Syllabus
Course Name: TFI Fundamentals of Film Production Design
12 Weeks, Begins September TBA.
Instructor: David Nichols
Office Hours: By Appointment
Contact: 751 – 0188
Textbooks: Various Film Scripts
Course Description:
The Fundamentals of Film Production Design is designed to introduce students to the process of Production Design both creatively and administratively. Students will learn to read a script to approach a film with a comprehensive creative concept to influence the look of the sets as well as the administrative process to execute them. The question they will follow is what are the ways they can come to understand the aesthetics of filmmaking.
Expectations
Production Design is an extremely complicated category of work. It deals with the realization of all the settings of a film. It involves many skills both objective and subjective. Even in Production Design the range of skills to describe the execution of the elements of design and completion is very complicated. Some of the skills needed are as follows. Astute script analysis, an overall concept that determines the look and style of the film, communicating the ideas with the director in discussions that involve his concepts of the style of the project and the Designer’s specific description of the elements to be used. The ability to communicate the ideas is paramount in the list of skills. How do the sets support the emotional tone of the scene. The elements of presentation of relevant research in photographs and sketches and any other means helpful. Sketching illustrations completed realizations of the design and the incorporation of his responses. Making the decisions of which sets are adapted locations or working on the stage. Does it involve any computer effects? My expectation is that the student comes away with an awareness of the role of Production Design in film making.
Course Objectives:
1) To define the role of the Production Designer in making a film
2) To introduce students to a creative side of filmmaking.
3) To teach the students to analyze scripts to extract the most significant settings.
4) To analyze a script to formulate the over all look of the project.
5) To understand the selective use of colors.
6) The mechanical aspects of the set to prepare it for the ease of shooting the set.
7) To learn the nature of communicating the concepts to the director and cinematographer.
8) To introduce the administrative aspects of Production Design.
9) To introduce the basic tools used in Production Design.
Class Format:
The course will be lecture and collaborative discussion.
Course Requirements:
· Each student must come to understand the definitions of a Production Designer and share them in discussion.
· Each student will analyze a chosen script to create a style and look of a film.
Each student will give a spoken presentation of their decisions and develop them in collaborative discussion.
· Each student should attempt the use of basic tools such as sketching and drafting.
· Each student must make a book that demonstrates their understanding of an overall concept of the design o f a film.
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Materials Needed:
A small drafting board and 30 degree triangle for each student. Sketching and drafting tablets. A VCR and television with a screen no less than a 27”.
Attendance Policy:
Students must attend classes regularly and punctually. Excessive absences may result in a student being dropped from the class. It is UNM – TAOS policy that a student may be dropped by their instructor after three absences. Lab fees are not refundable.
Grading Policy:
Class participation – 30%
Presentations – 30%
Final presentation book – 40%
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act):
Qualified students with disabilities needing appropriate academic adjustments should contact me as soon as possible to ensure your needs are met in a timely manner.
Dropping the Course:
It is the student’s responsibility to drop a course. The instructor is not required, nor should be expected, to drop a student from the official roster. Do not assume that failing to come to class will result in your being dropped from the course.
Due Process:
If you have any problem in the class that cannot be directly handled by talking with the instructor, the appropriate person to contact is the Academy Head or Katie Mares in UNM Student Services.
COURSE OUTLINE