ClassInfo

DC 270 Topics in Digital Cinema

Ronald Eltanal

Office: CDM 501
Spring 2015-2016
Class number: 33166
Section number: 601
Tu 1:30PM - 4:45PM
CDM 00708 Loop Campus

Summary

Course Description:

Advanced study in cinema focusing on a specific genre each quarter such as: Science Fiction, Film Noir, Comedy, Action-Adventure, Nonfiction, etc. Please check the CTI website for description of specific quarter offering.

Course Objectives:

From the dual perspectives of the filmmaker and the critic, this course will make an examination of the screenwriting, playwrighting, essay writing, directing and producing of David Mamet. Through this examination, students will identify recurring themes, principles and techniques in Mamets work, and apply or critically reject any of those elements in their own work. Students will demonstrate mastery of these themes, principles and techniques through a research paper, a screenplay, or a completed short film.



Texts

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Contemporary Film Directors)
Deleyto, Celestino and del Mar Azcona, Maria, University of Illinois Press, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0252077616


Grading

Grading
Papers: 72 %
Final Projects: 28 %

Scale:
A: 93-100, A-: 90-92, B+: 87-89, B: 83-86, B-: 80-82, C+: 77-79, C: 73-76, C-: 70-72, D+: 67-69, D: 63-66, D-: 60-62

Assignments
Assignments are due the next week after they are assigned, unless otherwise noted on the syllabus.

Papers
The prompts for the papers can be found under ?Dropbox? in D2L.

Final Projects
Students must write a screenplay, produce a film, or do both. Doing both options will result in 12 percentage points of extra credit towards the final grade.

1. Screenplay
Write an original 7- to 10-page screenplay incorporating themes or writing style characteristic of Alejandro Gonz?lez I??rritu (in standard screenplay format). Content is open, but the screenplay must be unmistakably influenced by Gonz?lez I??rritu. While the screenplay may be homage, it must not be camp. The screenplay may also be produced by two other students in the class. All screenplays must be submitted to D2L.

2. Produced Film
Up to three students may produce the Gonz?lez-I??rritu-inspired screenplay written by a class member. While the film may be homage, it must not be camp. The screenplay will be graded separately from the film. The students will divvy up six major crew roles (producer, director, cinematographer, production designer, picture editor and sound) but one grade will be assigned to all students. The final film will be screened during the final exam time for the class.


Prerequisites

None


School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296