Course Outline for Film 17
Motion Picture Filmmaking

Effective: Fall 2020
SLO Rev: 09/28/2019
Catalog Description:

FILM 17 - Motion Picture Filmmaking

3.00 Units

Want to be a film director and make your first short film? Then this is the course for you. This course provides an introduction to the theory, terminology, and process of motion picture production for film and television. Students will take their script, create pre-production documents, cast your film, direct actors, light, shoot and record audio for your first short film. Finally students will review dailies and prepare their film for post production.
Strongly Recommended: FILM 15 or FILM 14 FILM 12.
0612.20 - Film Production*
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 2.00 36.00 72.00 108.00
Laboratory 1.00 72.00 0.00 72.00
Total 3.00 108.00 72.00 180.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. demonstrate both the technical and aesthetic aspects of film and digital cinema production and demonstrate knowledge of basic production techniques;
  2. operate film/digital cinema field recording equipment correctly to acquire quality products;
  3. conceive and execute appropriate approaches to editing field footage into cohesive projects;
  4. demonstrate a hands-on ability to perform appropriate critical thinking needed for successful teamwork in television, film or other media employment;
  5. demonstrate appropriate theoretical background and critical thinking about basic multiple-camera video production based on scheduled quizzes and final exam including essay questions;
  6. students will demonstrate subject matter proficiency through the submission of: lab projects
    written assignments, including a project design proposal and script;
  7. demonstrate through projects that with the power of a communicator, comes moral and ethical responsibility.
Course Content:
  1. Film theory and process
    1. Pre-production 
    2. Production
    3. Scriptwriting
    4. Camera
  2. Process Overview
    1. Pre-Production
    2. Production
    3. Post-Production
  3. Pre-Production
    1. Scriptwriting
    2. Storyboarding
    3. Casting
    4. Planning
    5. Scheduling
  4. Directing
    1. Communicating with actors
    2. Blocking actors
  5. Creative Use of Camera
    1. Lens operation
    2. Depth of field control
    3. Basic filters
  6. Grip Equipment
    1. Tripods
    2. Gimbal
    3. Camera blocking and movement
  7. Lighting
    1. Lighting Styles
    2. Lighting and Meaning
    3. Natural Lighting Techniques
  8. Audio
    1. Boom
    2. Diegetic Sound
  9. Post-Production
    1. Continuity
    2. Editing a Scene
    3. Sound Editing
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Demonstration/Exercise
  2. Lecture/Discussion
  3. Presentation of audio-visual materials
  4. Written assignments
  5. Class and group discussions
  6. Hands-on Activities
  7. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Write and create a casting call for actors based on the your script.
  2. Create production documents including, production schedule, shooting script, storyboard, shot-list, camera diagram, lighting diagram and location call sheet.
  3. Schedule, set up and shoot your short film over the course of the semester.
  4. Reshoot content for continuity and quality of your film.
  5. Participate in a critique of your and other students' film dailies to receive feedback on footage that will need to be reshot.
  6. Screen your dailies to create a post production outline and plan.
  7. Final project that will demonstrate appropriate practical knowledge from participation in classroom discussions related to course theoretical topics.
  8. Scheduled quizzes and final exam including essay questions that will show appropriate theoretical background and critical thinking about basic multiple-camera video production.
  1. Written assignments
  2. Oral Presentation
  3. Assigned activities
  4. Quizzes
  5. Exams/Tests
  6. Demonstration of practice and skills
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Create digital film and video using industry standard tools enlisting artistic principles, story stucture and film and animation production principles;
  2. critically analyze the elements and principles of film and animation using appropriate terminology in a critique environment;
  3. practice professional methods for production document creation, media revisions, file storage, screening, and analysis.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Sonja Schenk, Ben Long (2017). The Digital Filmmaking Handbook (6). Foreing Films.
  • External Hard drive
  • SD Cards
  • Production Binder
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Want to be a film director and make your first short film? Then this is the course for you. Students will take their script, create pre-production documents, cast your film, direct actors, light, shoot and record audio for your first short film. Finally, students will review dailies and prepare their film for post production.
Strongly Recommended: FILM 15 or FILM 14 FILM 12.