CTAN-432 The World of Visual Effects Spring Semester 2012 Syllabus Michael Fink SA: TBD

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1 CTAN-432 The World of Visual Effects Spring Semester 2012 Syllabus Michael Fink SA: TBD This course will combine discussions of the history and practice of visual effects. The goal is to explore the rich opportunity visual effects offers to enhance story and character. In discussing historical as well as current visual effects, we will analyze and dive into the creative problem solving that went into early films, and how that compares to what is done today. Going back and looking at early efforts, as well as current work, is not only fun (and funny), but is also incredibly revealing of the creative process. Beginning with a brief discussion of Western art history in the first class, we will proceed as the weeks go by to view and discuss specific shots, scenes, or entire films, looking at them both technically and dramatically. Basing our discussions on film clips we view in class (which will also be available for download), students should be prepared to analyze and present in class their assumptions and guesses as to how the effects being considered were done, how they might have accomplished these shots/scenes, and how effective (or not) the effect is in enhancing the film. From this, we will discuss how the shots/scenes were actually accomplished, and what the reasons were for the techniques used to get the final result. Each week we will have reading, and viewing, assignments. You may be asked to discuss what we are reading and viewing during each class each week. Consult the following schedule for more specific information. During most classes we will break into groups for some collaborative analysis of effects both recent and historical. For some sessions we will have guest lecturers, people I have worked with in the industry, who will bring clips of their work and discuss the making of that material. Our class discussions will all be directed toward the final exam, in which you will be assigned specific films to analyze and discuss. These exams can range from discussion of very technical to dramatic issues, but always with the focus on how the effects were done, and how they helped the filmmakers tell their story. In the end, it is my goal that each student comes away from the class with an understanding of how to think about visual effects. The power of visual effects to help filmmakers tell stories should be understood by all those who choose filmmaking as a career.

2 CTAN-432 The World of Visual Effects A course focused on how and why visual effects are done, and how they have been used in filmmaking from the beginning of motion pictures to the present. Your Final Grade is Based On: Unswerving Attendance Compulsive Reading and Viewing of Assignments Dedicated and Heartfelt Discussion and Participation in Class Artfully Crafted and Wonderfully Perceptive Written Work A Sense of Humor As percentages: Class Participation 30% Homework & Mid-term 20% Final Project/Exam 50% A Sense of Humor - Priceless Required Reading: VES Handbook of Visual Effects Visual Effects Society Focal Press, 2010 Edited by Jeffrey A. Okun, Susan Zwerman I recommend you purchase at as they seem to have the best price. Recommended Reading: Special Effects The History and Technique Richard Rickitt Aurum Press, 2006 History of Art 8 th Edition Janson ISBN 10: X The Annotated Mona Lisa Strickland ISBN 13: The Invention of Infinity Field ISBN 10: Masters of Deception Seckel ISBN 10: X

3 The History of Photography Newhall ISBN 10: A Trick of the Eye Hollmann & Tesch ISBN 10: An Animated Life Ray Harryhausen ISBN 10: Melies: Magie et cinema Malthete & Mannoni (editors) ISBN 10: Cinema of Adventure, Romance, & Terror G. Murphy (editor) ISBN 10: Special Effects: Wire, Tape, and Rubber Band Style L.B. Abbott ISBN 10: ASC Treasury of Visual Effects Dunn (Conceived by) & Turner (editor) ISBN 10: X ASC Manual ISBN 10: And: Cinefex Magazine Course Outline: Week 1 January 9: Introduction to the World of Visual Effects. Read: VES Handbook of Visual Effects - Chapter 1 Introduction Week 2 January 16: Martin Luther King Day no class. Watch: Blade Runner during this week Read: VES Handbook Chapter 2 pages Designing Visual Effects Shots during this week January 19, 7:30PM at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Attend the annual Visual Effects Bakeoff for nomination candidates for Visual Effects Academy Award. Week 3 January 23: We will watch Blade Runner in its entirety in class, and discuss the making of this groundbreaking film both visual effects and production.

4 Week 4 January 30: Old School #1. Read: VES Handbook - Chapter 3, pages Stop Motion Animation Read: About Charles Bowers Internet Research View: Clips from works by Charles Bowers A Wild Roomer and Egged On. Week 5 February 6: Old School #2 Ray Harryhausen Read: Hand-out from An Animated Life, by Ray Harryhausen View: Clips from Mighty Joe Young (1949), Clash of the Titans (1981), Clash of the Titans (2010), Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956), Mars Attacks! (1996) Week 6 February 13: Old School #3. In-camera Mastery, Peter Ellenshaw Read: VES Handbook Chapter 2, pages Acquisition/Shooting View: Clips from Darby O Gill and the Little People Week 7 February 20: President s Day Watch: Jason and the Argonauts during this week. Week 8 February 27: Discussion of Mid-Term Exam, then War of the Worlds, new and old View: Clips from War of the Worlds 1953 & 2005 Read: About these two films - Internet research. Week 9 March 5: Mid-Term Exam following a Eric Nash Real Steel 2011 Watch Real Steel Week 10 March 12: Spring Break No Class Watch: Roger Rabbit/Contact/Forrest Gump/Cast Away during this week Week 11 March 19: Read: Hand outs from Cinefex Magazine View: Clips from Roger Rabbit/Contact/Forrest Gump/Cast Away Robert Zemeckis

5 Week 12 March 26: Craig Barron The Work of Linwood Dunn, and Recent Work at Matte World Digital In Preparation - Read: Hand-out from The Making of Citizen Kane Read: About Craig Barron, Matte World Digital Internet research. Week 13 April 2: Assignment and Discussion of Final Project. Telling a story: Clips from a Career in Visual Effects. Watch The Golden Compass (2007) and Constantine (2005) Week 14 April 9: Braveheart (1995) A Discussion of the Economical use of Visual Effects, with examples from the film. Watch Braveheart Week 15 April 16: Joyce Cox A Discussion about the Visual Effects production process in class. Read handout from Cinefex article on Avatar. Week 16 April 23: Time for Final Project Open Discussion about Visual Effects in class. May 2, 2:00PM 4:00PM Final Exam, and submission of Final Project