Digital Multimedia

Digital Multimedia provides studio experience in multimedia concepts and techniques including video editing, compositing, motion graphic design, sound editing, and multimedia interface design through the creation of time-based works of art.

"Perhaps it sounds ridiculous, but the best thing that young filmmakers should do is to get hold of a camera and some film and make a movie of any kind at all."

Stanley Kubrick, Filmmaker

"I think the ad agencies saw very fresh and very innovative work coming from the flash design community and wanted some of that energy. At the same time us motion designers on the web are always drawing inspiration from film titles/broadcast commercials. So yes, from a design perspective it would seem as if the two mediums are feeding each other."

"It's a whole different story creating video for the web, because you have to condense information, telling your story in a tighter timeframe than broadcast and that is a challenge and really appeals to me."

Hillman Curtis, Filmmaker, Designer and Author

SYLLABUS:

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT LIST:

Assignment: Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Due:
1. Video Project Week 6
2. FINAL - Synopsis Week 7
3. FINAL - Treatment Week 8
4. FINAL - Story Reel Week 10
5. FINAL - R1 Draft Week 13
6. FINAL - R2 Draft Week 15
7. FINAL (DVD+Site) Week 17

CALENDAR:

WEEKLY SCHEDULE + DIGITAL ASSETS:

Click on the top bar for each week to expand or collapse the contents, or you can expand all weeks or collapse all weeks.

Week 1: Intro to the Course

Agenda:

  1. Introduction to the course
    • In this class we will go through in detail the design process of planning and designing time-based works of digital multimedia.
  2. Game plan for the semester
    • Overview of the syllabus
    • two projects, one small, one large
  3. We will take a look at student work from past years.

Presentation:

Class examples + related links:

Video Modal Window Examples:

Product Video Examples:

Web Site Features Video Examples:

Related Articles:

Other Related Resources:

Assignment: Video AssignmentDue: Week 6

  1. Set up your class web page.
  2. Go to the Adobe TV web site and view the intro lessons on CS5 Premiere.
  3. Skim the Adobe DV primer posted above.
  4. Start thinking about concept ideas for your video project.
Week 2: Intro to Digital Video

Agenda:

  1. Lessons:
    • How to export a H264 .mp4 file.
    • More control options for clips on the timeline (ie. keyframes)

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Video AssignmentDue: Week 3

  1. Familiarize yourself with the NMA stock video collection and audio library.
  2. Begin planning your video project. Start by writing down potential ideas, then come up with a concept to execute. Prepare to shoot your own video.
Week 3: Video Editing

Agenda:

  1. In-class Demo of Equipment

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Video ProjectDue: Week 6

  1. Continue working on your Video Assignment project.
Week 4: Video Editing

Agenda:

  1. Lesson: The Full DV Production Process
    1. Pre-Production
      • planning, writing, storyboarding
    2. Production
      • the shoot (using a tripod, basic camera settings)
    3. Post-Production
      • logging & capture (digitizing the video)
      • editing
      • adding effects (ie. duration, speed)
      • adding audio
      • distribution
      • exporting video clips
      • burning a dvd

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Video ProjectDue: Week 6

  1. If you haven't done so already, you should be shooting video and capturing/logging it this week.
  2. If you haven't done so already, you should already have the basic framework of your project in Premiere, and in the process of putting together an initial rough cut/1st draft.
Week 5: Video Editing

Agenda:

  1. Work week: work on your video projects
    • There are no in-class, face-to-face meetings this week. The labs will be open for you to use during class time. If you have any questions for me, or would like feedback on your project thus far, please use Laulima's DIscussion Board area.
      • If it is a private question, you can either email me or use Laulima's "Private Messaage" feature within the DIscussion Board area.
      • If you wish for me to view your video for feedback, please post it on your class web server and either send me the url. If you want feedback from the class, post it as a public discussion board topic (with a link to the .mp4 file).
      • If you are experiencing larger, Premiere issues, either take screenshots of your problem and post a description of your problem on the discussion board, or, if your files aren't too large, you can try to zip up your entire project folder and post it to Laulima's Drop Box.
  2. Lesson: Intro to After Effects
    • Introduction to the AE interface & Workflow
    • Working with Compositions and common AE panels
    • Rendering and exporting from AE

