ClassInfo

ANI 540 Animated Short Film Part I

Lisa Barcy

Office: CDM 502
Fall 2017-2018
Class number: 13023
Section number: 701
M 5:45PM - 7:15PM
CDM 00527 Loop Campus

Summary

ANI 540: Animated Short Film, Part I
Fall, 2017

Monday | 5:45- 7:15| CDM, Room 527
Instructor: Lisa Barcy - lbarcy@cdm.depaul.edu (best way to reach me)
Office Hours: M, W: 1-3, Friday, by appointment (best to email first). Room 502
Office Phone: 312-362-5982

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course and its continuation, ANI 541, will concentrate on facilitating the production of a short, independently animated project. The topics of idea generation, experimentation, problem solving, planning and time management, and the process of critical analysis will be applied to the students work, with the choice of animation technique, content and form left to the individual. We will have technical demonstrations on an as-?‐needed basis, depending
on the nature of your projects. This course must be taken consecutively with ANI 541 Animated Short Film Part II, in the Spring quarter of 2016.

PREREQUISITE: ANI 440


COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon the completion of this course, students will produce a final animatic or non-narrative equivalent, a series of style frames, 1-?‐3 fully animated test shots, and a production plan for Spring 2016.


COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Each student is required to attend class on time and stay for the duration of class; to give full attention to lectures, demonstrations, and screenings; to participate in critiques; to produce art and animation of the highest quality possible; to write one self-?‐evaluation; and to have a respectful, positive attitude throughout the semester.

ASSIGNMENTS:

All assignments will be submitted on D2L, or posted to the class Vimeo page 30 minutes BEFORE class starts (5:15pm).

Image/text files will be submitted as multi-?‐page Word docs or PDF files. Video files will be submitted as Quicktime .mov files, created with H264/AAC compression.

Files should be labeled as follows: LastName_ProjectName.file extension

Completed projects not submitted on the due date will be lowered one full grade,
and you will only have until the start of following class to hand it in for credit. If your final project is not submitted in time for critique, it will be lowered two full grades, and you will only have until the next day 5pm to hand it in for any credit.

You will be expected to put in 6-?‐10 hours a week outside the classroom. Those who want to get more out of the class will put extra time toward their projects. During the end of the quarter, you can expect to put in more time, as you will be working toward the final critique.

A 2-?‐page self-?‐evaluation will be due at the end of the term. This assignment is a reflection exercise, designed to teach you how to evaluate your own progress.

EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:

External Hard Drive or Flash/USB Drive. You will need an external, portable hard drive or a USB/flash drive that allows you to back up your media, thereby giving you independence from shared storage space (the computer?s main hard drive) where random disaster might strike! The drive should be Firewire 800, 400 or USB 2.0 or 3.0, and compatible with Windows or Mac operating system -?‐ all your choice.

Online File Storage Site Account: Please sign up for an online file storage site account (Box.net, Dropbox.com). Always back up your work! Losing a file is not a valid excuse for not completing assignments.

Sketchbook and drawing materials. The sketchbook can be any size, and the drawing media can be of your choice ? but make sure to always bring at least a pencil. We will be doing some drawing exercises so bring it to class with you.

Headphones. Whether working with sound in your project, or simply listening to music while working, you need to be considerate of others and wear headphones. Be aware that if the volume is high enough, others can still hear what you're listening to despite the headphones. I highly encourage you to invest in a good pair of headphones that completely cover the ear.

LAB HOURS AND LOCATIONS: Students enrolled in Animation classes have automatic swipe access to 527 and 722. Students enrolled in CDM classes have automatic swipe access to the 1stfloor lab (PC), 4th floor lab (PC and MAC), 634 (PC) and the Student Center labs on the Lincoln Park Campus (PC and MAC). Labs are open 7 days a week.

For a complete list of computer lab hours, locations, and machine availability: http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/LabsAndResources/LabsandResources.as px

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Absences will be excused with a doctor?s note, or in the case of family emergency, upon consultation between your advisor and myself.

