Course ID: | EMST 6010. 3 hours. |
Course Title: | Directing I |
Course Description: | Analysis and practice of directing narrative film and episodic television using the single camera shooting style. An examination of the aesthetics, theory, and practice of camera placement, shot execution, and directing the actor. Students develop their voice, unique visual style, and directing aesthetic. |
Oasis Title: | Directing I |
Duplicate Credit: | Not open to students with credit in FILM 6010 |
Corequisite: | EMST 6041 |
Semester Course Offered: | Offered fall semester every year. |
Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
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Course Objectives: | An intensive course designed to train students to direct films
using the component parts of story, image, performance, and
sound, with a particular emphasis on action and behavior.
Students shoot weekly mini movies on a particular theme that
will be screened the following class meeting. Students will
also be required to shoot a final film that will be the
culmination of all that they have learned in the class.
Students are in preproduction, production, and post production
for their final film the entire semester. |
Topical Outline: | I. Storyboarding: Discuss previsualization and then graphically
depict camera position, staging of action, composition, camera
movement, and transitions on the page.
II. Composing Shots and Spatial Connections: An examination of
the universal units of composition, overlapping action, and how
they are used to create a consistent spatial/temporal order.
III. Camera Blocking: An exploration of camera movement and
camera placement as a story device. Special emphasis on
externally and internally generated camera moves and how what
the audience sees impacts their ability to understand shots,
scenes, and the ensuing narrative.
IV. Camera Angles: An examination of how varying the viewing
angle supplies the context that defines the subject and the
space in which action takes place in the frame.
V. Lenses and Forced Perspective: An investigation of how lenses
give a director the power to direct the eye and isolate and unit
subject matter. Special emphasis on lens choice, angle of view,
and depth of field.
VI. Point of View and Panning: An analysis of subjective and
objective narrative stance, and graphic and narrative control of
point of view. As well, the power, economy, and resourcefulness
of the pan shot.
VII. Tracking Shot Choreography and Transitions: An analysis of
the perspective and compositional variety that occurs when shots
change size as a result of inventive staging and camera
blocking. Special emphasis on strategies that allow a director
to seamlessly transition between shots and sequences.
VIII. Directing Actors: An exploration of the language of actors
and the specific communication necessary to direct compelling
and convincing performances for film and television.
IX. On the Set: Leadership, communication, vision, confidence,
and managing egos and personalities. The importance of “knowing
what you want,” being prepared, and “making the day.” |
Honor Code Reference: | UGA Student Honor Code: "I will be academically honest in all
of my academic work and will not tolerate academic dishonesty
of others." A Culture of Honesty,the University's policy and
procedures for handling cases of suspected dishonesty,
can be found at www.uga.edu/ovpi. Every course syllabus should
include the instructor's expectations related to academic
integrity. |