Course Syllabus

COMPUTER VIDEO EDITING

CRN 21774 FILM 125:  COMPUTER VIDEO EDITING

CRN 21818 MMAC 125: COMPUTER VIDEO EDITING

Instructor: Robin Smith

E-mail:  rlsmith@hancockcollege.edu or robin@healthandharmonymedia.com

Phone: 805 922-6966 ext. 3361

ERT – Emergency Remote Teaching

Recommended Hours listed in Class Schedule: MW 10:00m – 12:20pm. However, this is a distance learning course and students will manage their own work schedule. Please consider the listed class hours as a guide for how many hours are required each week to complete assignments and projects.

Wednesday Zoom Meeting: 10:00am. You will be sent a Zoom meeting invitation.

Office Hours and Location: Monday, 10 -11am via Zoom. Please contact instructor to schedule.

Text: None

Scope of the Course:

This course presents non-linear video computer editing, including editing digital source material, import and export, and preparing digital movies for the web. Editing concepts such as pace, juxtaposition, and montage will be explored through screenings, lectures, and student made projects. Techniques such as cutting on action, L and J cuts, and effects will be practiced through a series of unique projects.

Student Learning Outcomes:
FILM/MAC SLO1: Competence in digitizing and compressing video for digital editing applications.

FILM/MMAC SLO2: Competence in cutting, trimming and exporting digital movies.

FILM/MMAC SLO3: Competence in editing complex projects with mixed sound tracks, titles and export to delivery formats.

Zoom Meetings and Time Management:
Zoom meetings on Wednesdays are important. It is an opportunity for you to discuss films with other students, hear short lectures and ask questions about assignments. If I do not see you at Zoom meetings, I may assume that you are not working on assignments and projects. In that case, you will be asked to return the computer and drop the class.

Time Management is critical. A great advantage of remote learning is that you can edit at any time! However, it is very difficult to put a good edit together at the last moment. Set-up regular hours through the week to work on project.

Class Structure

There are five main components to the class:

Instructional Videos – These videos cover history & theory, how to use Final Cut Pro X, editing techniques and instructions for projects.

Zoom Meetings – We will meet on Wednesdays at 10:00am to review instructional videos and to discuss writing prompts for short films (watched before the zoom meeting). I plan to discuss a topics(s) for about 30 minutes. After that, I open up the meeting to questions about FCPX or assignments. If you feel good about what you are doing and your progress, you can leave the meeting at this time.

Short Film Writing Prompt - You are going to watch four short films during the semester and add your thoughts about the film to a “padlet.” (You can check it out at padlet.com.) You can consider these discussion notes when you write a paragraph about the film. It is a paragraph about your thoughts on the film. It is not a formal essay, but it does have to have some logic and structure! I will post questions to consider for your paragraph on the padlet.

Editing Projects: All of the editing projects will have video clips provided. The exception is the music video project. I will provide footage for the music video, but if you want to use your own, that’s fine, too.

Tests: There are four tests based on videos. I suggest that you print out the test and review the questions. Have the test at hand as you watch the video and it will be much easier to fill-in the answers.

Canvas is the online organization structure for the class. It is located on the Allan Hancock College website. Canvas is the place where you can find documents for the class. I will send you links to the project video footage to download from OneDrive, which is also located on the AHC portal.

Laptops

At the time of this writing, I have been told that the laptops will be available sometime during the second week. I scheduled Final Cut Pro X instructional videos to begin on the third week. You are responsible for taking care of the laptop properly.

  • Keep it in a safe place. Don’t leave it balancing on a pillow where it can easily fall on the floor. Keep liquids away so a spill will not cause damage. Do not let food fall on the keyboard.
  • Do not leave it in a car where it can be seen and stolen.
  • Please do not download and install programs. If the computer OS is damaged by a virus, IT can probably fix it – but it may take weeks!

Manage Your Time!

I recommend setting aside about 6 hours a week for completion of assignments and editing projects. It’s really easy with an online class to put things off, then to discover that there is not enough time to get it done by the deadline. Late projects or incomplete projects lose points.

