School of Radio & Television Arts

BDC 201: MEDIA PRODUCTION II

Introduction to Electronic Field Production (EFP)
Winter 2011
Note: this is the EFP half of BDC 201; TV Studio is the other half and has a
separate syllabus.

Class: Lecture: Mondays 6-8. VIC 203

Labs: Tues. 9-1, Tues. 3-7, Wed. 9-1, 2-6, Fri. 12-4. RCC 361

Instructors: Helga-Liz Haberfellner (Lecture Mon. 6-8, Labs Wed. 9-1 & 2-6)
Email: hhaberfi@ryerson.ca - BDC 201 & Section No. in subject line please
Office Location: Cubicle 117, inside RCC 104 Office Hours: by appointment

Rob Carver (Labs Wed.9-1 & 3-7)

Email: rcarver@ryerson.ca BDC 201 & Section No. in subject line please
Office Location: RCC 104 Office Hours: by appointment

Scott Brown (Lab Fri. 12-4)

Email: s8brown@ryerson.ca BDC 201 & Section No. in subject line please
Phone: 416-757-4806 (voicemail)
Office Location: Cubicle 117, inside RCC 104 Office Hours: by appointment

Lab Assistants: Yoav Bales-Kogan ext. 7012 kogan@ryerson.ca (Tues. 9-1 & Wed. 2-6)
Shaun Axani ext. 7012 saxani@ryerson.ca (Wed. 9-1)
Zach Cox ext. 7012 z2cox@ryerson.ca (Tues 3-7
Brian Withers ext. 7525 bwithers@ryerson.ca (Fri. 12-4)
Ryan Sykes ext. 7012 rsykes@ryerson.ca

About the Course

Course description from the Ryerson University course calendar:

Students will gain a practical working knowledge of operational techniques, including hands-on
equipment training with cameras and editing equipment. Emphasis will be also placed on crew
roles and responsibilities. Theory lectures will analyze the process of communicating information
and emotion through visuals and sound. Production planning techniques will be taught to help
students organize their creative ideas.
Lect: 2 hrs./Lab: 4 hrs.
Corequisites: BDC 202 and BDC 211
Course Weight: 2.00

Course Goals:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to execute the planning, shooting & editing of a basic
single camera video production in a visually creative & technically proficient manner.

1
Weekly Outline - LECTURE
Week Topic/Activities:
1: Jan. 10 In-class:
Syllabus
8: Mar. 7 Intro to EFP Part 1:
 Single Camera vs. Studio, Production terminology
 Basic shots, composition, framing, screen direction
 Axis of interaction, visualization, sequencing

Homework:
Readings from Zettl textbook: Chapters 4, 5, and 6
(Note: these have been provided for you as a PDF on Blackboard in case you haven‟t
gotten a text book yet. Future readings will not be provided on Blackboard.)
2: Jan. 17 In-class:
Quiz 1: The Camera
9: Mar. 14 Lecture: “The Paperless Set – NOT!”
 Demonstrate creation of preproduction paperwork
 Script blocking, storyboards, call sheets, scale diagrams
 Intro to editing: concept, workflow
 Guest lecture: Paul Andrew – Master Editor

Homework:
Readings from Zettl on Editing: pgs 248-256, pgs 264-275
3: Jan. 24 In-class:
Quiz 2: Editing
10: Mar. Intro to EFP Part 2:
21  Preparing for the shoot
 Blocking, shooting styles
 Controlled, semi controlled and uncontrolled action

Homework:
Readings from Zettl on Field Production: pgs 323-335, 363-373, 389-395
4: Jan. 31 In-class:
Quiz 3: Field Production
11: Mar. Lecture: Inside the Frame
28  Composition & mood
 Simple art direction

Homework:
Readings from Zettl on Editing: Chapter 13
5: Feb. 7 In-class:
Quiz 4: Editing (2)
12: Apr. 4 Lecture: It‟s a Team Sport
 The crew
 Complex sequence development
 The Walk sequence
6: Feb. 14
In-class:
13:
Final Cut Pro Quiz
Apr.11
Feb 21-25 READING WEEK – GROUP 1 ONLY

