Teaching Resources
In preparing to teach University-level film and video production courses, I’ve discovered that few resources exist on the web to assist instructors. Below are a few resources and tools that I’ve found helpful, my students have found useful, or that I hope other instructors may be able to use in their own preparation.
Much of this I have culled from other open sources on the web. The syllabi and assignments are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License – so you’re welcome to use or modify these materials, with attribution.
If these are helpful to you, feel free to drop me a line! proctor(dot)jennifer(at)gmail.com
Modes of Media Production
Winter 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Introductory film analysis course
Media Production II
Fall 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Intermediate video production course
Computer Imagemaking
Fall 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Course in graphic and motion design/motion graphics. Prerequisite for Cinematic Multimedia. With thanks to Professors Kim Roberts and Margo Greenlaw for their contributions.
Cinematic Multimedia
Winter 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Media production course examining interactivity between image and sound in an online context
Cinematic Multimedia Version 2.0
Winter 2010, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Second year offering this course, with some revisions to the previous version. With gratitude to Sam Renseiw for coining the term "voodle."
American Cinema
Fall 2008, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Course focusing on issues of identity (gender, sexual orientation, race) in contemporary American blockbuster cinema
Issues of Representation
Winter 2010, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Upper level course focusing on representations of gender, class, race, sexual orientation, disability, etc., in American cinema
Experimental Film History
Winter 2008, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Upper-level course on experimental film and video art history
Modes of Film and Video Production
Summer 2006, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
Introductory film/video production course
Nonfiction Video Production
Spring 2006, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
Videoblogging and Podcasting
Fall 2006, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
NB: These materials were designed for the web circa 2006 and are now likely archaic and incorrect. However, you may enjoy them as antiques and relics of an era gone by.
Screenwriting: Long Form
Spring 2007, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
Directing the Documentary by Michael Rabiger
Includes some particularly useful assignments and self-exploration projects to help students define their vision, style, and interests.
Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel
A simple but wonderfully clear and straightforward guide to the basics of camera operation, lighting, and composition.
Single-camera video production by Robert B. Musburger
A nice technical companion for intro classes and intermediate students.
The Filmmakers Handbook by Steven Ascher and Edward Pincus
The must-have Bible of film- and videomaking.
“Documentary Filmmakers’ Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use” and “Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video “from the Center for Social Media (pdf)
For documentary filmmakers and online video producers, a pair of accessible statements on current copyright law and how it might be applied to filmmakers in an ethical way.
Storyboard 1 (pdf) (From BFI)
Storyboard 2 (pdf)
Storyboard 3 (pdf)
Screenplay Template (MS Word)
Sample Budget (MS Excel)
Aviary
Online software for design, image editing and illustration – free and pro levels.
BFI’s Resources for Teachers and Students
Lots of teaching materials for teachers at many levels, including university-level Film and Media studies.
Celtx
Open-source pre-production software with especially powerful tools for screenplay formatting, character development, and storyboarding.
Kodak’s Film Tools
A site with educational film tools such as interactive lighting demos, how to read a film can label, and choosing the right film stock.
Kodak’s downloadable film resources
This page allows you to download aspect ratio cards, camera reports, and “do not x-ray” stickers, among other documents.
Tools and Utilities for Filmmakers
Dependent Films’ comprehensive list of templates, documents, online tools, and other useful resources for filmmakers.
Withoutabox
A central location for searching and entering film festivals and screenplay competitions online.
See my del.icio.us teaching links for a number of great websites for film educators, filmmakers and film students.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.
Much of this I have culled from other open sources on the web. The syllabi and assignments are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License – so you’re welcome to use or modify these materials, with attribution.
If these are helpful to you, feel free to drop me a line! proctor(dot)jennifer(at)gmail.com
Sample syllabi and assignments
Modes of Media Production
Winter 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Introductory film analysis course
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Reading/Film Response #1
- Reading/Film Response #2
- Analysis Paper #1
- Analysis Paper #2 (Version 1)
- Analysis Paper #2 (Version 2)
- Film Analysis Worksheet for Writing Papers
- Paper #1 Rubric (PDF)
- Paper #2 Rubric (Version 1) (PDF)
- Oral Presentation
- Film Analysis Thesis Statement PowerPoint
- Animation Screening List
- Experimental Film Screening List
- Short Film Screening List
- New Media Screening List
- Culture Jamming Vocabulary Sheet
Media Production II
Fall 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Intermediate video production course
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Assignment #1: Nonfiction project for campus TV
- Assignment #2: Action sequence
- Assignment #3: Dramatic narrative
Computer Imagemaking
Fall 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Course in graphic and motion design/motion graphics. Prerequisite for Cinematic Multimedia. With thanks to Professors Kim Roberts and Margo Greenlaw for their contributions.
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Exercise 1: Typography
- Exercise 2: Self-portrait
- Exercise 3: Design a Blog
- Exercise 4: Kinetic typography
- Exercise 5: Landscape collage
- Exercise 6: Animated GIF
- Project #1: Main Title Sequence
- Project #2: DVD Menu
- Project #3: The Next Level
- Presentation: Deconstructing Motion Design
Cinematic Multimedia
Winter 2009, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Media production course examining interactivity between image and sound in an online context
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Assignment 1: Remix/Mashup
- Assignment 2: Interactive Video (multi-channel)
- Assignment 2 Concept Development Worksheet
- Assignment 3: Collage
- Assignment 4: Kinetic Typography/Propose-Your-Own
- Exercise: Create a Videoblog
- AfterEffects Exercise 1
- AfterEffects Exercise 2
- Multimedia Report Assignment
- Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video (from Center for Social Media – download PDF)
Cinematic Multimedia Version 2.0
Winter 2010, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Second year offering this course, with some revisions to the previous version. With gratitude to Sam Renseiw for coining the term "voodle."
