Course Syllabus

In order to best protect the health and safety of Hancock College students, instructors and staff, this semester FILM/MMAC 126/128 will be conducted online/remotely following COVID-19 Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) guidelines.
You will be required to attend two Zoom sessions each week. Homework, class assignments, textbook tutorials, research and creative projects will be done at home - there will be no computer lab access. All students in this class will be given free access to install Adobe Creative Cloud programs on their home computers if needed - this includes the programs you will use in this class, After Effects, Media Encoder, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat. If you do not have access to a computer capable of running graphics software, Hancock College has a limited number of laptops that may be borrowed on a greatest need priority basis.
Course description
An introduction to the analysis, planning and creation of motion graphics sequences for multimedia and film/video using Adobe After Effects.
Objective
The primary objective of FILM/MMAC126 is for students to explore the expressive capabilities of digital motion graphics through lecture, tutorials, demonstration, hands-on training, and student projects. Adobe After Effects software will be employed to solve progressively more complex motion design problems (projects).
Advisory
It is highly recommended that a student have familiarity with computer procedures and navigation, and experience with Adobe Photoshop and/or Adobe Illustrator. 
GRPH 112/111 Digital Imagery (Photoshop) is recommended. 
GRPH 113/114 Digital Illustration (Adobe Illustrator) is recommended.
Learning Outcomes  
Students successfully completing this course will know how to:
Film/MMAC126
Analyze motion graphics sequences utilizing a design vocabulary, both orally and in writing.
Generate and articulate motion graphics solutions to various design problems.
Use appropriate software programs to design and create digital motion graphics sequences manifesting technical proficiency and coherent design.
Film/MMAC128
Analyze professional visual effects and motion graphics sequences utilizing a technical vocabulary.
Research and employ online resources such as technical forums, users’ groups and tutorials in order to solve digital post-production problems using current methods such as compositing, digital effects, and virtual cinematography.
Utilize current software to plan, design and produce a professional visual effects and/or motion graphics project for inclusion in student’s presentation reel.
Modes of Learning & Assessment
Lecture and discussion - live, online Zoom sessions every class
Interactive tutorials, self paced with handouts
Tutorials - textbook - to be done at home, due dates posted
Problem solving through research
Criteria based creative projects critiqued and graded
Final exam/final project
Class Sessions and Communication
Class sessions will be conducted via Zoom
Canvas - lesson plans, class assignments, project briefs and links to class Zoom sessions will be available on Canvas
Slack - announcements, information, questions and answers, motion graphics and project examples, and informal discussions will be done on Slack
Attendance
Class sessions are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:45pm to 6:50pm, online via Zoom. Attendance will be taken daily. Regular attendance is a key to your success in this class. If you cannot attend regularly, you have the option to take the class PASS/NO PASS or take the class when you are able to attend regularly. Every five unexcused absences will lower your grade by one letter grade. Responsibility to drop the class rests entirely with the student. If you stop attending class and do not drop, you may receive an F. 
If you cannot attend class, please inform the instructor by email at glenn.hiramatsu@hancockcollege.edu prior to or on the day of your absence. Failure to do so will result in an unexcused absence.
If you miss all or part of a class, you are still responsible for information, instruction and assignments handed out or due that day.
Computer Use
You will need a computer capable of running Adobe After Effects and other graphics programs in order to complete tutorials, homework and projects. Graphics programs, i.e., After Effects, Photoshop and MAYA often require reasonably up to date fast processors, lots of RAM and hard drive space. A solid state hard drive is great if you have it. If your personal computer is considered to be a gaming computer or configured for 3D animation or video editing, you are probably in pretty good shape. Adobe recommends the following for After Effects:
PC - multicore Intel processor w/ 64-bit support, Windows 10, 16 GB RAM,  2 GB GPU VRAM, 5 GB available hard disk space plus 10GB disk cache space recommended
macOS - multicore Intel processor w/ 64-bit support, macOS version 10.13 or newer (macOS 10.12 is not supported), 16 GB RAM,  2 GB GPU VRAM, 6 GB available hard disk space plus additional 10GB disk cache space recommended
NOTE - you can get by with a computer that is not as powerful as what Adobe recommends, however it may run slower and may crash a little more often - under normal circumstances, After Effects can occasionally crash. A computer that is considered a gaming or 3D animation computer should be fine.
Hancock has a limited number of laptop computers for students to borrow for the semester on a greatest need basis.
Materials List
Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book 2020 Release (CIB) - paperback, ebook or web edition.
Removable storage (thumb drive, 8 Gb recommended or external hard drive) to back up all your work daily if you use a school issued loaner laptop. If you use your own personal computer, an external mode of storage is not needed.
Sketchbook, pencils, eraser - it’s okay to have a single sketchbook that you use for multiple classes.
Grading
Student grades are determined by the following criteria:
Class participation, interaction, and discussion in class activities and critiques.
Project craftsmanship, finished quality and the appropriate use of digital tools.
Objectives, parameters and deadlines of projects are met.
