Progress Report

1) I have come from not having an idea of what type of movie I want to make - to writing my script. It came in around 30 pages long so I'm shooting for a 30-40 minute movie. I have also started to cast and find some locations, I have not found either yet but I have emailed places to shoot and sent out some casting calls. I'm also in the beginning stages of storyboarding.

2) I have been in contact with my mentor at least 6 or 7 times. We meet almost every week for about an hour or so. We have discussed what I'd like to accomplish with my movie and when I want to get it done. We have discussed my project timeline and added some goals that I need to get done.

3) My timeline has changed a little bit. I have pushed back the storyboarding because it took me longer to complete my script that I anticipated. The good thing is that I can work on casting and locations with my story and script in its 2nd draft. I need to wait for the final revision before I can start storyboarding but, I believe that I'm still on track to shoot on the date that I wanted to start, as long as casting works out.

4) Before my N499 course starts I need to take care of all of the pre-production. I want to head into my capstone class ready to shoot. I need to find actors, get locations, finish storyboarding, get my shooting scripts done, scout locations, and get the equipment ready that I will need.

5) I think that the biggest change to my project is that the story completely changed. Originally I was doing a heist style action movie, not really my cup of tea but I had the idea for a story. After numerous attempts to write this script, I realized it wasn't working for me, with the help of my mentor I was able to come up with a story that I really enjoyed and is really motivating me to get done because I actually want to watch it. The biggest change was story, genre, and locations.

Project Timeline

The way that I went about putting my timeline together was that I first wrote down everything that I could think of that would need to be done to create a short film. The idea was to start from writing the script, to securing actors, doing the storyboards all the way to shooting and post production. Since I am making a short film, there aren't any major milestones that I feel stick out more than the others, so I tried to include what I wanted to have done each week of every month until April. I built in a few weeks where I expect to have more done at that point, like giving myself a month for a final cut, not including color correction or anything like that. I expect myself to have it done in two weeks but, if I need the time, it is there for me. I also would like to shoot in 3 weeks instead of 4, this all depends on actor availability and that is why I added an extra week or two to shoot. I feel that all the dates I gave myself and manageable and that is why I put so many dates down to get what I would like to get done each week.

Project Development Issues

I've been trying to plan ahead as much as possible for my capstone. Unfortunately, time moves faster than my planning. I believe my biggest issue is going to be time, I feel that time should be everyones biggest issue. I realize that sometimes you just HAVE to get things done and that time will become irrelevant when you get to that point. The time issues I forsee myself running into is getting my script done in enough time that allows me to have sufficient time to do the rest of my pre production. I'm a little concerned with the budget, but I already own a camera and audio equipment, so the bulk of my budget will go to feeding the crew and any props that we would need, as well as gas to get to different locations. Another thing I may have to end up paying for is some sort of music for my video. The biggest aspect of how time is my largest problem is based off of the other people working in this project. Everything that I'm having an issue with right now, is on me. It is my responsibility and I can control how fast or how long something takes me. Everyone else helping with my movie has their own schedules. This is going to be the biggest obstacle to overcome, to get all of the actors I need for each scene at the same time the scene is shot, get them for the whole day, and have them drive to wherever I need them to go. I suppose that could be filed under team issues as well. My mentor and I are working well together so I don't see that being a problem later on. Just mainly resources and time. Resources being, the people in my movie. The best thing I can do for now is get a schedule down for myself and get the schedule for everyone working in it and hope that they adhere to it.

Secondary Mentor

I believe that a secondary mentor should be mandatory. I don't think that one mentor could give you as much insight onto your project as maybe two or three different mentors could. It is always good to get outside information from someone who might not have as much invested into the project. I would like a secondary mentor that can bring something else to the table for another facet of the project. You can find a secondary mentor anywhere, they don't necessarily need to be a MAS faculty member. For me personally, I would like someone like Mark Pfaff to be my secondary mentor. I feel that I could really utilize his knowledge and experience for the sound design of my video project. I could use anyone dealing with audio though, like Todd Shelton. I would also like to look to someone else for idea conception or art direction so I could look into someone like Beth Lykins or Steve Mannheimer or even perhaps look into other departments around campus.

Mentor Profile

The basis of my capstone is to make a narrative film. The story I am in the process of writing is a modern take on film noir, with resemblance to movies like Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two smoking barrels. The length of the movie will probably be around the 20-30 minute mark, but I'm not trying to constrain myself to a time frame, if it ends up being longer then I'll welcome the long nights.

4 components I am searching for in a mentor are someone that has worked in the field, someone that will tell me something I want to do won't work and can back it up, someone that can give me a decent amount of one on one time, and someone that understands my vision.

