CTV 505 Aesthetics of Film and Television

Taught both on campus and by distance.

Course description

A graduate level theoretical and historical study of narrative storytelling through the medium of motion pictures and television.

There are three strands to this class. First it provides a wide ranging coverage of film and television aesthetics; strong emphasis is given to film grammar, picture composition, and audio design  Second the course provides the challenge of writing about film and television from an academic perspective. Third the course examines the screenplay and production techniques of the narrative filmmaker from a Christian perspective.

Course Outcomes

1.    Student will know the elements of film and television aesthetics and how they can integrate this knowledge with their Christian  belief systems.

2.    Students will know the structures of narrative screenwriting and how to write about film from an academic perspective.

3.     Students will understand critical concepts, methods and debates in the study of postmodern film and television.

 

Special Features for Distance Students

Audio lectures on Blackboard and I-tunes for downloading to MP3. Eight phone based  WIMBA discussion sessions on Tuesday nights. Links to other film websites

 

Qualifications to teach CTV505

1.    Twenty six years as professional director and producer for BBC Television, Reuters Visnews, Middle East Television, Vice President for Programming for Clearview Cable Television, and Bureau chief in Jerusalem and Bierut for Middle East Television

2.    Author of three books about television:

Tomorrow’s Television; Lion Publishing, 1977

Hidden Agendas: the Politics of Religious Broadcasting in Britain 1987-1991. pub Dominion Kings Grant, 1992

      Every Frame A Rembrandt (with feature cameraman Andrew Laszlo Focal Press, 2000

3.    Twenty two years of in-classroom graduate teaching experience.

4.    Faculty Diplomas from the Director’s Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

5.    Guest lecturer on film and television at a variety of East Coast colleges and universities

Student evaluations:

“It is critical to know about film and television, from its history to current events. I appreciate the foundation this course has made for learning the background of my profession”

“This instructor did a marvelous job of  putting “the meat on the bones” by way of practical applications and plenty of interaction with industry pros.”

 
“I really enjoyed the class and Professor Quicke. He is a delightful man with an incredible amount of knowledge and I am glad to have been able to learn under his teach"


SSW 512  Writing the Short Film

COURSE DESCRIPTION.

This class explores the way in which narrative short film screenplays  are created at the script level. While this style of film is generally less than 30 minutes in length, we will be looking at 5 minute, ten minute, fifteen minute and one longer 30 minute screenplay, the maximum length for student short narrative films. Students  write three scripts during the semester, starting with a very short single scene script and developing from that point.  The best scripts will be forwarded to the production classes for students to visualize the work on video or film.

The class examines why certain types of script are preferred as against others for student short films, and  considers the whole question of genre from the wider feature film length perspective. The class concludes with a discussion of marketing techniques and the ever-changing environment of writing for film and video.

COURSE OUTCOMES IN TERMS OF ACQUIRED SKILLS

1.    Students will be able to highlight aspects of their faith in dramatic screenplay situations.

2.    Students will understand the dramatic structure of the short film, the importance of dialogue, and the critical tools required to assess good screen writing.

3.    Students will be able to research, structure and write short film treatments.

4.    Students will write 3 screenplays, with approximate lengths of 5,10,and 15 plus minutes. 

5.    Students will have extensive practice is working in correct screenplay format using screenplay software.

 

Instructor’s Qualifications to teach SSW 512

1.    Extensive television writing experience over 26 years, both in factual and narrative television.

2.    Extensive book and  articles publication record.

3.    Former President of the Fellowship of Christian Writers UK, responsible for getting the works of members published.

4.    Guest lecturer on writing for television in Thailand, Myanmar, UK and Holland.

5. Faculty advisor for 115 national and international student film awards

 

Student Evaluations

"The weekly writing and reading assignments and the interaction on Blackboard wee exceptionally helpful in accomplishing the goals of writing a short film." Fall 06

"I think the class is perfect." Fall 06

 

CTV 638  Advanced Motion Picture Production
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a graduate level practical study of location film production according to the Hollywood pattern.  Strong emphasis is given to the aesthetics of picture composition and audio design as it applies to motion pictures and narrative television. The course examines the production techniques of the narrative film maker from all aspects, from a Christian perspective.

 

COURSE COMPETANCIES / OUTCOMES

1.    Students will understand the on-going process of integrating their Christian faith with their knowledge and experience of narrative film and television.

2.    Students will understand the disciplines and techniques of contemporary film-making on set and on location, and how the different professional skills are blended into a single camera team with a united creative vision

3.    Students will perform in different film-making roles as production personnel in a Hollywood sized film crew of 20 to 25 persons..

 

Qualifications to teach CTV 638

1.    Twenty six years of active directing and producing in 25 different countries worldwide.

2.    Experience of working in a Hollywood studio and in many London studios.

3.    Faculty diplomas from the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

4.    Lifetime achievement award from the Redemptive Film Festival for services to the film and television industries 1959-2008.

5. Faculty advisor for 115 national and international student film awards

 

Student Evaluations

"My most significant learning experience in this course was the experience of working in an environment much like that of the professional industry."  Fall 05.

 

CTV 680  MFA Practicum on Producing and Directing

 

Course Description

The Practicum will consist of regular weekly meetings with a faculty mentor to work on film and television projects, including development of MFA student demo reels.  The course is designed as a forum for MFA students to present, discuss and critique various projects in progress as a part of their studies, and to serve as a resource/informational agency for making students aware of professional opportunities for their careers.  Students are required both to submit their own work for review and to critique projects submitted by their peers.

Additionally MFA students are strongly encouraged to attend all Regent/Hollywood Connection meetings and to be able to discuss aspects of what was said at these meetings.  

 

Course Purposes and Competencies

1.    To provide students with a opportunity to present projects for class discussion and critique

2.    To view and discuss projects submitted for review by other members of the class.

3.    To provide ongoing feedback for MFA students on the direction and quality of specific projects submitted for review

4.    To help students recognize and identify the moral and spiritual implications within the film and television industry.

5.    To ensure that through reading the assigned textbook, MFA students have an allround knowledge of industry practices in the year 2008

 

Course Outcomes.

1.    Each student will have submitted their demo reel or other projects for class discussion and critique.  The rotation schedule will vary according to the number of students and the types of projects being addressed in the program.

2.    Each student will have offered comments and critiques of each other’s projects in either written or verbal form.

3.    Producing students will have learnt the key duties of a producer in preproduction and post production, their duties on set and location, and to know distribution demands

4.    Directing students will have learnt the key duties of a director in pre-visualization, on set performance, directing actors, and post production demands..

 

Qualifications to teach CTV638

1.Twenty six years of active directing and producing in 25 different countries worldwide.

2. Experience of working in a Hollywood studio and in many London studios.

3. Faculty diplomas from the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

4. Lifetime achievement award from the Redemptive Film Festival for services to the film and television industries 1959-2008.

5. Faculty advisor for 115 national and international student film awards