Evidence of initiative and conceptually creative and imaginative responses to assigned projects.
Attendance with all appropriate materials and preparation
Grading will basically consist of:
Adobe Classroom in a Book Lessons  & worksheets and tests: 35% of grade
Classroom participation and attendance:  15%
Three Projects (including planning, storyboarding, presentation and project video): 50% of grade
Extra credit projects may also be added depending upon classroom progress
The grading scale will be:
    100-90% = A      89 - 80% = B      70 - 65% = C
    64 - 55% = D      54% or less = F
Statement of Civility
Attend class and pay attention. 
Be on time. Do not leave early. Please inform the instructor prior to class if you need to leave early.
Turn off or silence your cell phone. No texting or phone calls will be permitted during lecture. 
Focus on class material during class time. Sleeping, talking to others, doing work for another class, reading, checking email, exploring the internet, watching non-class related videos, etc., are unacceptable.
Refer to pages 35-37 in the student handbook for further information.
Academic Misconduct
Cheating, plagiarism, collusion, abuse of resource materials, computer misuse, fabrication or falsification, complicity in academic misconduct, and/or bearing false witness will not be tolerated. Violations will be dealt with according to the procedures and sanctions proscribed by Allan Hancock College. Students caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive an “F” for the assignment and depending on the situation, possibly an “F” in the course.
Veterans, Learning Assistance Program (LAP) and Health Services
Hancock College is committed to providing all students equal access to learning opportunities. As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning and may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. Any student with these issues should contact the instructor at their first opportunity to discuss any necessary accommodations.
The following services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing.
The Veterans Affairs office acts as a liaison to the VA and assists veterans and their dependants in reaching their educational goals.
The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) provides assistance to students with permanent and temporary disabilities and is available to all students in academic programs at AHC.
Health Services assists students with physical and /or mental health needs. Students who have, or think they may have, a disability (e.g. mental health, attention-deficit, vision, hearing, or physical), areinvited to contact those departments for assistance.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Any personal learning accommodations that may be needed by a student covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be made known to the instructor as soon as possible. This is the student’s responsibility. Information about services, academic modifications and documentation requirements can be obtained from the Learning Assistance Program (LAP).
For more information about services available to AHC students with disabilities, contact:
(805) 922-6966 ext. 3274 (Santa Maria Campus)
(805) 922-6966 ext. 5274 (Lompoc Valley Center from Santa Maria)
(805) 735-3366 ext. 5274 (Lompoc Valley Center from Lompoc)
(805) 928-7834 (TTY/TDD for the Deaf)
(805) 922-69-6966 (Video Phone)
AHC my.hancock portal
All communication outside of the classroom will be by email through the AHC portal. If you do not check your AHC email daily, then I strongly recommend that you set up your AHC email account to forward to your personal email. Instructions on how to do this are posted on the www.myhancock portal page. Canvas will be used to post schedules, assignments, announcements and other information.
Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans will be posted on Canvas to provide the student with clear goals, content and assignments for the class period.
Lab Assignments (Tutorials)
Adobe AfterEffects is a complex professional tool. The textbook tutorials that you will complete during this course are required for success in the class. The tutorials present features of the software that will enable you to complete assigned projects. The following schedule is a basic outline - the number of tutorials actually completed in the class may be different depending upon the rate that the class learns the program. 
Weeks 1-6:  After Effects CIB Chapters 1-4, Project 1
Weeks: 7-11:  After Effects CIB Chapters 5-7, Project 2
Weeks 12-17:  After Effects CIB Chapters 8-10    Project 3
Chapter 11 is an extra credit lesson in advanced techniques. Chapter 12 covers rendering and is recommended.
Storyboards
Storyboards are required for all three creative projects. Stick figures and simple diagrams are fine. Storyboarding is done routinely in the workplace to develop design solutions and communicate them with the client and/or within the design team. Use the storyboard process to explore and visualize ideas. Your storyboard is essentially a visual outline for your project - the storyboard, concept and final outcome may evolve during the creative process.
Projects
Projects are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Due dates will be determined by class progress. On the due date the projects will be presented to the class - the student will introduce the project, provide details about it and answer questions from the instructor and classmates. Class participation in the critiques is highly encouraged and is part of the project grade. The critique session depends on all students being present with completed projects. Project grades will be lowered by 20% for each class session the project is late.
There will be 3 projects during the semester:
Kinetic Type
Logo Animation
Movie Opening Credits
Important Dates
Tuesday, August 18 - First day of class
Friday, August 28 - Last day to drop with refund,
Sunday, August 30 - Last day to drop without a “W”
Sunday,  August 30 - Last day to add class
Friday, Sept. 18 - Last day to choose PASS/No PASS
Friday, Nov. 6 - Last day to drop with a “W”
Thursday, Nov. 26 - Thanksgiving holiday, no class
Thursday, Dec. 3 - Last day of class - all assignments due
Thursday, Dec. 10, 2pm - 4pm - Final - final project presentation