2
7: Feb. 28 Turn Around Week

Weekly Outline - LAB

Week Topic/Activities:
1: Jan. In-class:
11-14 Review Syllabus and course structure
Introduction to Panasonic cameras & camera techniques
8: March In-class practice : shoot a work sequence (fold a paper airplane)
7-11 Homework:
1. Review camera tutorial – RTA Online (under „Organizations‟ in Blackboard)
2. Preview Final Cut Pro tutorial – RTA Online
2: Jan. In-class:
17-21 Final Cut Pro workshop
Homework:
9: March 1. Complete Assignment 1 (edit “Ma Rants”). Each student must complete this
14-18 individually. – due Week 4 (Group 1) / Week 10 (Group 2)
2. Preproduction paperwork for Assignment 2 - “Ticket to Freedom”:
Script and paperwork shell provided. Students to block script, storyboard and
shot list and print props. One set of paperwork due per production group. Bring
paperwork in hard copy to next lab class. – due Week 4 (Group 1) / Week 10
(Group 2).
3: Jan. In-class:
24-28 Screen selected “Ma Rants” assignments
Review Paperwork for Assign. 2 “Ticket to Freedom”
10: March Shoot Assignment 2 “Ticket to Freedom”
21-25 Transcode footage, start edit. (last 30 mins)
Homework:
1. Finish editing Assignment 2 “Ticket to Freedom” -- due Week 5 (Group 1) / Week
11 (Group 2) in lab class.
2. Preproduction Paperwork for Assignment 3 (“Solitaire”) – due 48 hours before
your next lab class, uploaded to Blackboard.
4: Jan 31 In-class:
- Feb. 4 Screen/critique Assignment 2 “Ticket to Freedom”
Shoot Assignment 3 “Solitaire”
11: March Homework:
28-31 1. Finish editing Assignment 3 “Solitaire” – due Week 6 (Group 1) / Week 12 (Group
2) in lab class
2. Preproduction Paperwork for Assignment 4 (your own script) – due 48 hours
before your next lab class. This paperwork package will be graded.
5: Feb. 7- In-class:
11 Screen/critique Assignment 3
Review prep/paperwork for Assignment 4
12: Apr. 1 Shoot Assignment 4 (one additional camera booking outside of class available if desired)
-8 Homework:
1. Finish shooting & editing Assignment 4 – due Week 7 (Group 1) / Week 13 (Group
2) in lab class
2. Prep for FCP & Camera test
6: Feb. In-class:
14-18 Screen/critique Assignment 4
Final Cut Pro Practical Test
13: Camera Test (Group 2 only)
April 11-
3
 15
READING WEEK (GROUP 1 ONLY)
7: Feb 28- Camera Test (Group 1 only)
Mar 4 Turn Around Week TBD

Evaluation – EFP half of BDC 201

Assignment Value Due

Individual
1 – Editing “Ma Rants” Pass/fail Week 4/10 at beginning of lab class

Partners
Week 5/11 – submit 3 hours before lab
2 – “Ticket to Freedom” video 10%
class

Partners Week 6/12 – submit 3 hours before lab

3 – “Solitaire” video 10%
class
Production group
Paperwork Assignment 4 10% Week 6/12 – 24 hours before lab class

4 – Work/Walk/Talk video Partners Week 7/13 – submit 3 hours before lab

20%
(students‟ own script) class
Quizzes/tests in lecture 30% Individual Weekly at beginning of lecture

Camera Test 5% Individual Week 7/13 in lab class

Final Cut Pro Test 5% Individual Week 7/13 in lecture class

Participation 10% Individual

Note: Your final grade in EFP will be averaged together with your final grade from TV Studio to produce your overall
grade for BDC 201.

Assignments
Please see Blackboard for detailed explanation of all assignments for the course.

Assignments are due at the beginning of class and paperwork is due 24 hours before your shoot day.
Your instructor will tell you how they want it submitted.

Participation

Lateness and absenteeism will not be tolerated. Due to the group-based nature of this course, your total
participation and involvement is required. More than one absence will result in a participation mark of
ZERO. If you are absent because of illness, a doctor‟s note is required. You will also be graded on your
participation in the deconstruction/critique process in class and during the lectures.

