Top advertising agencies continually create more superb television entertainment than the Hollywood studios turn out as programming. This course will give a detailed review of advertising video and film production. Topics will include: the steps followed by the assigned agency producer, budgeting, bidding, preparation of estimates, organizing the production, storyboard and audio breakdown, casting, costuming, set needs, shooting and editing, recording and mixing, and the completion of the video or film for on-air release. The working relationship between art director, writer and producer will be examined. We will view sample reels and guest lecturers will discuss the making of commercials. Field trips to state-of-the-art editing facilities will be included.

When one imagines a dramatic story in a remarkable setting, often the details are a bit fuzzy. This course will explore how to create concrete designs and plans of interior and exterior spaces that convey narrative content. After researching the design of different historical periods, basic drafting and perspective techniques will be covered, including multiple angles, elevations and prop details. Character and costume designs, as well as how to professionally present ideas and plans to prospective clients and collaborators will all be addressed. Each student will be assisted in choosing the best medium/applications (including Adobe Photoshop) to bring a project to completion. The techniques covered can be applied to areas of stage, screen, animation and gaming. Open to students at all levels.
NOTE: Please bring a vellum tracing pad (11x14" or larger), a sketchpad (11x14" or larger) and 2B pencils to the first session.

In this fun and engaging workshop, you will learn how to shape your vision and go through the process of creating a radio show, podcast or webisode. The workshop will include exercises in the art of interviewing (how to be interviewed, and how to interview), how to create compelling content for any medium to engage your listener or viewer and build an "emotional bridge" with your audience to gain that all-important fan base. Whether you are an author who needs to hone your skills communicating your material, have an area of expertise, product or service that you'd like to promote, or a passion for a particular subject, this course is for you. Students will also have the opportunity to record in a professional studio.

Low-budget films have been part of the cinematic landscape since the early decades of the film industry, initially serving as opening acts for theatrical features, and eventually developing their own identity. Though often disregarded by mainstream audiences, many B Westerns, horror movies and sci-fi thrillers have come to be appreciated for their campy melodramatic qualities, and have inspired filmmakers to take a cue from their ingeniously off-beat, low-budget tactics. This course will examine the appeal of lowbudget, camp and cult films and discuss their value as cultural artifacts worthy of our respect and admiration. We will also consider the meaning and implication of low-budget productions in our current cultural climate, with the affordability of digital video and the proliferation of modern trash including reality TV. In addition to composing responses to screened films and discussion topics such as authenticity, exploitation, irony and novelty, we will also purposefully concoct B material through group and individual assignments. Screenings will include works by Russ Meyer, Roger Corman, John Waters, George Kuchar and Troma.
NOTE: This course may be taken for undergraduate credit. Please refer to VCD-2359-CE in the credit courses section of this website for details.