Policy Statement and Syllabus: Film 3200 (or 320) Two Dimensional Experimental Animation - FA 3200 Experimental Animation,Video and the Web.
Film / Fine Arts– University of Utah
Semester: (Fall 2008)
Instructor: Kent Maxwell
Email: kent.maxwell@utah.edu
Office Hours: By appointment.

Online Information & Server Address:
Class Web site: http://home.utah.edu/~klm6/3200/3200.html. Or go to home.utah.edu/~klm6 click on the FA 3200 Home Page link. 

Course Description:     This course is designed to help students establish an aesthetic and evolve a form that speaks of a personal vision. The spirit of this hands-on course is exploratory.  Students are offered an introduction into the aesthetic, techniques, and historical evolution of experimental media.

Prerequisites:  You will be expected to have basic computer (Macintosh).

Reference Manual or Textbook: There is no text for this class, but since we will be using Final Cut Express (and sometimes Final Cut Pro) you will find the Final Cut Owners manuals useful (which you can get a pdf copy of from the application- I'll show you). Also on reserve, or at he MultiMedia Center Reference Desk, and on-line at the Marriott Library are: Visual Quick Pro Guide: Final Cut Pro 6 on line at: http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/9780321549853 (or Final Cut Express 4) on line at: http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/9780321572905.
We will also be using Photoshop CS3. It's owners manual is in the application help, or on the web at http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/Photoshop/10.0/help.html. Also on reserve at the Marriott Library is a copy of Photoshop CS3 for windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Peter Lourekas and Elaine Weinmann Out now and should be in bookstore. This book is on-line for students at http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/9780321473790. They may be useful to you. You may buy one, but you probably won't need them that much.

Class  Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, in the Marriott Library 1705, August 25 through December 10, 2008, except Labor Day, Monday September 1, and Fall Break, October 13 & 15. and Wednesday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Eve).
    Your Final Project (and all late work) will be due on Monday, December 15, 208, at 6:00 pm in Marriott Library 1705.

Materials:We will be using Macintosh computers and various software applications (various applications from free ware off the web to Final Cut Pro),  scanners,  DVD burners,  digital video input devices and cameras (fire wire).  
    You will need a portable drive for the first couple of weeks (get one right away), a flash drive will work ok, the larger the better. They have inexpensive 2gb, 4gb, and 8gb at the bookstore. You also might consider a fire wire or usb hard drive. If you already have one you can use it, if not don't go out and buy one until I have talk about them.
You will also need several (4 or 5) DVD±Rs with jewel cases during the semester, I will tell you when.
    In the second half of the class you will need access to a video camera  (almost any format will do) or a digital camera ( it will help if it will take several seconds of movie) or a web cam. 
     For your assignments you may use the Macintosh computers in the Multimedia Center and Labs at the Marriott Library during posted hours or the Union Building.  Most of the assignments can be done on any of the networked Macs in the Multimedia, Union Building, or in the Art Department, but some of the assignments may require specific machines.   If you have your own computer, obviously you can use it--if you have the same or similar software.  But if you insist on using different software or a PC, I may have a hard time giving you technical assistance,  I will admit to having a strong Macintosh preference.  You will be required to turn in your work in a form that I can open on a Mac.

Course Requirements
         This class is a Fine Arts studio class.  It will require a decent amount of time, 10 to 15 hours or more a week out side of class.   Generally you will be working on projects,   Several assignment (each with multiple parts) including: animated gifs and quicktime movies that you will post on the web; several short digital videos (animation and experimental audio/video/dvds), etc. At least one of these projects will be a group/class project. There will be web readings, and some simple research.  There will be several pop quizzes on the reading material, and/or on use of applications with the computer.
    You can get a good idea of what the class will entail by looking at the website for the last time I taught this class at: http://home.utah.edu/3200/3200f07.html
    Turn in your assignments on time. This is especially important if you want feedback. Late work will be accepted but it will be docked.
    There will be demonstrations every session.  So come to class. Successful completion of this course will depend on good attendance. A great deal of technical information will be covered in class.    If you are absent from class you will be responsible for following-up on missed work and obtaining any missed handouts or information. Students are also expected to participate in class discussions and assignment critiques.
     I grade each assignment on a 10 point scale: 10 is excellent; 7 is good, this is the average grade; 5 is fair, below 5 is poor, usually for really late assignments or work that has little to with the objective of the assignment.    I will post assignment grades on a page accessed from the class web page.  Grades will be posted after we have critiqued each assignment. You may rework any on time assignment and turn it in to improve your grade.  But, your time and grade may be better served by concentrating on the current assignment.

Research Search Assistance & Finding Resources
     If you would like assistance finding resources--images, videos, primary sources, etc--or conducting research, please stop by the Fine Arts Reference Desk on level 2 of Marriott Library. For immediate assistance, call the Fine Arts Reference Desk at 801-581-8104, or IM chat via their website: www.lib.utah.edu > Department Directory > Fine Arts & Architecture. If you'd like to schedule a one-on-one consultation, you can contact the Art & Art History liaison, Dorothy Greenland, at dorothy.greenland@utah.edu.

Additional Information
    The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that reasonable accommodation be provided for students with physical, sensory, cognitive, systemic, learning, or psychiatric disabilities. Students requiring such accommodation should speak with the professor at the beginning of the semester in order to make appropriate arrangements for this course. The Center for Disabled Student Services (Olpin Union, 581-5020) will also need to be informed. See the following link for more information: http://www.sa.utah.edu/ds/
     The registrar cautions students that withdrawing from a course and other registration matters, including tuition, are the student's responsibility. See the following link for more information: http://www.sa.utah.edu/regist/pages/Fall2008.htm
    In accordance with university policy (as articulated in the Student Code), academic misconduct—including cheating, fabrication of information, and plagiarism—is not tolerated in this course. A student found engaging in this behavior will receive a failing grade. If at any time you are unsure whether your actions constitute academic misconduct, please see the professor in order to clarify the matter. See the following link for more information: http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html
    Activities and materials assigned for this class have been carefully scrutinized and selected. Some students may find some of the materials, presentations, lectures, or audio/visual materials controversial or in conflict with their core values. It is your responsibility to review the syllabus, readings, assignments, and materials to be sure that this is a course you wish to take. Should you have questions or concerns, please see me immediately.