2. 2
MSJ 301
Video Communications 01
The course is one of the ten major concentration courses in Digital Production under
Media Studies and Journalism Department. This course aims to provide students with the
knowledge of aesthetics of video as well as technical tools used in video communication. We
will explore how video is used in various social settings to communicate a message.

3. 3
Understand the process of making a short digital movie
- Create an experimental, short fiction, or music video.
- Operate a camera (including setting manual exposure, white balance, and focus)
and put footage onto a computer
- Write a short script
- Learn and use the language of cinema (shot sizes, composition, camera movements,
audio, and lighting)
- Edit with beats, rhythm, reaction shots, intercutting, visual logic, and style
- Work in teams—the entire professional world is about working with other people in
teams; projects will provide you with professional team-work skills that can be applied
to all aspects of the professional world. This will be assessed through peer review of
your team members in the creation of your film projects.

4. 4
Attendance in this course is a mandatory requirement. You are expected to attend every class
and stay for the entire duration. Tardiness, early departures, lack of being prepared, or lack
of awareness or attention during class will count as absences--two incidents of any of
previously stated will equal one absence. A student may be absent from class maximum of
five times during the semester with the deduction of his or her attendance marks. There are no
excused absences beyond those five. Any further absences (without the permission of
Department Head) – the 6th absence the student will receive a failing grade.
***An attendance includes the classes and seminars related to the course curriculum integration
programs.
Filmmaking is about teamwork. Working in the professional world is about teamwork. If one
person fails to do their job or does it poorly, the film will suffer. You will be graded on the
quality of the specific tasks in the role you are assigned. You will perform different roles in the
fiction project. With that said, the film must get done, so if someone isn’t doing their work or
fails to show up, you will need to cover for each other.
There will be several reading quizzes to prove your knowledge of course content.
There will be several exercises to prove your knowledge of course content.
There will be one written assignment to prove your knowledge of video production analysis.
There will be MCQ questions for Mid Term to recall your knowledge of video technology.
There will be several oral reports to prove your knowledge about the course.

5. 5
In a team of 3-4, create a 3-5 minute short with multiple scenes (3-5 page script; 30-50
shots).
Each person will write a script and then pitch that script to the class. Teams will be selected
and each team will choose one script to produce.
The script must reveal a character’s discovery, some form of revelation—however minor—that
changes the character. That discovery requires a decision. The story must not be imitative—it
must come from you—your life experiences and vision of the world. If any of these three
elements are missing, then the project will not be considered for production.
Production Book must include:
- Names of each team member and their role on the film
- Vision or artist statement about the film
- Script
- Character descriptions and their objectives (what does each want) and
casting needs
- Description of the discoveries and decisions in the script for your main
character
- Scout out a location and draw floor plan of each scene, include blocking
notes as well as lighting plot (camera and lighting placements for each
shot)
- Storyboard
- Shot list that includes:
- camera angle, shot size
- camera movement
- blocking (movement of performers) that tells the story visually
- Schedule of the shoot: noting cast and crew, scene to be shot, location,
and times
- Release contracts for locations and performers
When the project is completed, each person must write a self-evaluation of their work on the
film as well as a peer evaluation of their teammates. Your grade will be dependent on
yourself and peer evaluations.

6. 6
Filmmaking is about teamwork. Working in the professional world is about teamwork. If one
person fails to do their job or does it poorly, the film will suffer. You will be graded on the
quality of the specific tasks in the role you are assigned. You will perform different roles in the
fiction and documentary projects. With that said, the film must get done, so if someone isn’t
doing their work or fails to show up, you will need to cover for each other.
Teams of four must have the following assignments:
1) Producer/post-production supervisor. Work with the director and cinematographer on the
production book. Working with the other producers, hold auditions; schedule actors and crew;
draw up contracts; get location permissions; attain music rights; market the film; work with the
other producers in the class and put together and announce a public screening; put together a
festival package (with the director); working with the cinematographer (who will log shots)
schedule re-shoots; write daily production and post-production reports—must be emailed to
the entire team and the professor; make sure that DVDs and webfilm is delivered (one DVD
per team member, one to professor; coordinate with other producers to create one DVD with
all class movies on it).
2) Director. With the assistance of the producer and cinematographer, write the production
book; Work with the cinematographer to develop the look of the film; check out equipment;
direct the film; reshoot any shots or scenes requested by the producer; working with the editor,
deliver a final cut of the film; create a festival package (work with the producer).
3) Editor/Boom op/Sound designer (boom operator during production; picture and sound
editor; post-production sound design). Responsible for holding boom mic and getting good
sound; edit rough cut; work with director on final cut; sound design; final sound mix; render
and create a DVD and web film.
4) Cinematographer/assistant editor (lighting and camera op). Post-production color correction;
light all scenes, operate camera on shoots; responsible for logging shots the day after each
shoot; also responsible for color correction during post production; create website for film
(coordinating with the director and producer with a festival package).

