COMF 496: Group Project

From the syllabus:

Group Project. Students will work in groups of 2 or 3 to produce a short film, music video, or infomercial of 3 to 5 minutes in length using both Avid and After Effects software. Students will write a proposal for their project that will be submitted to the professor for approval. A storyboard will then be created for approval by the professor. Once approved, the students may shoot necessary footage for the project and begin post‐production. Avid must be the only video editing software used. At least 40% of the video must include After Effects generated material such as masking, animation, text, PIP, and other approved effects. Project is to be turned in with script, storyboard (script and storyboard are no longer required), and DVD. A self and group evaluation survey will also be required from each student in the group.

Specific Guidelines:

1. The proposal should be 1 to 2 pages explaining the objectives of the project and a description of what the viewer will see. This is due on Nov. 24.

2. The project may be a music video, an infomercial selling a legitmate product or service, or a short movie. The length should be around 3 minutes. Points will be docked if the project is less than 2:55 and more than 3:15. If you plan to do a music video and the song is longer than 3:15, then re-edit the mix so that it ends within this time. Make sure the mix makes sense musically.

3. At least 40% of the project must contain After Effect generated material. The entire project must be edited in Avid. You may use Audition or similar audio editing software for the audio track. The final output is to be burned to a DVD-Video.

4. Movie option: You may think that After Effects is not helpful in telling a story with film. You might consider using color and lighting effects in a scene. You can create interesting opening titles. You might have animated special effects that take place, such as lightning, shapes, or 3D objects. Create a film that needs these types of things, so it all fits well.

5. Infomercial option: This is typically a studio setup with CG graphics. You cannot use the CG in the studio for this project. You can shoot in the studio, then edit in everything you need on top that. Consider animated graphics, fonts, and photos. Put your people in greenscreen setup and change the backgrounds to virtual sets. The items being sold can be animated or put into an After Effect comp. The infomercial must start and end during the time period. This is not 3 minutes of a 30 minute infomercial. Think in terms of a long commercial.

6. Music Video option: You don't have to have a band for this, but you should likely have vocalists. You can create a virtual world for the band or create an animated character who plays an instrument. You can have animated text that match the lyrics animate on screen. There's quite a lot of things that can be done here, if you choose the right song.

Turning it in:

1. Bring a working DVD to class on the day due. If it won't play, you will receive a zero. Make sure it works. There should be color bars (5 seconds), a slate (5 seconds), then a countdown from 10 to 2, then black one second before your video starts. MAKE YOUR OWN COUNTDOWN IN AFTER EFFECTS. You will be evaluated for the countdown, so make it pretty. This does not count toward the 40% in the project.

2. Each group will come up and play their DVD for class. After playing the disc, producers will explain how they created their effects and how certain areas were produced. After questions from the class, the group may then sit down. Leave your DVD with Dr. Pace. The DVD will not be returned, so make sure you have your own copies.

3. Turn in your self and group evaluation before leaving class. These are to be filled out privately and given to the professor confidentially.