Student absences are not expected to exceed more than 10% (1 absence) of the number of the classes scheduled for the semester. A second absence will result in the lowering of your final grade one full letter. Any student missing 3 classes will be given a grade of "F" for the semester.

You may not miss the final crit. Doing so will equal an automatic letter grade reduction of your final grade. Make travel plans accordingly!

Tardiness is defined as not in the classroom when attendance is called or departing before the class has been formally dismissed by the instructor. Tardiness that exceeds thirty minutes will be counted as an absence. TWO late arrivals or early departures, or a combination of both, are counted as one absence.

GRADING:

Pitches Presentation 5
Beat List, Beat Board 10
Continuity Board 10
Animatic 10
Style Frames
5
Test shots
20
Production Plan
5
Quality of Final Presentation
10
Self-?‐Evaluation
5
Participation________________
Total
10
100
A = 100-?‐93, A-?‐ = 92-?‐90, B+ = 89-?‐88, B = 87-?‐83, B-?‐ = 82-?‐80, C+ = 79-?‐78, C = 77-?‐73, C-?‐ = 72-?‐70, D+ = 69-?‐
68, D = 67-?‐63, D-?‐ = 62-?‐60, F = 59-?‐0

EMAIL: I will answer email within 48-?‐hours, often sooner. Please be as detailed as possible when you email me with questions and concerns. I expect correspondence to be as professional as possible, even if you are writing me from your smart phone.

CELL PHONE POLICY: Use of cell phones in the classroom is prohibited. Please turn your phone off before entering class. No texting is allowed during class. If I have to ask you to stop texting more than once, there will be a full letter grade taken off your final grade.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Please be respectful of others as they work along side you in the classroom, and refrain from loud conversations or ?leaky? headphones. Do not log onto social media during class time. If disruptive behavior becomes a problem I will follow a 3-step protocol: warning email and personal meeting, meeting with advisor or Student Advising, action taken to remove you from the class.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Work done for this course must adhere to the DePaul University Academic
Integrity Policy, which you can review in the Student Handbook or by visiting:

http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/homehandbook.html

LEARNING DISABILITIES: Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential. To ensure that you receive the most appropriate reasonable accommodation based on your needs, contact me as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the following offices:

PLuS Program (for LD, AD/HD) 773-?‐325-?‐1677, Student Center #370
The Office for Students with Disabilities 773-?‐325-?‐1677, Student Center #370
ANI 540 - ANIMATION SHORT FILM - SCHEDULE

WEEK 1 ? 9/11
In Class: Introductions, Syllabus, Idea Generation
Assignment: Pitches Presentation
Generating Ideas

WEEK 2 ? 9/18
In class: Pitches Presentation
Assignment: Beat List, Beat Board
Staging

WEEK 3 ? 9/25
In Class: Beat List, Beat Board
Assignment: Continuity Boards
Storyboarding

WEEK 4 ? 10/2
In Class: Continuity Boards
Assignment: Animatic (I highly recommend a scratch track to help you with timing. If you have dialogue this is essential.)
Building Story

WEEK 5 ? 10/9
In Class: Animatic
Assignment: Revised Animatic and 1-?‐3 Style Frames

WEEK 6 ? 10/16
In Class: Revised Animatic and Style Frames: GROUP A

WEEK 7 ? 10/23
In Class: Revised Animatic and Style Frames: GROUP B
Assignment: Revise Animatic (again) and begin 1-?‐3 animated test shots

WEEK 8 ? 10/30
In Class: Revised Animatic ? adding sound for scratch track
Assignment: Revise Animatic (again) and continue 1-?‐3 animated test shots

WEEK 9 ? 11/6
In Class: 1-?‐3 animated test shots at least 50% complete
Assignment: Production Plan ? Self EvaluationWEEK 10 ? 11/13
In Class: Production Plan
Assignment: Final Exam Presentation (Animatic, Style Frame, Test shot, and Production Plan)

Final Exam: 11/20
In class: Final Exam Presentation (Animatic, Style Frame, Test shot, and Production Plan)

Missing the final critique will result in your final grade being lowered by one full letter. Make your travel plans accordingly!