 Class Policies and Procedures

  • All projects must be completed and turned in on the due date. No work is accepted on the day of the final.   
  • This course adheres to all school policies. See standards of student conduct in             the college catalog. 
  • The lectures, discussions, and films in the class will examine potentially controversial themes and subject matter. Students should notify the instructor immediately if psychological, religious, philosophical, or medical conditions make it unreasonably difficult to participate.
  • Please respect others and the integrity of the class.
  • There is no such thing as a dumb question. Please ask!

Withdrawal: If you decide not to complete the class, please drop. The instructor is not responsible for dropping you. Last day to drop with a refund is August 28 and last day to drop without a “W” is August 30.

Pass/No Pass: You may take this course for a grade of CREDIT instead of a letter grade. Be aware that you must earn the equivalent of a "C" in order to receive a grade of Credit. Forms are available on line. Deadline to choose Pass/No Pass is September 18.

GRADING Scale:    A 1000-900 points   B 899-800    C 799-700     D 699-600    F 599 & below

Projects

  1. Apple Training                                                                    20
  2. Painter’s Perspective PSA                                          40
  3. Moving Photos - Yosemite                                         25
  4. Documentary Practice Project                                20
  5. Rock Climber Documentary-Style Project      150
  6. Cutting on the Action Project                                  25
  7. Strangers at the Door – Narrative Project       150
  8. Music Video                                                                        100
  9. Pin-It – Narrative Project                                           150

Short Film Writing Response 4 @ 30 points            120

Tests 4 @ 50 points

  1. Test 1: Editing History 
  2. Test 2: Creative Video Techniques                                     
  3. Test 3: Cutting Edge – The Magic of Movie Editing    
  4. Test 4: Vocabulary 

 Points Total 1000

Academic Freedom Policy: The spirit of free and open inquiry is essential to the well-being of our pluralistic, democratic society. The lectures, discussions, readings, and films in the class will examine potentially controversial themes, such as those sex, religion, politics, law, etc. Students who, for whatever reasons, may have strong personal reservations about participating in such academic discourse should preview course material before continuing the class. Furthermore, students should notify the instructor if psychological, religious, philosophical, or medical conditions make it unreasonably difficult to participate.

Disabled Student Programs and Services Policy:  Students with physical, learning, or mental health disabilities who believe that they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.  Learning Assistance authorization, based on verification of disability, is required before any accommodation can be made.  Students who do not have formal documentation but feel that they may have a disability are encouraged to visit the Learning Assistance Program in Building A 304, or call 922-6966 x3274

TIPS TO ENSURE ONLINE SUCCESS

Read the course syllabus. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! Be sure you understand all course policies, when quizzes and homework are due, know how you will be graded and are aware of important due dates. If you have questions about course policies, contact me via CANVAS email so I can clarify the issue.

Pay attention to deadlines and assignment dates. This is BIG!  When you don't check for class updates or get your assignments in on time it’s very easy to fall behind in the class. 

 Don’t be afraid to ask questions. My professors always told me that there are no “dumb” questions in academia. Most of the time, your confusion is shared with your peers, so asking questions not only benefits yourself but also your classmates! You can email me in CANVAS.

Have a backup plan. All computers eventually suffer failures. Have a plan in case yours goes down; know where you can find a backup computer in case of emergency and know how to operate its various programs. Back up or copy your homework onto your email account/ or back-up disk regularly.

Log onto CANVAS Frequently. You should try to log on at least once a day (at least five days a week and more often if possible). Develop a logon routine that's comfortable with your schedule. Online classes tend to generate a large number of posts and announcements. If you don't logon for a few days you will be overwhelmed and might have trouble catching up.

Respond promptly to messages. In the online environment, you are invisible to the rest of the class. If you don't respond, we will think you didn't get the message or don't want to respond. When you respond it's like saying, "I'm here!" If you can't respond immediately, at least send a quick note saying "I received your message and will reply this evening."

Participate. You attend the online class by participating. You send messages and complete assignments before the due date; that's how you show that you are "present." If you lurk (remain silent) then you are "absent."