COGN 21: Methods of Media Production

COGN 21: Methods of COGN 21: Methods of Media ProductionMedia Production

Professor Brian Goldfarb, Dept of Comm Professor Brian Goldfarb, Dept of Comm Office hours Wednesday 10:30 - 12pm, MCC 102Office hours Wednesday 10:30 - 12pm, MCC 102Email Email [email protected]@ucsd.eduTA’s 21: TA’s 21: Katrina Boulding, Rachel Cody, Katrina Boulding, Rachel Cody,

Terra Eggink, and Chuk Moran, Terra Eggink, and Chuk Moran, TA’s 22: TA’s 22: Lauren Berliner , Emma Johnson,Lauren Berliner , Emma Johnson,

and Eduardo Santana and Eduardo Santana

COGN 21 all sections fully enrolled. If students COGN 21 all sections fully enrolled. If students drop, wait-listers will be added in the second drop, wait-listers will be added in the second week. Offered twice a year (winter and spring)week. Offered twice a year (winter and spring)

COGN 22 sections open. Extra space in:COGN 22 sections open. Extra space in:

A01 609446 Tue 9:30 – 12:20 EduardoA01 609446 Tue 9:30 – 12:20 Eduardo

A03 609448 Wed 9:00 – 11:50 EmmaA03 609448 Wed 9:00 – 11:50 Emma

A04 609449 Thur 9:30 – 12:30 LaurenA04 609449 Thur 9:30 – 12:30 Lauren

A05 609450 Thur 12:30 – 3:20 LaurenA05 609450 Thur 12:30 – 3:20 Lauren

A06 609451 Fri 9:00 – 11:50 EmmaA06 609451 Fri 9:00 – 11:50 Emma

Books: Price Center bookstore and reserve Books: Price Center bookstore and reserve in libraryin libraryReadings not in the books are on electronic Readings not in the books are on electronic reserve (through Roger)reserve (through Roger)Additional handouts linked to Course Web Additional handouts linked to Course Web Site (CWS)Site (CWS)Official (up to date) version of syllabus:Official (up to date) version of syllabus:

http://communication.ucsd.edu/goldfarb/cogn21w08http://communication.ucsd.edu/goldfarb/cogn21w08

Goals of the Course

Learn the language of (cinematic) media production

Gain elementary skills in media producing Connect media production to other areas of

the Communication major Begin to translate theoretical ideas into

media projects (and vice versa) Become a more ACTIVE & ENGAGED

viewer / listener

Analysis of Audio-Visual Media

Frames Intention Interpretation Style, Form, Formal Systems Genre

Media Clips for Today

Safe, by Todd Haynes, 1995 American Beauty, Sam Mendes, 1999, 122

min. Scenes from the House Dream, (Media

Installations) by David Hoffos, 2003-present Trip to the Moon, George Méliès, France,

1902 The Most Beautiful Man in the World, by Alicia

Duffy, Great Britain, 2002.

Mise-en-ScenePutting into a scene: “the director’s control over what

appears in the film frame.”

Setting Lighting

Costume & Props Staging

Composition Color

Movement in Frame Camera Movement

Space Time

Scenes from the House DreamDavid Hoffos: I have sought to reveal and examine the

sources of illusion found within genre movies, stage magic, theme park attractions, 19th century parlours, and museum displays. The evolution of my work has been a steady process of accumulating and inventing techniques and devices and then applying and refining them. In 2002 I embarked on a five-year/five-phased project which will result in a series of fifteen to twenty small installations down a long hallway, forming a sort of dream narrative. The installations incorporate multiple channels of video and audio, miniature models, mirrors, lighting effects, video projections, phantom figures, hidden doorways and false walls down a dark hallway.

Scenes from the House Dream Experimental Installation work Reflexive (directs us to think about the

conventions of the medium and it’s history)

Trip to the Moon

George Méliès, France, 1902

Early narrative construction Inspired by novels by Jules Verne and H G Wells Series of single shot scenes Used cinema in new ways to extend theatrical staging and magic shows

Constructing Images

Framing and the frame

Elements of a “Good” Shot

No rules that can’t be broken Elements - cohesive? Eye Trace Thought provoking Cues

Photography

Framing

Composition: X, Y and Z axes

Type of Shot: Medium, Wide, Close Up, Extreme Close up

Depth of Field

Camera Angle

Lighting

Color

Framing

Removing unnecessary, confusing or competing elements.

Framing

Rule of Thirds

Framing

Rule of Thirds

Rule of 3rds

Divide the frame

into nine areas Avoid placing object in red area Horizon lines are top and bottom thirds Place objects at points 1, 2, 3, or 4

Framing Rule of Thirds

Rule of 3rds

Framing: The portrait

Framing: The portrait

Headroom

Framing

Headroom - too little

Framing

Headroom - too much

Framing

Headroom - just right

Framing

Nose-room or lead room

Framing

Nose-room

Close-up Offset

Close-up Offset: Wider Aspect Ratio

Composition

X Axis

Composition

X Axis

Composition

Y Axis

Composition Vectors - Z Axis Blocking

Composition

Vectors - Z Axis

Composition

Vectors - Z Axis

Depth of Field

The area of the z-axis in which the objects appear in focus.

Allows for differences of focus of objects in foreground, middle, and background.

Depth of Field

Ways to decrease depth of field:

Telephoto lens setting Subject closer to camera Open Iris (letting more light into the camera) Lower F-stop.

Depth of Field

Wide Shot Shallow Depth of Field

Wide Angle Shot

Medium Shot

Medium Shot

Close Up Shot

Extreme Close Up Shot shallow depth of field

Angle

Low Angle High Angle

Angle

Low Angle High Angle

Angle

“Normal” Tripod Height

Lighting

Terms we use: High key Low key Soft light Hard light

Contrast Fill Flat Direct Indirect

Lighting

Terms we use: High key Soft light

Lighting

Terms we use: Low key High contrast

Lighting

Low key High contrast

Lighting

High contrast

Lighting

Soft light Flat light

Color

Saturated

Color

Saturated

Color

Muted

Color

Muted

Color Temperature

Color Temperature--refers to the spectrum of light illuminating a scene (not the color of objects in the scene)

Exterior light - 5400K BLUE Interior (tungsten set lights) - 3200 K ORANGE Fluorescent - GREEN Sunset exterior - blue/orange Mid day sun exterior - bright blue

White Balance: video camera adjustment to compensate for color temperature.

Color Temperature

Clips from Traffic (Steven Soderbergh, 2001)

Scenes in San Diego - white balanced normal Scenes in Tijuana - color balanced orange Scenes with Drug Tsar and family - color

balanced blue

The Most Beautiful Man in the WorldAlicia Duffy , UK, 2002,

Short independent/art film. Consider aspects of photography How is composition used to convey ideas or

emotions?

Still Image Checklist

Framing: Centered, use of rule of 3’rds Tripod height: High, medium or low angle Wide, medium, close up shot Hard or soft lighting Focus and Depth of Field Direct or indirect lighting Colors in the frame