___________________________________________________________

Assignment Info.

1. 1st Pitch ? Presentation
Due: 9/18

This is the classes introduction to the idea you will be working on for the next two quarters. At this point your idea does not have to be set in stone, and it is better that it isn?t at this point. If you are undecided this is the best time to come in a present both but keep in mind that you will still have the same amount of allotted pitch time. You can present a treatment, script, rough storyboards and/or inspirational sketches or reference material.
Be prepared to present your idea(s) to the class and discuss them in detail and receive feedback. Put all drawings or storyboards in PPT for ease of presentation. Please be receptive to feedback, even if it isn?t what you want to hear. Be respectful and honest to each other and do not shy away from giving both praise and/or criticism.

2. Beat List - Beat Boards
Due: 9/25

Beat boards are distinct from storyboards in that they represent a series of single drawings that depict each scene in a film. It is more similar to a graphic novel or children?s book where a single image conveys a plot point in the story. It?s more of a guide so that directors can pitch their stories before having all the camerawork, staging or transitions planned out. Some staging where necessary can be included, as well as ideas about art direction (i.e., drawing method or color palette). These must be submitted in PPT.

http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=3012

3. Continuity Boards
Due: 10/2

Working off of your beat boards, your continuity boards should describe every shot and every beat within the shot, as well as camera moves and transitions from shot to shot or scene to scene. A good set of continuity boards should translate to an animatic well. These must be submitted in PPT. Below are a couple great links that cover many storyboarding techniques and common problems that arise.
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html
https://courses.cs.washington.edu/courses/cse456/15su/resources/strybrd_the_simpsonsway.pdf

4. Animatic
Due: 10/9
By now you are most likely familiar with what an animatic is, but just for the record here is a description of what?s expected. Your animatic is basically an animated storyboard, where each panel is timed to reflect the actions to be animated. When the boards are all edited together in a timeline the story should communicate effectively and the timing of each panel should reflect the proposed timing of your animation. This is where you will get a sense of the pacing, rhythm and progression of your film. Post all animatics to the class Vimeo page for critique.

5. Revised Animatic with Scratch Track
11/16 and again on 11/23 if necessary

6. Style Frames
Due: 10/16, 10/23

A minimum of 2 frames that demonstrate the final aesthetic of your animation. If you have significant stylistic or color changes you may need more than 2. Please submit as JPEGs.

7. Test Shots
Due: (due date for halfway point) 11/6
Complete test shots due: 11/20
1-3 fully animated test shots. Submit on Vimeo for critique and revise as needed ? add to animatic and remove still images as you create more shots. You should have about 20% of your animation complete by the end of the quarter.

8. Production Plan
Due: 11/13

A schedule of realistic milestones that you need to reach each week as you work toward your final presentation. These will vary depending on your chosen medium. You will be responsible for pacing yourself and keeping up with your weekly goals. Production plans can be adjusted if your project changes but not to accommodate unrealistic expectations, lack of work, or avoidable technical snafus.

9. Self- evaluation
Due: 11/20

Two pages, double spaced. This is a self-reflective paper where you get the chance to discuss what you?ve learned about your working process, where you think your current strengths lie and where you need to improve. You can also delve into the parts of creating your film that have been the most enjoyable, inspirational, hair-pulling-teeth gnashing frustrating, or talk about areas where you may have surprised yourself in terms of what you can/can?t yet do. Submit as a Word document ? do not submit PDFs, please.

10. Final Deliver (quality of final progress)
Due: 11/20

This is essentially your final grade for your work-in-progress. You will be graded on quality of execution, how well the film communicates your idea, and whether or not you?ve met all your milestones in a timely fashion and are on schedule as you move forward into the next quarter

11. Participation in class/critiques

The participation grade is taken seriously and reflects both your ability to present your ideas and your willingness to ask questions, discuss the reading assignments, share insight into your process, share relevant things you?ve discovered about your work or others work outside of class, and offer constructive critique to others.



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