The Aesthetics and Technology of Motion Picture Production

Catalog description

This course will introduce students to the basic technical and aesthetic concepts in motion picture production. By combining lectures, screenings, equipment demonstrations, and hands-on equipment exercise, the course will provide students with a strong grasp of key concepts, skills, and techniques. Areas of study will include mise-en-scene, composition, image design, light and optics, aesthetics and technology of still and motion picture photography, the stages of production, film and video cameras, film stocks and video formats, lenses, lighting, sound recording, basic approaches to editing and postproduction. Through related writing assignments, students will develop a critical vocabulary and an analytical perspective that will provide them with the background necessary to pursue further film studies courses.