Course Description:
This course covers principles and techniques for drawing storyboards as it applies to film.
Course Objectives:
During the semester students will make short storyboards, as well as produce a longer, final project to demonstrate the techniques and principles covered.
Course Learning Outcomes:
-Students will develop characters through drawing and staging dramatic action
-Students will use frame composition to create moods and emphasize themes
-Students will use editing techniques to control beats and pacing
-Students will produce parallel action sequences
-Students will create clear, thematic transitions between images and scenes.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory if you intend to acquire enough information to pass this class and receive in-depth critique. Expect to come to class on time and work every session. If you miss class, please see the syllabus for what was covered and assigned. Missing class does not excuse you from deadlines.
Suggested Text:
John Hart, The Art of the Storyboard
ALSO NEEDED: Sketchpad, paper, post-it notes, drawing pencils, pens, markers, erasers, etc.
Week 1
In Class: What is a Storyboard?
Film grammar and techniques list (Group Exercise)
Week 2 No Class — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Week 3
In Class: The Wall, Defining Techniques and Recognizing Conflict
Characters and conflict list (Group Exercise)
Watch: Unforgiven
Due: Kong “The Wall” Breakdown
Assignment: Kong “The Fall” Breakdown – due week 5 (10pts)
Week 4
In Class: Breaking down a film
The “telling shot” (storytelling group exercise) and speed drawing
Watch: Yojimbo
Week 4
In Class: Breaking down a film
The “telling shot” (storytelling group exercise) and speed drawing
Watch: Yojimbo
Due: Fairy Tale Project
Spring Break
Week 9
In Class: Editing
Defining editing grammar and techniques (Group Exercise)
Watch: Citizen Kane
Assignment: Final Project – due week 16 (60pts)
Week 10
In Class: Final Project Check
Watch: Citizen Kane and Apocalypse Now
Week 11
In Class: Action! and Parallel Action
Watch: Hardboiled, Return of the Jedi, Godfather and The Goodfeathers: The Beginning
Week 12
In Class: Comedy, Truth, Flash back and Flash forward
Watch: Hot Fuzz, Rashomon and Amelie and What’s Opera Doc
Week 13
In Class: Love
Watch: In the Mood for Love, Casablanca and Carrotblanca
Week 14
In Class: Homage, Remakes, Based on and Backgrounds Check
Watch: Yojimbo revisited through Fistful of Dollars, Kill Bill and O Brother, Where Art Thou
Week 15
In Class: The business of storyboarding
Metropolis and Metropolis
Week 16
Due: Final Project and Pitches
University Grading Standards:
The Undergraduate Catalog provides these guidelines and grading options:
A, A- Superior work in the opinion of the instructor
B+, B, B- Good work in the opinion of the instructor
C+, C, C- Satisfactory work in the opinion of the instructor
D+, D Passing, but less than satisfactory work in the opinion of the instructor
I Incomplete work in the opinion of the instructor. If an Incomplete grade is submitted by the instructor, the student and the instructor must have an agreed upon deadline for completion of the required work.
ZF An incomplete which was not completed within one year of the end of the course. All Incompletes should be completed within a much shorter period of time before the automatic ZF is entered on the student’s transcript. This grade of F cannot be undone.
F Unsatisfactory work in the opinion of the instructor
W Withdrawal from the course
Your final grade is based on a 100-point scale:
Kong “The Wall” Exercise: 10pts
Kong “The Fall” Exercise: 10pts
The Fairy Tale Project: 10pts
The Pitch: 10pts
Final Project: 60pts
Grading Scale:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0 – 59
The + grade is assigned the top values of near the one’s digit 9, and the − grade is assigned the bottom values near 0; thus, 80 to 83 is B−, 84 to 86 is B, and 87 to 89 is B+. No A+ or D- will be awarded.
Grading Rubrics
Point breakdown for Final Project 60pts total
10pt – Characters
10pt – Backgrounds
20pt – Execution
20pt – Story
Assessment
Animation Program Learning Outcomes:
- Students will create animation with technical and fundamental proficiency.
- Students will express visual concepts artistically.
- Students will integrate storytelling and performance.
- Students will synthesize theory and practice, creating animation from a global perspective.
Assignments will be retained by the School of Communications for the purpose of academic assessment as it relates to Animation Program student learning outcomes. In every such case, the student’s name and all identifying information about the student will be removed from the assignment or project. Some assignments will be retained for promotional exposure so prospective students can witness the kind of work that comes out of this class. Please see me if you wish to omit your projects from this practice.
University Policy Statements:
This course is governed by the University’s policies, as published in the University catalog.
Academic Honesty: The University is committed to high standards of academic honesty. Students will be held responsible for violations of these standards. Please refer to the university catalog for a definition of academic dishonesty and potential associated disciplinary actions.
Drops and Withdrawals: Please be aware that the Drop/Add and Withdrawal dates are listed each semester on the University website, in the University catalog and in the Course Description book. If the course is dropped within the Drop/Add period, no notation of the course will appear on the student’s transcript. Withdrawals take place after the published Drop date and a “W” in the course will appear on the student’s transcript.
Special Services: If you have registered as a student with a documented disability and are entitled to classroom or testing accommodations, please inform the instructor at the beginning of the course of the accommodations you will require in this course so that these can be provided.
Disturbances: Since every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption, disruption of class by inconsiderate behavior is not acceptable. Students are expected to treat the instructor and fellow students with dignity and respect, especially in cases where diversity of opinions arise.
Contact hours for this course: It is essential that all classes meet for the full instructional time as scheduled. A class cannot be shortened in length without rescheduling and/or make up activities.
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