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Video ProjectDue: Week 6

  1. Watch all of the above Adobe TV video lessons on After Effects.
  2. By now you should be done with your principal production (gathering music + video, shooting video, recording audio, etc.) and working on your editing, sound design, and over-all polish (post-production). If you have questions for me, please use Laulima or email me directly.
  3. Please post your final video file as a .mp4 (H264) on your class web page for Tuesday's class next week.
Week 6: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Critique: video projects
  2. Intro to Final Project
    • Review of the Pre-production Process
      • logline » synopsis » outline » treatment » script » storyboard » story reel/animatic
    • What is a synopsis?
      • A synopsis is a brief summary/plot breakdown of a story. Typcially it should be no longer than one to two pages (often cases a few paragraphs will suffice). Where a logline/tagline summarises the story in one sentence, and a treatment shows more of a scene-by-scene outline of a film, the synopsis lies somewhere in between and is often requested to explain time-based media projects.
    • What is the purpose?
      • To define and communicate your conceptual idea concisely before you begin production.
  3. Lesson:
    • After Effects Basics
    • Text Animation Techniques in After Effects

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Final Project - SynopsisDue: Week 7

  1. Write up a synopsis describing your final project idea. Consider beginning some of the other pre-production planning steps such as writing up an outline, a treatment, a script, and a storyboard.
  2. Post your synopsis online on your class web page (ie. in pdf format).

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia Project [FINAL]Due: Week 17

  1. Start thinking of project ideas for your final.
  2. Heads up: Next due dates are Week 8 (treatment) and Week 10 (tests/story reel) [MIDTERM CRITIQUE]
    • MIDTERM critique deliverables:
      1. Visual Tests - be prepared to show a series of visual tests as evidence of your design process.
      2. Story Reel - put your treatment/storyboard into motion and add preliminary music to create a time-based piece that demonstrates the full story (beginning, middle, and end).
Week 7: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Brainstorm: final project ideas
  2. Continuing the Final Project
    • Review of the Pre-production Process
      • logline » synopsis » outline » treatment » script » storyboard » story reel/animatic
    • What is a treatment?
      • The definition varies - all depending upon the project and the filmmaker, but in many cases a treatment is similar to an early/abbreviated storyboard in that it uses a comnination of text and visual sketches to show a scene-by-scene outline of a film. In our case, you must describe the full story, or concept, of your time-based project. Depending upon your project, it might be better served as mostly text written in a story/paragraph format, or it might be best communicated as a series of sketches or storyboards. It can also be experimentally crafted, ie. a visual map with accompanying text or legend, or any combination of the above or other method that communicates the full story/concept of the project.
    • What is the purpose?
      • To write-out your idea before you begin production.
      • To define the scope of your project (how much time it will take to produce, duration of final product, etc.).
      • To establish a conceptual framework and a game plan that you can stick to over the next couple of weeks.
  3. Lesson:
    • Line Animation Techniques in After Effects

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Final Project - TreatmentDue: Week 8

  1. Write up a detailed treatment with storyboard frames. Your treatment must contain storyboard frames.
  2. Post your treatment online on your class web page (ie. in pdf format).

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia Project [FINAL]Due: Week 17

  1. Consider also creating other pre-production elements such as a detailed outline, a shot list, character/scene sketches, a full written script, and a more detailed storyboard.
  2. Start conducting a series of visual tests to determine the visual style of your final piece. Be prepared to show some visual tests to me in the coming weeks.
  3. Heads up: Next due date is Week 10 [MIDTERM CRITIQUE]
    • MIDTERM critique deliverables:
      1. Visual Tests - be prepared to show a series of visual tests as evidence of your design process.
      2. Story Reel - put your treatment/storyboard into motion and add preliminary music to create a time-based piece that demonstrates the full story (beginning, middle, and end).
Week 8: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Informal review of final project ideas to date (synopsis + treatment).
  2. Continuation of HTML5 lesson: how to place video into html via Video.js.
  3. Continuation of After Effects tips & tricks.