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Assignment #1: Remix/Mashup
- Assignment #2: Spatial Montage
- Spatial Montage concept worksheet (.doc)
- Assignment #3: Final Project
- Voodle #1: Pattern compilation mashup
- Voodle #2: Five seconds
- Crowdsourcing assignment
American Cinema
Fall 2008, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Course focusing on issues of identity (gender, sexual orientation, race) in contemporary American blockbuster cinema
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Reading/Film Response #1
- Reading/Film Response #2
- Oral Presentation
- Research Essay
- Research Essay Rubric (PDF)
Issues of Representation
Winter 2010, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Upper level course focusing on representations of gender, class, race, sexual orientation, disability, etc., in American cinema
Experimental Film History
Winter 2008, School of Communications
Grand Valley State University
Upper-level course on experimental film and video art history
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Film/Reading Response #1
- Film/Reading Response #2
- Oral Presentation
- Research Essay
Modes of Film and Video Production
Summer 2006, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
Introductory film/video production course
Nonfiction Video Production
Spring 2006, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
- Syllabus
- Schedule
- Assignment 1 – Portrait
- Assignment 2 – Place
- Assignment 3 – Open project
- Assignment 4 – Presentation
- Assignment 5 – Reading Responses
- Reading – “Documentary Filmmaker’s Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use” (From the Center for Social Media)
- Workshop feedback sheet
- Sample Grade Sheet (for Assignment 1)
Videoblogging and Podcasting
Fall 2006, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
NB: These materials were designed for the web circa 2006 and are now likely archaic and incorrect. However, you may enjoy them as antiques and relics of an era gone by.
- Syllabus
- Schedule
- Entrance Survey
- Assignments 1 & 2 – Blog design and First Post (direct address)
- Course supplement – Getting Started
- Course supplement – Web Design Resources
- Course Supplement – Feeds and Aggregators
- Course Supplement – Launch Your Site!
- Course Supplement – Extra Goodies
- Course Supplement – Hack Attack: Creating Categories in Blogger
- Course Supplement – Copyright, Fair Use, and Legal Media
- Handout – Customizing Your Blogger Template
- Handout – From Final Cut to the Web
- Handout – Second Post Assignment (Portrait)
- Handout – Promoting Your Vlog and Third Post Assignment (Place)
- Handout – Videoblog Case Study Assignment
- Handout – Creative Self Inventory Assignment
- Handout – Refining Your Style Exercise
- Handout – Videoblog Final Statement Assignment
Screenwriting: Long Form
Spring 2007, Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature
University of Iowa
- Syllabus and Schedule
- Assignment – Character Bios (PDF)
- Assignment – Coverage Report (PDF)
- Assignment – Film Analysis 1 (PDF)
- Assignment – Film Analysis 2 (PDF)
- Assignment – Final Screenplay, Rough Draft (PDF)
- Assignment – Final Screenplay, Final Draft (PDF)
- Assignment – Pitch (PDF)
- Assignment – Premises and Filmography (PDF)
- Assignment – Scene Presentations
- Assignment – Short Script (PDF)
- Assignment – Step Outline (PDF)
- Assignment – Treatment (PDF)
- Handout – Online Resources (PDF)
- Condensed screenplay format guide in PDF at Story Sense: http://www.storysense.com/format.htm
Recommended texts
Directing the Documentary by Michael Rabiger
Includes some particularly useful assignments and self-exploration projects to help students define their vision, style, and interests.
Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel
A simple but wonderfully clear and straightforward guide to the basics of camera operation, lighting, and composition.
Single-camera video production by Robert B. Musburger
A nice technical companion for intro classes and intermediate students.
The Filmmakers Handbook by Steven Ascher and Edward Pincus
The must-have Bible of film- and videomaking.
“Documentary Filmmakers’ Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use” and “Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video “from the Center for Social Media (pdf)
For documentary filmmakers and online video producers, a pair of accessible statements on current copyright law and how it might be applied to filmmakers in an ethical way.
Templates and samples
Storyboard 1 (pdf) (From BFI)
Storyboard 2 (pdf)
Storyboard 3 (pdf)
Screenplay Template (MS Word)
Sample Budget (MS Excel)
Open-source software and online resources
Aviary
Online software for design, image editing and illustration – free and pro levels.
BFI’s Resources for Teachers and Students
Lots of teaching materials for teachers at many levels, including university-level Film and Media studies.
Celtx
Open-source pre-production software with especially powerful tools for screenplay formatting, character development, and storyboarding.
Kodak’s Film Tools
A site with educational film tools such as interactive lighting demos, how to read a film can label, and choosing the right film stock.
Kodak’s downloadable film resources
This page allows you to download aspect ratio cards, camera reports, and “do not x-ray” stickers, among other documents.
Tools and Utilities for Filmmakers
Dependent Films’ comprehensive list of templates, documents, online tools, and other useful resources for filmmakers.
Withoutabox
A central location for searching and entering film festivals and screenplay competitions online.
Links
See my del.icio.us teaching links for a number of great websites for film educators, filmmakers and film students.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.