University of Puerto Rico 1 COMA 4015a: Film Seminar (3 credits) Art Direction for cinema ( Section: 0U1) Prof.: Noelia Quintero Herencia - August 2018 noeliaquintero@gmail.com Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10:00 AM to 11:50 AM Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 AM Room: PLAZU 6034N (North Tower Plaza Universitaria) I. Description of the seminar : This seminar is a detailed study of the conglomerate of ideas and roles that occur in an Art Department of an audiovisual production. The seminar will provide the student the essential tools for the journey from the development of a visual investigation to the realization and integration of these contents in a specific audiovisual product. Each study also contains a theoretical basis on the practices of looking and the new ways to consume content. The student will study the different functions and responsibilities of the Art Department in each of the stages of a cinematographic production and will obtain skills to analyze and investigate audiovisual productions like movies, series and photography. Emphasis will be placed on the study of films and series where the direction of art has a symbolic value or of distinguishable or representative production. II. Goals: A. Study the functions of the different roles that interact within a Department of art B. Study the concept of audiovisual design and research and its applicability in different practices visual and symbolic elements in C. Comparative, aesthetic and symbolic analysis of the elements that are integrated and correlate in the "visual concept" of a movie or a series. D. Offer tools for the conceptual, historical and discursive analysis of the Directorate of Art in movies, photographs and television series. E. Analysis of the role of each department integrated in the Art Direction (Manager of Locations, Costumes, Decorators, Painters, Architects / Draughtsmen) among others. F. Develop basic techniques for the design of sets, management of locations, sketches for storyboards, sampling of textiles and color palettes, runways, treatments, descriptions and blocking of actors in scenes among others. III. Evaluation and requirements :
University of Puerto Rico 2 5 Exercises and practices (30%): Each week the student will perform an exercise, work in a group or complete a practical test. With at least a week of anticipation the professor will announce the necessary details for the realization of each exercise. Exercises outside the designated date and time will not be accepted. Is Student's responsibility to maintain and deliver their materials up to date. A part important of the evaluation of these exercises is the written analysis of the readings assigned in the seminar. The vast majority of these exercises will be presented in a oral to the group. 2 partial exams (30%): There will be two partial exams during the semester. Final project: (30%): One or two final projects will be carried out (depending on size) of the group) that will cover the different thematic axes studied in the class. For each project the professor will give a guide. Attendance (10%): Class attendance is required. If the student is absent for more than three times in the semester without excuse or just cause, the final grade will be subtracted ten (10%) percent. Tardiness and cell phone use : Punctuality is required, three tardies equal one absence. Cell phones are not allowed during the class. Teaching Materials and Methodology : Readings in the Reserve Room. Textbooks and online readings. Use of computers in the seminar for browsing and viewing scenes and scenery. Analysis of movies, magazines, videos and pages related to cinema. Assigned readings in the Reserve room of the Lázaro Library and other online resources produced by the professor. The students they will participate in daily conferences, visits of professionals of the environment, group exercises, group work in design and direction of art, analysis of photographs, magazines, films and series, development of creative work materials such as storyboards, treatments, location design, costume design, character development and runways, among others Sketch and Program of the seminar I. Beyond the Mise-en-scene: Art Direction and Production Design in audiovisual production today A. Introduction to the seminar B. History of Art, Film History: Visual Perception and Cultural Significance C. Basic Concepts and Structure of Production Design and the Department of Art within an audiovisual production i. Key Departments ii. Functions by Departments
University of Puerto Rico 3 iii. Stage production functions D. Visual Culture and Design for Cinema i. Object ii. The body, the form and the stage iii. The atmosphere and tone iv. Architecture and Cinema E. Exercises and presentations Readings assigned in the COPU Library Reserve room and other resources digital Compulsory readings: Deleuze, Gilles, (1994) "The image-movement", Editions Paidós; p.1-66 ( 1994) Maher, Michael. (2015) " The Art Department: Design, Construction, Decor, and Props ", The Beat (Premiun Beat) https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/the-artdepartment-design-construction-decor-and-props / Pier Paolo Passollini speaks, Criterion Collection, https://youtu.be/5ia1bs1mrzw Berger, John. Ways of seeing, 1972. Key dates of delivery of Exercises and exams Monday, September 5 (Visual investigation) Wednesday, September 12 (Pre-produce) Wednesday, September 24 (Portraits) Wednesday, September 26 (Partial exam) II. Production Design and Art Direction a. Design b. Roles and Flowchart within a film production c. Production Designer d. Art Director e. Costume Design f. Design of Set g. Make up and hairstyle h. VFX Visual effects and SFX Special effects i. Location Manager
University of Puerto Rico 4 j. Assistants by Departments k. Exercises and presentations III. Dialectic of Art and Space: Direction, Art and Character Creation a. Federico Fellini (Dante Ferreti) b. Pier Paolo Passollini (Dante Ferreti) c. Stanley Kubrick d. Wes Anderson e. Art Direction and character development Filmography and readings for exercises Tim Burton, Batman (1989) Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Federico Fellini, City of Women, (1980) Pier Paolo Passolini, Decameron (1971) Port: Film, " Dante Ferreti: Dreams of Fellini ", http://www.port-magazine.com/film/dante-ferretti-dreams-of-fellini/ Sturken, M. and Cartwright L., (2001) " Pratices of Looking: Images, Power, an Politics ", Oxford University Press, pgs, 10-45 THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL Featurette: " Creating a Hotel ", Wes Anderson interview, https://youtu.be/gymfekelveq Whorange, " Scripted: An Illustrated and Interactive Moonrise Kingdom ", 01.24.2013 http://www.whorange.net/whorange/2013/01/scripted-an-illustrated-and-interactive-monr ise-kingdom.html Insdorf, Annette, " Just What Production Designers Do ", New York Times, 1984 https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/arts/just-what-production-designers-do.html Key Dates Delivery of Exercises and Partial Exam Monday, October 1 Wednesday, October 3 October 17 Partial Exam IV. From the creative process to the production A. The formulation of ideas and visual and creative research B. Visual elements, objects and emotions
C. Writing and narratives of color and form 1) Treatment 2) Escaleta 3) Script D. Pre-production E. Production University of Puerto Rico 5 Filmography and readings Quentin Tarrantino, Pulp Fiction (1994) Stanley Kubrick, The Shinning (1980) Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather II (1974) Key Dates delivery of exercises and final Project October 24th 31 October November 5th December 10 and 12 (final presentations) The professor will announce the additional readings for this section. The dates and contents of this syllabus are subject to change.