Required Text & Materials

4
  Video Basics 6 by Herbert Zettl packaged with the DVD Zettl Video Lab 3.0 Wadsworth
Publishing Co. (at the Ryerson Bookstore). This text is also required for the TV Studio half of this
course.
 External Hard Drive w/ Firewire 800 and 7200RPM to edit course work. No USB key is required
 Headphones with 1/8 inch mini plug

Communication
 Students are required to maintain and monitor their Ryerson email account.
 All email communication for this course will be via this account - Put BDC 201 the in subject line.
 USE BLACKBOARD! Students are required to monitor Blackboard for updates and discussions
regarding assignments and schedule changes.
 To maximize benefit to all students, all questions not of a personal nature should be directed to the
BDC 201 discussion forum on Blackboard. Instructors/lab assistants will not respond directly to
emails of this nature.

Equipment and Editing

Shooting:
 All exercises and assignments are to be shot during your regular lab time class
 For Assignment 3 only, one additional camera booking of 5 hours is available.
 For this lab you will be using Panasonic HMC150 high definition cameras
 Cameras/Tripods are booked through the Equipment Distribution Centre
 Equipment can be booked in 5-hour blocks
 It is your responsibility to check your gear before you leave the equipment lockup. You will be held
responsible for damage or loss.
 If cancellations of bookings are not made at least 24 hours in advance or the equipment is returned
late – fines will be imposed as per the Equipment Distribution Centre policy.
 Fines of $50 per group will be levied if shooting locations are not returned to state they were in
when the shoot began.
 If you use props/sets be sure to put them back properly and keep the prop room clean and
organized. Also, all props and sets need to be signed out and in.

Shooting Locations
 Assignments 1, 2 and 3 require that each production team shoot in a separate location. Several
locations are available to be booked on a first come first served basis.
 RCC 361,164C, RCC 194 and one of the RTA Studios: These locations are booked in person on a
first come first serve basis ON BLACKBOARD/Discussion Board/Location Booking Forum.
 Even if you are shooting in a public area or have booked via the EDC, it is still a good idea to post
your shoot location and date/time on the Discussion Forum to avoid conflicts.

Lighting and Audio

 Supplementary lighting and audio kits are not available for use in this course, however these two
components are still extremely important in your productions.
 There will be a strong emphasis placed on finding appropriate locations with the best available light
and low background noise.

5
Editing:
 All projects will be edited in your own time in either RCC 229 (the Digital Media Workshop) or the
Apple Learning Lab using Final Cut Pro (7.0.1). Both of these facilities operate on a drop-in basis.
 We discourage the use of personal edit systems due to compatibility issues between software
versions. Should you decide to cut on your own system then it is up to you to ensure the workflow.
Do a test to be sure you can get your project off your system and into ours so you can upload it to
the required folder. We will do our utmost to help you with workflow and software compatibility
issues, but ultimately it is your problem and your fault if there are difficulties or things don‟t work out.
Note: Workflow issues will not be accepted as an excuse for failure to hand in your project
or for late projects. Workflow is the responsibility of everyone in the group.
 Always use your personal firewire hard drive to edit/store your material. Never store material on
the lab drives. The lab computers are wiped clean after you log off.

Back-up ALL your files to your own hard drive/USB key. You are solely responsible for the
protection/loss of your material.

Appendix (General information for all RTA students)

Student Codes of Conduct
All students are required to adhere to all relevant University policies, such as the Student Code of Non-
Academic Conduct (see http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol61.pdf ) and the Student Code of
Academic Conduct (see http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf).

The Ryerson University Undergraduate Course Calendar

This is your resource for all information relating to academics, including curriculum, course descriptions,
significant dates (including last date to drop a course without academic penalty), academic standings,
The Student Code of Academic & Non-Academic Conduct, etc. The Ryerson University Undergraduate
Course Calendar is available online at http://www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/calendars/.

The RTA Student Handbook site:

The RTA Student Handbook site at http://www.ryerson.ca/rta/handbook/ is full of useful information,
including course outlines for most courses in RTA, advice on which courses to take, downloadable forms
(including release forms, TV plans & paperwork, etc), information about scholarships, advice on doing
great assignments, and more.

Blackboard Course Website

Blackboard is an online course tool which may include an online discussion board, course documents
such as the syllabus and lecture notes, announcements, an area where your grades are posted, etc. If
your professor has set up a Blackboard site for this course, you‟ll find it at http://my.ryerson.ca.

