Scientific Videos (WS 2008/09)

Aims of the course

 To learn and apply the basic skills necessary for filmmaking

1. Coming up with the idea for a film
2. Writing a script based on this idea
3. Planning and preparing the shooting of a film
4. Learning how to set up a scene, how to light it, how to frame a shot, how to handle a consumer video camcorder and get acceptable sound recording
5. Editing on a computer, using Apple's "Final Cut Express"

The aim is that over the time of the course, you will produce a short scientific film. For this purpose, the participants will be assigned to small groups that will form separate film teams.

Possible topics for the planned films:

• Telling the story of a scientific finding
• Explaining a scientific method
• Filming a portrait of a scientist and his work

Set up

•  Maximum number of participants is 16
• 3-4 people will form a team for the practical work

Day 1:

• Lecture: Coming up with an idea: the challenge of visualization
• Practical work: Writing a synopsis
• Homework: Writing a treatment

Day 2:

• Lecture: Basics of filmmaking
  - Technicalities
  - Camera operation
  - Image
  - Light
  - Sound
• Homework: Writing the shooting schedule

Day 3:

• Practical Work: Shooting day

Day 4:

• Lecture: Introduction to non-linear digital editing with "Final Cut Express"
• Practical work:
  - Screening all material
  - Capturing the wanted shots
  - Editing

Day 5:

• Practical Work: Editing

Target dates

November 11, 13:00 (sharp/s.t.)
November 21, 13-18
November 28, 13-18
December 5, 13-18
December 12, 13-18

Evaluation

Comments:

• Too time consuming
• Too theoretical preparation
• Less paper work / more video taping
• Great course! Offer it again + think about how interestedpeople can continue their experience in video production
• Missing topic: special effects
• Perhaps should every group work on the same project (topic, or even material), and the result would be several films with the same story board
• More theory necessary about how the camera works
• We had little time to prepare our films resp. to think about the topic we want to make our movie on
• More guidance in the preparation of the treatment
• If an experienced lecturer/tutor can join partly the discussion of the treatment in each group, it will be more efficient
• Very nice course
• I think the time for the course was a bit short. A whole semester for this stuff would have been interesting (at least for me)
• Maybe more than one day for filming; in order to correct the mistakes of the first part
• Maybe more practical illustration in the theory part of the course