ANIM30261 3rd Year Story Lab Winter 2014

ANIM30261 Storyboarding- Project Development Winter 2014

3rd Year Story Lab

Instructor: James R. Caswell james.caswell1@sheridanc.on.ca Office hours: Tuesdays 12-4, Wednesday 12-1. Please email for appointment.Room A160.Meetings may be arranged outside office hours.

Detailed DescriptionThis course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to establish a personal artistic vision that will direct their Senior Thesis Project in Year 4.Students are involved in conducting independent research for the story concepts that will be the basis of the Senior Thesis Project they develop in Year 4. Methodologies include a variety of location studies, interviews with subject matter experts, development and collection of photo and video to support their individual artistic voice. Products to be developed for their final portfolio submissions include a short essay, sketches, concept art illustrating story arcs, drawings and a summary.Other components might include set designs, story arc panels, character pages and short scripts. Students present a summary of their project work before submission of the portfolio. Through interactive lecture, discussion, independent research and portfolio development, students learn to generate a story from initial concept to full portfolio development in preparation for the senior film project in Year 4.

Course Critical Performance

By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to design a comprehensive portfolio that showcases a personal artistic expression, style, vision and effective problem-solving through extensive research and in-depth development of a story concept.

Learning Outcomes

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Evaluate a play, opera, ballet or cinematic film in terms of story and performance in the context of their artistic vision.

2. Create a sketch journal of diverse observations of reference material that supports a focused vision.

3. Generate an artist’s statement that incorporates research developed from a variety of documented sources.

4. Utilize various research approaches to create component pieces of their portfolio.

5. Interview an expert in the subject under research, to assist in the development of story concept.

6. Develop an outline of a potential script.

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ANIM30261 3rd Year Story Lab Winter 2014

7. Summarize their story through the development of selected visual story beats.

8. Synthesize material researched and developed into specific components to create a working portfolio reflecting a focused vision.

9. Articulate their artistic vision clearly and succinctly in a presentation to peers.

10. Complete all deliverables in accordance with the deadlines provided.

11. Participate actively and constructively in critiques.

Evaluation Plan

Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Assignment 1: Story Experiments 30%Assignment 2: Team Project Report 30%Assignment 3: 4th Year Concept/Storyboard 30%Assignment 4: “What’s Your Story So Far?” 10%

Total: 100%

No Textbook Required.

Recommended Reading List:

Levy, David B., Animation Development: From Pitch to Production. Allworth Press; 2009.

Murray, Joe. Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your

Own Series for TV, the Web, and Short Film. Watson Guptill. 2010.

Sheridan, Sherri. Developing Digital Short Films. New Riders. 2004.

3rd Year Story Lab: http://3rdyearstorylab.blogspot.com/

WEEK 1 LABIntroduction: Project Development: The Story Thus Far: Assignments, Procedures and Expectations.Review Leica comments.

WEEK 2 LABPresentation Techniques/ FlexibilityExperiment: Rough Idea/ Work period.Industry Research Group Selection.

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ANIM30261 3rd Year Story Lab Winter 2014

WEEK 3 LABExperiment #1: Group 1 PresentationAssignment#1A DUE

WEEK 4 LABExperiment #1: Group 2 Presentation

WEEK 5 LABWork period.

WEEK 6LABExperiment #2 Group 2 Presentation.Assignment#1B DUE

WEEK 7LABExperiment #2: Group 1 Presentation

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READING WEEK

_______________________________________WEEK 8LABResearch Projects Presentations Work Period. 4th year Concept Work Period.

WEEK 9 LABResearch Projects Presentations Commence 4th year Concept Work Period.Assignment#2 DUE

WEEK 10 LABResearch Projects Continue.Prep 4th year Concept/Work Period.

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ANIM30261 3rd Year Story Lab Winter 2014

WEEK 11 LAB4th Year Concept Work Period Presentation Group#1Assignment# 3 DUE

WEEK 12 LAB4th Year Concept Work Period Presentation Group#2

WEEK 13LABPortfolio Review Self Assessment Group #1Assignment#4

WEEK 14 LABPortfolio Review Self Assessment Group #2

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