Beiman
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Paulette Geffros
Version: 16.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
This course is an introduction to the craft and principles of acting as they apply to animation processes. Students communicate convincing performance through storyboards, story reels with integrated dialogue, music and sound effects, and in-class acting.

Typical Instructional Format

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: Course Contributors: Rob Corbett, Tony Tarantini, Maury Whyte

Detailed Description
This course is an introduction to the craft and principles of acting as they apply to animation processes. Students will incorporate multiple characters into a creative story that utilizes dialogue. Students communicate convincing performance through storyboard art, story reels with dialogue and soundtrack, and in-class acting. Topics include: creating characters (based on different personality types), using dialogue and sound to develop characters in an animated story, and creating scenes with interaction among multiple characters. Through interactive lecture, discussion, role play, and positive and negative case studies, students incorporate strong acting concepts and principles into their storyboards and animated performances.

Program Context

 Critical Performance
By the end of the course, students will have demonstrated the ability 
to create storyboards that incorporate the principles of 
acting/performance in the development of intriguing characters and 
two story reels that combine audio and visual materials to create a 
cohesive story.

Learning Outcomes
To achieve the Critical Performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to: 


1.Develop a story with multiple characters whose
  roles inform and advance the plot.

2. Develop storyboard sketches into rough model sheets for character 
   designs.

3. Create effective and appropriate dialogue that contributes to the
   character performances and captures the tone and intent of the
   story.

4. Record a series of dialogue tracks and fuse with visual elements
   to create a simple story reel.

5. Explain the different interrelationship combinations of multiple
   characters.

6. Create a performance on storyboard using basic acting techniques 
   (e.g. motivation, conflict, attraction, global and historical 
   contexts, tension; conscious and unconscious intent).

7. Compare the literary, cinematic, and animated forms of narrative 
   storytelling.
 
8. Conduct a pitching presentation that incorporates the terminology 
   of animated filmmaking.

9. Analyze archetypes, story arcs and multiple character development.
 
10. Critically evaluate and assess a character-driven sequence 
    through deconstruction.

11. Compare interactive media and traditional media in the context of 
    storytelling.

12. Identify and explain key characteristics of creative thought and 
    expression through the use of case studies.

13. Implement appropriate visual storytelling techniques as they 
    apply to performances within different traditional film genres.

Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

STORY
Assignment #1 Sequential Beat Board and Character Sketches     5% 
Assignment #2 Sequential Boards                               10%
Assignment #3 Leica Reel for Sequential Storyboard            15%
Assignment #4 PERIOD PIECE outline and beat boards             5%
Assignment #5 PERIOD PIECE Television Storyboards             20%
Total                                                         55%

Note: There will be SIX Work in Progress sessions in classes 3, 4, 8,
10. 11 and13.

PERFORMANCE
In class activities                                     10%
Assignment #1 - Create a Character                      10%
Assignment #2 - Acting Presentation                     15%
Quizzes (2 @ 5% each)                                   10%
Total                                                   45%

Story and Performance Total                            100%

NOTE: Final grade is the average of the STORY and PERFORMANCE 
portions of the course. Students must achieve 50% or better in each 
area in order to pass the course. 

Late Policy

Late Policy for all courses in the program: All assignments are due
within the first 15 minutes after the start of class on the due date.
Late projects, submitted after the first 15 minutes of the start of
class will receive a 20% grade reduction. Late projects submitted the
following week will receive a 30% grade reduction. There will be no
submission of work after the last day of semester unless arrangements
have been made and documented by the professor. Work that is more than
one week late will not be graded unless a prior arrangement has been
made with the professor; the arrangement must be documented on email
or a memo, with the new due date identified. There will be no
resubmission of work unless, under exceptional circumstances, this has
been agreed to or suggested by the professor. Again, a hard copy of
the agreement is necessary. If there is a valid reason for the late
project, the student must email the professor at least 3 days before
the due date. If the reason is deemed to be valid, there will be no
late penalty. A new due date with be set by the instructor. 

The basic late policy as laid out above will be followed, except in
the instance that an instructor requires a variation in policy. That
variation will be provided to the student in writing as part of the
actual assignment, which will be handed out by the instructor.

Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Film by 
Nancy Beiman

Story - Nancy Beiman
Performance - Rob Corbett

WEEK 1

STORY
Music and Dance in Animation	
Screenings TBA

- Assignment# 1 GIVEN: Beat Boards and Character Lineup for 
  Sequential reel with dialogue based on preexisting track.  
  Soundtrack, lyrics, bar sheets and size guides provided by 
  professor.
- Beat boards and character sketches (Assignment 1) due week 2

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Character Centres and Attitudes
- Concept: Animator as the principal actor in animation
- Concept: Emotional input through visual perception.
	
