Note to students: While this syllabus is posted to give you an overview of the course, it is subject to change. Should you have further questions, please contact the UCLA Extension Entertainment Studies program at (310)825-9064 or via email at entertainmentstudies@uclaextension.edu. 479.613: The Art and Craft of Film Editing INSTRUCTOR: Scott Mazak CLASS TIME: fully online CLASSROOM: fully online OFFICE HOURS: M, W, SAT 6:00PM-7:00PM for general grading and emailing, or by appt. in Live Chat, Skype or phone if needed PREREQUISITES: None, but you need regular computer access to Canvas REQUIRED TEXT: The Invisible Cut: How Editors Make Movie Magic by Bobbie O'Steen RECOMMENDED TEXT: Grammar of the Edit 2nd Ed. by Christopher J. Bowen, Roy Thompson Recommended: YouTube access for clips, Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/iTunes access for film viewing COURSE OBJECTIVE: Whether you plan to study editing further or edit your own films in the future, this class is designed to give you a solid base in film editing history, aesthetics, craft and theory. You will study the history and technology of film editing, examine the process of editing a film, and closely analyze and evaluate how editing helps films make meaning through the reordering of image and sound. You will examine the demands of the major film genres on the craft of editing, focus on how editing is used together with mise en scene and cinematography to achieve effects, and analyze the approaches of major film editors. Ultimately, you will gain not only a sense of film editing history and theory, but also an appreciation for the art and craft of film editing by watching and analyzing a variety of films. Notice - Student Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of the history, aesthetic principles, and craft of film editing. Identify the important editing styles and trends of major film editors. Demonstrate an understanding of the expressive capability of film editing as an art and craft. Notice Objectives: by taking this editing class:
You will be able to take more advanced film editing classes, including history, aesthetic, critical, and theoretical classes. You will compile a storehouse of basic terms and concepts about the art, craft, history and theory of editing. You will be able to apply the knowledge gained in this class toward figuring out why certain films have emotional and intellectual power through their editing. You will be able to practice determining how specific editors achieve their effects and judging whether or not they are masters of their craft. You will learn to express your opinions about film editing in a professional way that other filmmakers and film lovers will appreciate and understand. EVALUATION: 5 points: First Week Introductions and Editing Experience Survey (2.5 points each) 80 points: Discussion Board Scene Analysis Assignments/Alternatives (8 at 10 pts. each) 15 points: 3 Quizzes (10 questions each at.5 pt. each) 100 points: Total Grading scale: A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 60-69 F: 0-59 COURSE SCHEDULE: All clips will be shown on an embedded player inside the course or from a web streaming site. Clips and readings are subject to change. It would be a good idea to watch the whole films, but watching at least the clips is required. We will closely analyze specific scenes, shots, edit points and frames, so having watched the whole film before class is a good idea. Week 1 January 5-11: Read for this week: Chs. 1,2,3,4,7,11,12, Week 1 online material. Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about general scope of the class, basic editing rules. You can watch The Cutting Edge if you like, as it is a great film on this topic - strictly voluntary, though. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 1 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze favorite post-1950s modern sound scene or Week 2 Jan 12-18: Read for this week: Chs. 1,2,3,4,7,11,12, Week 2 online material.
Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about science and technology of film, history of editing. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 2 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze favorite pre-1930s silent scene or Week 3 Jan 19-25: Read for this week: Chs. 1,2,3,4,7,11,12, Week 3 online material. Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about workflow, the production process and the different editing systems. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 3 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze favorite Classical Hollywood scene 1930s-50s or Take Quiz One online by Sunday 11:59pm. Week 4 Jan 26-February 1: Read for this week: Chs. 5,6,8, Week 4 online material Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about the editing process, the rules of Classical Continuity Cutting. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 4 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze favorite experimental or avant-garde film scene or Week 5 Feb 2-8: Read for this week: Ch 13 Comedy (recommend viewing The Graduate), Week 5 online material Classical Continuity Cutting. Analyzing The Graduate for comedy. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 5 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze a comedy scene or choose the Alternative Assignment. Week 6 Feb 9-15: Read for this week: Ch 13 Dialogue (recommend viewing 12 Angry Men), Week 6 online material Week's Online Activities:: Studying online lecture notes and clips about aspects of Classical Continuity Cutting. Analyzing 12 Angry Men for dialogue. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 6 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze a dialogue-driven dramatic scene or Take Quiz Two online by Sunday 11:59pm.
Week 7 Feb 16-22: Read for this week: Ch 13 Suspense/Mystery. (recommend viewing Rear Window and Chinatown), Week 7 online material Classical Continuity Cutting. Analyzing Rear Window and Chinatown for suspense/mystery. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 7 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze a suspense/mystery scene or choose the Alternative Assignment. Week 8 Feb 23-March 1: Read for this week: Ch 13 Action. (recommend viewing The French Connection), Week 8 online material Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about Classical Continuity Cutting. Analyzing The French Connection, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Body Heat for action. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 8 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze an action scene or choose the Alternative Assignment. Week 9 Mar 2-8: Read for this week: Ch 13 Montage. (recommend viewing A Hard Day s Night and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), Week 9 online material Classical Continuity Cutting. Analyzing A Hard Day's Night, The Big Chill and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for montage. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 9 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze a montage or choose the Alternative Assignment. Take Quiz Three online by Sunday 11:59pm. Week 10 Mar 9-15: Read for this week: Chs 9,10, Week 10 online material Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about the locked cut, handover, scoring, spotting and sound editing. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 10 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze sound editing for a scene or choose the Alternative Assignment. Week 11 Mar 16-22: Read for this week: Week 11 online material
Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about visual effects, color correction, titles, mattes and greenscreen. Post to Online Discussion Board for Week 11 by Saturday 11:59pm, reply to one other student s post by Sunday 11:59pm: Analyze visual effects editing for a scene or Week 12 Mar 23-25: Read for this week: Week 12 online material Week's Online Activities: Studying online lecture notes and clips about preview screening, film doctoring, delivery, authoring and outputting, compression, distribution and exhibition. No Online Discussion Board Post due for Week 12. Take Quiz Four by WEDNESDAY MARCH 25 11:59pm. This week the quiz is earlier than normal due to the end of the Winter Quarter date.