Three potential mentors that would fit my profile are Thomas Lewis, Susan Tennant, and Edgar Huang. They are the faculty that do most of the video in MAS. They could all bring different aspects of their divisions of video to my capstone. Each one of them has their own style and their focus of what video is and what it should be used for. I'm interested in working with Thomas because he has narrative film experience and I'm interested in working with Susan or Edgar because they could give me a different perspective than someone that may have been in the industry of narrative filming.

INTERVIEWS:

Thomas Lewis

Area of expertise

My area of expertise is video production. My particular interest is image acquisition, both with regard to camera and lighting. As far as video production is concerned, I have extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of production/post-production in both documentary and narrative.

What are your expectations of a capstone student?

My expectations are that students choose a project that is both technically and conceptually challenging. The capstone is a project that embodies the culmination of the learning experience and must demonstrate, not only a thorough technical knowledge, but also a creative and original application of skills as exhibited in a sophisticated and conceptually solid approach to the subject.

In the process of working on the Capstone, students should be prepared to delve deeply into the subject of their project with an attitude that will open them to various technical and conceptual possibilities with regard to how a subject is represented and/or information conveyed. After the groundwork of subject and approach is established, capstone students should be prepared to dedicate countless hours of hard work. Ideally this dedication will result in a project that surpasses the initial expectations of both student and mentor.

What is your general availability for mentoring next semester?

I teach a four course load and typically have several capstone/independent study students. This leaves me with somewhat limited availability.

Do you have any project types you are not interested in working with?

I am interested in working with most types of video production: Documentary, Narrative, Installation, and Animation. I will not accept certain genres of narrative such as horror or zombie movies. And l do not consider a music video to be a sufficient capstone project.

Do you have any thoughts on who would be a good secondary mentor?

Both Susan Tenant and Edgar Huang teach video production.


Anything else you might want to add

I am interested in working with students who are intensely passionate about their capstone; students who will eat, drink and sleep their capstones; students who have high expectations of themselves and will not rest until their capstone is the fullest representation of the best of their abilities.


Susan Tennant

What is my area of expertise?

documentation of cultural heritage, documentary video production, sculpture and physical object assemblage

What are your expectations of a capstone student?

to finish the project as professionally as possible, Meet all deadlines and be committed to their capstone.
Are you available for mentoring next semester? Yes

Are there any project types besides music videos that you are not interested in working with?

I prefer documentary over features. I cant program but I can work on the front end of interaction design projects. I also dont consider trailers as a capstone merited project

Do you have any recommendations for a secondary mentor?

someone who is not in the direct media but knowledgeable about the way the media is used.

Anything else you might want to add?

its good that you are working through these logistics prior to your capstone semester. Good luck

Edgar Huang


>> What is your area of expertise?
> 1. video streaming
> 2. video production and editing
> 3. motion graphics production
> 4. Web design
> 5. graphic design
> 6. layout design
> 7. empirical research

>> What are your expectations for a capstone student?
>
> Memo of Understanding
>
> for Taking Dr. Edgar Huang’s
>
> N490 Independent Study
>
> N499 Capstone Experience
>
> N506 Thesis/Project
>
> N553 Independent Study in New Media
>
>
>
> I understand that
>
> 1. I should have a clear project idea before I approach Dr. Huang for supervising and advising in one of the courses listed above;
>
> 2. I must submit a responsible proposal at latest by the end of the first week of the semester;
>
> 3. I cannot start my work without Dr. Huang’s approval;
>
> 4. I need to talk to Dr. Huang about my work progress via email, by phone or in person at least once a week during the semester;
>
> 5. I will show and tell instead of just telling about my work progress so that Dr. Huang’s guidance and supervision can be meaningfully applied to my work;
>
> 6. I need to closely follow my self-defined schedule and that all modifications to the schedule must be agreed upon by Dr. Huang;
>
> 7. I cannot change to a completely different plan or drastically change my current plan eight weeks into the semester. If I do, I will get an F as my course grade;
>
> 8. I will have to drop the course if I am three or more weeks behind my schedule or if I have not communicated with Dr. Huang for 21 natural days;
>
> 9. any unexplained or unjustified delay during the semester will carry negative grading ramification, and
>
> 10. I will jeopardize my grade if I do not follow this memo of understanding.
Student signature: ___________________________________________
What is your general availability for mentoring next semester?
For now, I have openings.
Do you have any project types you are not interested in working with?
trailers, a project without a clear client in mind

Peer Capstone Info.

I will be making a narrative film for my capstone. I think the groups would be best if there are a lot of video people to see who is doing narrative versus docs or even music videos/something random. Regardless of what we choose though, I'm sure we all could have ideas for one another. I have a few people in mind to group with already, you know who you are.

Class Discussion

I haven't really gotten that many insights or ideas for my own capstone because I am not set on what I want to do yet. I know I want to create a movie, a narrative film at that. The only thing I realized is that it seems this year there are a lot of people making videos, so I know to stand out that a basic film will not suffice. I realized I need to step up my game.