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Final Project - Story ReelDue: Week 10

  1. Start working on your Story Reel/Animatic.
  2. Each person's story reel may be slightly different than others. The purpose of the story reel is to provide a time-based framework/test run of the full piece (beginning, middle, and end) that can act as an early look at the timing, pacing, and general tone of the piece. At the very least, a story reel should have a full audio track for the full duration of the piece and visuals of sketched storyboard frames (some may have parts in motion) to communicate the story.

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Conduct as many tests in After Effects as you can, then place small versions of your tests into an html page using HTML5 video and Video.js. See John Doe's AE Tests for an example.
  2. Heads up: Next due date is Week 10 [MIDTERM CRITIQUE]
    • MIDTERM critique deliverables:
      1. Visual Tests - be prepared to show a series of visual tests as evidence of your design process.
      2. Story Reel - put your treatment/storyboard into motion and add preliminary music to create a time-based piece that demonstrates the full story (beginning, middle, and end).
Week 9: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Final Project midterm goals + plans for Spring Break
    • Things that you should be working on include:
      • Mandatory:
        • The story reel! (due next week!)
        • Visual Tests to determine a) your visual style (including a typography exploration) and b) your animation style
      • Recommended:
        • Writing an exact/final script (for any dialogue, voice over, or text that will animate, such as the tag line).
        • Consider doing a full outline, shot list, and full storyboard.
        • If you haven't done so already, you should be creating all assets (graphics, vector versions of the logo, etc.)
        • Audio, Audio, Audio! You should have identified your primary audio/music by now. If you will be using voice over, do a recording of your voice as stand-in audio for your story reel.
  2. Mini lesson: how to put together a story reel
  3. In-class exercises: cut-out style animation and wiggle.

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Final Project - Story ReelDue: Week 10

  1. Continue working on your Story Reel.
  2. If you have space, post your story reel on your class web page as Flash video (.flv or .f4v). If you do not have space on your server, bring in your story reel in video format - either quicktime (.mov) or windows video (.avi).

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. AE Tests:
    • Do a cut-out animation (Guinness Commercial) and wiggle test in After Effects, then place your 320x240 tests into an html page on your AE Tests page.
  2. FINAL PROJECT: Continue working on your final project. Be prepared to present your story reel and all pre-preproduction development in-class in a critique-style format next week.
    • Pretend as if you are an ad agency and the client would like a mid-project report on what the design agency will be creating.
    • Be prepared to present any and all pre-production documentation
      • An updated synopsis and treatment is mandatory.
      • A full script, outline, shot list, and storyboard are helpful, but optional.
      • Post any visual tests that you have conducted to date. If you have not yet conducted any tests, post style examples for us to visualize what style animation you may be considering for your final project.
    • Use the elements from your storyboard to pre-visualize your final project set to time with audio by creating a story reel/animatic.
    • Story reels and visual style tests are due next week (week 10)!
Week 10: MID-TERM CRITIQUE

Agenda:

  1. Final Project Story Reel Critique
    • Approx. 10 minutes per person.
    • Order will be determined at 8am each class with an order sign-up on the white board.
    • Further feedback should be provided for your peers via Laulima under each persons's final project discussion area.
  2. Tuesday: half work day, half AE.
    • AE: Continuation of lesson that we didn't get to cover last week.

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Over the break continue working on your final project and consider making changes to your project that were suggested during the midterm critique.
  2. Begin working on your first drafts.
Week 11: NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK
  • ----- [ NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK ] -----
Week 12: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Work Week
    • Work on your First Round Drafts due next week.
    • In-class working time. Be sure to take advantage of in-class 1-1 support.
  2. After Effects Lessons:
    • Motion Tracking in AE
  3. Flash Video Lesson:
    • Brief Overview of Flash Video (advantages and disadvantages).
    • Playing multiple videos in one Flash video component.