WEEK 2

STORY
Sequential  Storytelling: An Analysis
- Definition and exploration of sequences in animated films compared
  with live action films directed by animators.
- Assignment 1 DUE. In-class pitch with revisions and analysis.
- GIVEN: Storyboard for individual sequences (Assignment 2) due in 
  week 5

- Screening and Analysis: TBA
- DUE: Beat Boards for. Assignment 1, Character Sketches presented in
  class

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Status - the Character's level of Importance
- Concept: Cultural Hierarchy

WEEK 3

STORY
- Sequential Character Arcs
- Screenings and Analysis: TBA
- Work in Progress:  Storyboard rough pass: in-class workshop for 
  Assignment 2
		
PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Motivation - Nothing moves without a reason
- Concept: Conscious and Unconscious Intent

WEEK 4

STORY
- Structural Approaches To Storytelling- Part 1
- Working Against Character Types 
- Visual and auditory creation of character identities
  Screening and Analysis: TBA
- WIP Storyboard sequences - assignment 2
- GIVEN: Assignment 3 Finished Sequential Timed LEica due Week 7

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: History - Character Background
- Concept: Context (everything happens within a context)

WEEK 5

STORY
- Structural Approaches to Storytelling -Part 2 
- Reference and Research: Planning a "Period" Picture

- DUE: ASSIGNMENT 2 In-class pitch of storyboard with Song Track 
  (Groups 1 and 2)
- Handout: Script for Assignment 4-5: Television Storyboard: Period 
  Piece

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Character Arc
- Concept: Great characters have the capacity to change and grow
- Assignment #1: Create a Character

WEEK 6

STORY 
- The Actor and the Animator: The Use and Overuse of Dialogue in 
  Animation
- In-class analysis of timing, editing of individual sequences:
discussion of hookups
- Work in Progress Digital Lab: Leica reels for Assignment 3 

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: What pushes characters apart
- Concept: Conflict 

WEEK 7

STORY
- Dated and Confused: Period Pieces and Anachronisms
- Screening and Analysis: TBA
- DUE: Assignment 3   In-class screening of sequential Leica Reels
- Given: Assignment 4: Written Outline, Beat Boards, Reference and 
  Character Lineup for Period Piece, due week 9
- In-class discussion and review.

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: What pulls characters together
- Concept: Attraction and Tension
- Assignment #1 Due

(Reading Week)

WEEK 8

STORY
- Period Art Direction and Color Scripting
- Screening and Analysis: TBA
- In-class screenings of edited Songs from Assignment 3, 
  incorporating all sequences
- Work in progress, assignment 4: Design and color reference
- Defining characters: by their appearance, their friends, enemies, 
  lifestyle etc

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Relationship Histories
- Concept: Relationships, like people, have histories (conscious 
  and/or unconscious)

Week 9

STORY
Screening and Analysis: TBA
- Advanced storyboarding techniques: Audio support of visual 
  storytelling
- DUE:  Assignment 4:  In-class presentation of Beat boards, story 
  outline, period design reference, and character lineups 
- Given: Assignment 5: Widescreen Television Period Storyboards, due 
  week 14 
		
PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Relationship arcs
- Concept: As with characters, great relationships change and grow

Week 10

STORY 
- Television Boarding Techniques 
- Screening and Analysis: TBA
- Advanced storyboarding techniques: Work In Progress: Rough
storyboards for Assignment 5, with rough dialogue
  
PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Strong entrances/Creative Choices
- Concept: The importance of the first impression

WEEK 11

STORY
- Emotional Response In Story and Design
- A look at how choices in staging, composition, and art direction 
 can influence and trigger emotions in the audience
- Work in progress assignment 5: dialogue notation and panel numbering
DUE: Assignment 5 rough storyboards pitched in class (GROUP 2)

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: The three act structure and story arc
- Concept: Beginning, middle and end (from ancient times)

WEEK 12

STORY 
- DUE: Assignment 5 rough storyboards pitched in class (GROUPS 1)
                                                      
PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Honest portrayals of character and emotion
- Concept: Style - realism and honesty
                                                
PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Honest portrayals of character and emotion
- Concept: Style - realism and honesty
- Assignment #2: Acting Presentations begin

WEEK 13

STORY
- New Media and Storyboard:  Hand drawn images in a digital future
- Screening and Analysis: TBA
- Work In Progress Assignment 5: Establishing Shots, Labeling 
  Mechanicals
- ASSIGNMENT #5 is DUE IN CLASS 14 (HARD COPY ONLY)

PERFORMANCE
- Topic: Broad and Simple Styles
- Concept: All of the rules apply to all styles (drama, comedy, 
  slapstick, etc.)
- Assignment #2: Acting Presentations continue

WEEK 14

PERFORMANCE
- Assignment #2: Acting Presentations finish
- Review, Summary and Conclusion

Story
- DUE: Assignment 5, WIDESCREEN PERIOD TELEVISION STORYBOARDS (hard 
  copy only)
- Screening and Analysis: TBA 

Please contact the professor by email (nancy.beiman@sheridanc.on.ca) 
if  illness, emergencies, or  severe weather conditions cause you to
miss any classes. New deadlines and appropriate make-up assignments
will be arranged on a case-by-case basis. In the event of emergency or
extreme weather, assignment dates will be modified. 

Students will receive all information and materials described in this
syllabus, though not necessarily in the indicated order.

Classes will start on time.
 
There will be one 15-minute break during each session. Students not
returning to class after break will be marked absent.

Students must attend classes in their own section.

Students will be marked absent 20 minutes after the start of class
except on snow days (if commuting.)

Assignments 1-4 must be scanned and deposited in your hand-in folder
not later than two days after in-class presentation to avoid late
penalties. Please do not remove your assignments from this folder
until you are instructed to do so by a technician.