SYLLABUS

Digital Film Production –

Creating, shooting and editing
13:00 - 15:00 pm - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
A026 MAC LAB – IADT
Instructor: FRANK REID, National Film
Contact Hours: 45
School, Ireland.
Email: frank@iadt.ie

Course Description
Digital Film Production is an introductory course to narrative film production. It includes
lectures, workshops, and hands-on production experience. We will focus on short narrative
fiction, which will enable you to engage each aspect of the filmmaking process—from page to
pre-production/production and editing. Course assignments will build toward an original short
narrative video; You are expected to write, revise, and plan on paper as much as you record
and edit images and sounds. This is practical class is aimed at beginners and also students
with existing knowledge of the film making process and visual storytelling.

Students will be given an assessment at the start of the course to determine their knowledge
level. Beginner students will be shown the basics of how use and camera and more advanced
students will be thought at a higher level to enhance their existing skills. Students will be
mapping out there idea and creating a visual storyboard, shooting and editing there film problem
solving are as critical as creativity and technological skill. Students will work in groups for in
class practical exercises. Student will be working on 5 weekly practical assignments throughout
the course that count towards the final grade.

The course will be spilt in two halves. First three week the students will advance on their
knowledge of film equipment, story telling, on set protocol, technical knowledge and editing. In
the second half of course, students we will put the concepts we learned in the first few weeks
into practice. The class will be divided into five groups, each student will work on their own film
and each film in the group in what capacity they can (this is organize based on the students
knowledge level and background). When you direct, you'll be responsible for pre-production
material, editing, and presenting your piece to the class during critique. We will not have actors
available to us, so you maybe required to act in a film for other students.

Students will be required to pitch ideas throughout the course. Final cut must be approved
before the film can be screened at the end of the course.

Learning Outcomes
● …Students will learn technology involved in narrative video production
● ...use technical & creative techniques to tell a story
● ...understand the importance of preparation and research and completion of work
● ...experience pre-producing, shooting, and editing a short narrative
● ...provide/receive constructive criticism and engage in creative problem solving (inclass
and during the edit)

Required Technology
- Mac formatted external hard drive at least 1TB with a USB 3.0 port

Grading Criteria

● EX_01 – Shot List 15%

● EX_02 – Story boarding 15%
● EX_03 – Ideas Journal 25%
● Ex_04 – Pre-Production material 25%
● Ex_05 - Final Film Submission 20%

Class Time
This class meets 3 days a week, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (Subject to change based on
class trips). Students are required to arrive on time and stay for the duration of the class. Come
each week prepared not only to take notes on the lectures (notebook required no digital notes)
but also to actively participate in the discussions and engage with practical assignments during
class. During the second half of the course, you'll be working in groups and are expected to
come fully prepared to work on set.

Pre-Production Material
The Director will be required to submit following documents before shooting: shot list,
storyboard and script.

Script
All scripts must follow screenplay format and not exceed three pages.

Edited Finished Films

The Director of the film will also be required to edit and finish the film to completion meeting all
the following delivery requirements:
● Prores 422 Quicktime (1920x1080)
● Film running time 1 min – 3 mins
● Stereo audio – no dialogue, only music and sound effects
 ● Even levels (on average a 20dB dynamic range)
● No sound gaps
● No unnecessary dialogue or director’s voice on the soundtrack

Journals

Throughout the course students will be require to journal ideas and keep a record of their
creative process. This includes ideas and ideas development. This journal has a large grade so
must be taking serious. Ideas must be developed as discussed in class.

Communication
Email subject lines should read GEO Summer School. Maintain professional etiquette in your
email correspondence (ours is a professional relationship and your emails should reflect that
fact). I will reply to email within 48 hours or less during the week, with additional time required
for weekends and holidays.

Important Note
If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course,
please make arrangements to meet with me soon. Please request that the Counselor for
Students with Disabilities send a letter verifying your disability.

Fair Use & Distribution

The GEO Summer Program will be archiving select final projects from this class to show to
future students, faculty, donors, etc. Some projects may be published on our website or in other
media to promote the quality of student production. However, you retain all copyright ownership
of your work.

Course Timetable – (Subject to change ahead of class delivery based on

knowledge base of students)

WEEK 1

Class 1:
• Introduction to program samples from previous years. 

• Level Assessment for all students. 

• Overview of summer course assignment. 

• Introduction to journal, story / concept development. 


Class 2: 

• Introduction to DSLR and Camera 101. 

• Introduction of Themes. Introduction to outline and treatment writing 
process. 

• Groups issued and teams sent on practical practice of Camera 101. 


Class 3: 

• Introduction to group story development and brainstorming. 

• Introduction to storyboarding and shot sizes. 

• Camera Practical Practice (Shot Sizes) 
Week 1 assignment:
(A) Work on two ideas and
prepare pitch to group for next class.
(B) Within the group prepare an image sequence
telling a story in 6 - 8 shots, 
Gather any props required and shot on assignment in class
4. 


WEEK 2

Class 4:
• Group pitching sessions with each student pitching two ideas (A) 

• Shooting of assignment (B) Shooting in camera. 


Class 5: 

• Overview class “How to shoot better Videos” 

• Introduction to shooting formats and how they relate to post production. 

• Practical Camera encouraged. 

• Story development based on brainstorming notes. 


Class 6: 

• Story Development. Ideas re drafted based on notes from session. 

• New Ideas pitched. 

• Final themes decided by students. 

• Practical Camera encouraged. 
Week 2 assignment:
(C) Working with outline of idea attempt
basic working photographic 
storyboard.
(D) Concept development 


WEEK 3

Class 7:
• Group pitching sessions with each student pitching two ideas (D) 

• Editing 101 

• Practical Camera encouraged. 

Class 8: 

• Overview Editing 101 continued. Working with storyboard (C) 

• Idea development. 

• Practical Camera encouraged. 

• Story Development. Ideas re-drafted based on notes from earlier session. 


Class 9: 

• Story Development. Ideas re-drafted based on notes from earlier session. 

• Final ideas decided and pitched to class. 
Week 3 assignment:
(E) Final Shot-list and
storyboard created (F) Filming Encouraged

WEEK 4

Class 10:
• Filming of Summer Assignment 

• Supervised Editing 


Class 11: 

• Filming of Summer Assignment 

• Supervised Editing 


Class 12: 

• Filming of Summer Assignment 

• Supervised Editing 
Week 4 assignment:
(G) Final Journal prepared.
(H) Final Shot List,
Outline, Treatment and storyboard prepared 4

WEEK 5

Class 13:

• Submission of (G) and (H) 


• Intro basic of Colour correction 


• Intro basic sound mixing 


• Supervised Editing 

Class 14: 


• Supervised Editing

Class 15:

• Supervised Editing 


• Final submission of final cut.