7. 7
Equipment
The use of all ULAB equipment, outside classroom exercises, will require a signed request and
policy form. You are responsible for replacement and repair costs of all damaged or lost
equipment.
Emails
Communication will occur through email. Be sure to check your email daily. You are responsible
for emails sent by the faculty.
Late Assignments
Plan ahead for this intensive class, there will be no late assignments accepted (unless I have
given you permission beforehand).
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the intended or unintended use of someone else's language and/or ideas without
revealing the source of that material, leading the audience to believe that the work is original.
So attribute all your sources. Minimum penalty for plagiarism is a zero on the assignment (and
possible course failure); I will also follow University rules and report any instances of
plagiarism to the administration.
Accommodations
If you need course adaptation or accommodation because of a disability (physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.), please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

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Course Content:
The content of the course will be as follow:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Introduction to the Course: What is Video Communication?
The Power of Video.
Video as a technology: How Video Works?
Characteristics of Video:
• Electrical Capturing (Analog and Digital signal)
• Recording and Storing formats (Tape and Digit)
• Aspect Ratio
• Video Display Standards (PAL-NTSC-SECAM)
5. Understanding the Camera:
• The CCD
• Shutter, Aperture, Focus, Lens & View Finder
• White Balance
• Camera Movements
• Camera Angles (180 degree rules)
6. Aesthetics of Video
• Compositions & Framings
• The human Eye & the picture
• The use of color, light & shape
7. Light And Lighting
8. Editing Theory
• Manipulating the flow of time
• The Art of Story telling
• The Use & Effects of Transition
• Editing jargon
• The Audio

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9. The Production Processes
• Pre Production
• Production
• Post Production
10.
The Final Project
• Developing the Idea
• The Team
• Script Writing
• Structuring the Idea
• Developing the Project: Set, Light, Actors, Scheduling.
• Filming the Term Project
• Editing the Term Project

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SESSION METHODOLOGY: Active Learning
Story Making
Film Screening
And IN THIS SESSION:
Course Overview
Course Objective
Grading Criteria
General Information
Team
Class 1
Drawing in a
team

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Short quizzes
Discussion
IN THIS SESSION:
TVC screening
PSA screening
Short movie screening
Home video screening
And the use of video technology
Class 2
Film Show

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Lecture
Discussion
IN THIS SESSION:
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing,
storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing
scenes in motion.
History and development of Video Technology
Characteristics and formats
Bit rate and frame rate
Analog Vs Digital
Class 3
Film Show

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Practical Demonstrations
Film Show
Discussion
Class 4
IN THIS SESSION:
:
• Electrical Capturing (Analog and Digital signal)
• Recording and Storing formats (Tape and Digit)
• Aspect Ratio
• Video Display Standards (PAL-NTSC-SECAM)
• The CCD
• Shutter, Aperture, Focus, Lens & View Finder
• White Balance
• Camera Movements
• Camera Angles (180 degree rules)

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Students Practical exercise
Discussion
Class 5
IN THIS SESSION:
• The CCD
• Shutter, Aperture, Focus, Lens & View Finder
• White Balance
• Camera Movements
• Camera Angles (180 degree rules)

15. 15
SESSION METHODOLOGY: ACTIVE LEARNING
IMAGINARY DRAWING
Discussion
IN THIS SESSION:
•
Compositions & Framings
•
The human Eye & the picture
•
The use of color, light & shape
Class 7
STORY MAKING

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SESSION METHODOLOGY: ACTIVE LEARNING
Practical Demonstrations
Discussion
IN THIS SESSION:
•
Quality of light
•
Quantity of Light
•
Direction of Light
•
Distributions of Light
Class 8
Film show

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SESSION METHODOLOGY: ACTIVE LEARNING
Practical Exercise
Film Show
IN THIS SESSION:
•
Manipulating the flow of time
•
The Art of Story telling
•
The Use & Effects of Transition
•
Editing jargon
•
The Audio
Class 9
Discussion

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SESSION METHODOLOGY: Active Learning
Games
Student’s Oral Presentations
Discussion
IN THIS SESSION:
•
Pre Production
•
Production
•
Post Production
Class 10
Film Show

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Group Presentation
Film Show
Discussion
Class 11
IN THIS SESSION:
•
Developing the Idea
•
The Team

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Group Presentation
Film Show
Discussion
Class 12
IN THIS SESSION:
•
Script writing
•
Structuring the Idea

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Group Presentation
Discussion
IN THIS SESSION: Developing the Project
•
Set
•
Light
•
Actors
•
Scheduling
Class 13
Film Show

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SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Group Presentation
Film Show
IN THIS SESSION: Developing the Project
•
Short Division
•
Shooting Script
•
Filming techniques
Class 14
Discussion

23. 23
SESSION METHODOLOGY:
Group Presentation
Film Show
IN THIS SESSION: Submission of Production Book
- Names of each team member and their role on the film
- Vision or artist statement about the film
- Script
- Character descriptions and their objectives (what does each want) and casting needs
- Description of the discoveries and decisions in the script for your main character
- Scout out a location and draw floor plan of each scene, include blocking
notes as well as lighting plot (camera and lighting placements for each shot)
- Storyboard
- Shot list that includes:
- camera angle, shot size
- camera movement
- blocking (movement of performers) that tells the story visually
- Schedule of the shoot: noting cast and crew, scene to be shot, location, and times
- Release contracts for locations and performers
Class 15
Discussion

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SHOOTING

25. 25

26. 26
DVD
Quick Time / AVI
Self Evolution

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28. 28
The following are the proposed schedules for this curriculum integration program for
Fall 2010
Activity
Faculty Meeting on Curriculum Integration
Kick Off Activity: Forum on “Gross National Happiness as a
Development Concept”
Date
September 20
October 14
Speakers: Marium Akther and Hillol Sobhan
Follow Up Forum on “Happiness in Bangladesh: Real or Reel”
October 21
Speaker: Anis Pervez and Imtiaz Chowdhury
Film Showing: Happiest People on Earth
Students Fill Up Questionnaire on Happiness
Curriculum Integration Culminating Activity
Curriculum Integration Exhibit
November 4
November 7 to 12
December 22
December 22 to January 21