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: First Round DraftDue: Week 13

  1. Please bring in a first round draft to class for an informal critique.

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Continue working on your final project.
  2. Be sure to begin thinking about the three components of your final project:
    1. Final Video (exported as either .mov, .avi, or .mp4).
    2. Final Video inside of a Web Interface (ie. a HTML microsite/micropage).
    3. Custom DVD Interface with Menu (that contains all of your class video projects).
Week 13: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. In-class review of 1st round drafts.
  2. In-class working time. Be sure to take advantage of in-class 1-1 support.
  3. Intro to Encore & how to create a custom DVD interface.

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Second Round DraftDue: Week 15

  1. Please bring in a second round draft to class in two weeks for an informal critique.

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Continue working on your final project.
  2. Be sure to be working on all three components of your final project:
    1. Final Video (exported as either .mov, .avi, or .mp4).
    2. Final Video inside of a Web Interface (ie. a HTML microsite/micropage).
    3. Custom DVD Interface with Menu (that contains all of your class video projects).
Week 14: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Work Week. Be sure to take advantage of in-class 1-1 support.
  2. Lesson: Video Modal Boxes
  3. Lesson: Brief Overview of Adobe Audio Tools

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Second Round DraftDue: Week 15

  1. Please bring in a second round draft to class next week for an informal critique.

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Continue working on your final project.
  2. Be sure to be working on all three components of your final project:
    1. Final Video (exported as either .mov, .avi, or .mp4).
    2. Final Video inside of a Web Interface (ie. a HTML microsite/micropage).
    3. Custom DVD Interface with Menu (that contains all of your class video projects).
Week 15: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Informal critique of 2nd round Drafts.
  2. In-class working time. Be sure to take advantage of in-class 1-1 support.

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Continue working on your final project.
    • In addition to working on your final video, be sure to balance working on your DVD and web interfaces.
  2. Be sure to be working on all three components of your final project:
    1. Final Video (exported as either .mov, .avi, or .mp4).
    2. Final Video inside of a Web Interface (ie. a HTML microsite/micropage).
    3. Custom DVD Interface with Menu (that contains all of your class video projects).
Week 16: Time-based Multimedia Project

Agenda:

  1. Full work week. Be sure to take advantage of in-class 1-1 support.
  2. Announcements:
    • Please fill out the online eCafe student course evaluation form.
    • The final project is due next week Tuesday. There will be no class next week Thursday.
    • After the critique, any revisions to the final project will be due by the following Tuesday after the final critique.

Class examples + related links:

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Continue working on your final project.
    • At this point you should be done or putting the final touches on your final video and working on your DVD and web interfaces.
  2. Be sure to complete all three components of your final project:
    1. Final Video (exported as either .mov, .avi, or .mp4).
    2. Final Video inside of a Web Interface (ie. a HTML microsite/micropage).
    3. Custom DVD Interface with Menu (that contains all of your class video projects).
Week 17: FINAL CRITIQUE

Agenda:

  1. In-class Final Critique.
    • 10 minutes per person.
    • Order will be determined at 8am with an order sign-up on the white board.
    • Further feedback should be provided for your peers via Laulima under each persons's final project discussion area.
  2. Announcements:
    • Please fill out the online eCafe student course evaluation form.
    • No class on Thursday
    • After the critique, any revisions to the final project are due by next week Tuesday.

Assignment: Time-based Multimedia ProjectDue: Week 17

  1. Three components of your final project due this week:
    1. Final Video (exported as either .mov, .avi, or .mp4).
    2. Final Video inside of a Web Interface (ie. a HTML microsite/micropage).
    3. Custom DVD Interface with Menu (that contains all of your class video projects).
Search:

Find it fast.

Class info:

Digital Multimedia
KCC | New Media Arts
Spring 2010
Kopiko 202
T :: 8:00 am - 10:30 am
Instructor: Chris Gargiulo
Office: Olapa 225

Laulima:

Laulima is the online course management web site for the University of Hawai‘i. Login to visit this course's online resources such as the discussion board, chat room, and drop box.

Student sites:

Below is a list of student web pages for each student enrolled in this course.

Client Options:

Below are links to documentation that I have recieved from potential clients interested in having students work on their site as part of this class.

Helpful Links:

Below is a list of online resources related to this course.

Past Final Projects:

Below is a list of completed projects created in past classes in Digital Multimedia.