Your Ryerson Email Account:

The School of Radio and Television Arts will often send you important information by email (e.g.
scholarship information, reminders of important dates, notification of meetings and/or events, internship
opportunities and job postings, etc.). Correspondence from RTA and from your professors will be sent
ONLY to your Ryerson email account. It is your obligation to ensure that you activate your account
and check it regularly, or have it forwarded to an account you check regularly. Please use your
Ryerson account for sending emails to your professors, as there is less chance your email will get filtered
into a Junk Mail folder that way.
 To access your Ryerson email, select the “Web Mail” link under the “Hot Links” menu at
http://my.ryerson.ca. If you haven‟t used it before, you will have to activate your account using
the appropriate links

Notice to Students with Disabilities:

6
Students with any disability (e.g. learning, medical, physical, sensory), illness, or condition that requires
academic adaptations should discuss the situation with the professor and/or contact the Access Centre
(http://www.ryerson.ca/accesscentre).

Written Assignments:
All written assignments are expected to be properly formatted and cited using MLA style (unless
otherwise indicated by your professor). Guides and references for using MLA style can be found through
the Ryerson University Library as well as the Writing Centre. See
http://www.library.ryerson.ca/subjects/style/mla.html

English as a Second Language:

Ryerson University offers support to students who may require improvement in their overall English
language communication skills. Please visit English Language Support at
www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/els/

Accommodation of Student Religious Observance:

At the start of the term, students who have religious observance obligations which will lead to absences
from campus or academic activities during the semester should download the “Student Declaration of
Religious Observance” form from http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/relobservforminstr.pdf. Present a
copy of the form to the professor within the first two weeks of classes. The professor and student will
then consult to reach an agreement on a reasonable means to address the situation.

The Learning Success Centre:

The Learning Success Centre (http://www.ryerson.ca/learningsuccess) helps students make the transition
to university learning, develop sound learning strategies, and achieve their academic potential by
providing professional services in both traditional and virtual learning environments. The Learning
Success Centre offers free workshops for students such as:
 Time Management
 Learning from Lectures
 Preparing for Tests
 Writing Exams
 Dealing with Performance & Test Anxiety
 Writing a University Essay
 Delivering Effective Presentations

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is defined by the University as “claiming the words, ideas, artistry, drawings, images or data of
another person as if they were your own.” (Student Code of Academic Conduct, Ryerson University,
2006, p. 2). According to the Code, plagiarism includes:
i. copying another person‟s work (including information found on the Internet and unpublished
materials) without appropriate referencing;
ii. presenting someone else‟s work, opinions or theories as if they are your own;
iii. presenting another‟s substantial compositional changes to an assignment as your own;
iv. working collaboratively without permission of the instructor on an assignment, and then
submitting it as if it was created solely by you; or
v. submitting the same work, for credit, in two or more courses without the prior written
permission of the instructor(s). (Student Code of Academic Conduct, Ryerson University, 2006, p.
2.)
Usually one associates plagiarism with written works but it can include any work such as
photographs/artwork, Internet materials, video, audio, and digital media. The University penalties for
plagiarism can be severe, ranging from getting zero on the assignment up to, in cases of prior
academic dishonesty, suspension or expulsion. Please note that you may be required to submit
some or all of your written assignments to www.turnitin.com. Students who do not want their work
submitted to this plagiarism detection service must, by the end of the second week of class, consult with
the instructor to make alternate arrangements.

Useful links to help you understand and avoid plagiarism:

Ryerson‟s Academic Integrity web site: http://www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity/
7
Student Code of Academic Conduct policy: http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf

Cheating:
Cheating is defined by Ryerson University as:
i. using materials or aids not expressly allowed by the instructor in an examination or test;
ii. copying another person‟s answer(s) to an examination or test question; copying another
person‟s answers to individually assigned projects;
iii. consulting with another person or unauthorized materials outside of an examination room
during the examination period (e.g. discussing an exam or consulting materials during an
emergency evacuation or when permitted to use a washroom);
iv. improperly submitting an answer to a test or examination question completed, in whole or part,
outside the examination room unless specifically permitted by the examination format;
v. resubmitting altered test or examination work after it has already been evaluated;
vi. presenting falsified or fabricated material, including research results; or
vii. improperly obtaining, through deceit, theft, bribery, collusion or otherwise, access to
examination paper(s) or set of questions, or other confidential information.
(Student Code of Academic Conduct, Ryerson University, 2006, p. 2)

The University penalties for cheating can be severe, ranging from getting zero on the assignment
or test up to, in cases of prior academic dishonesty, suspension or expulsion.