(ARS 395-01) (FA18) ST: VISUAL STORY DEVELOPMENT

Visual Story Development

ARS 395	Ellie Nikoo
Wilson Hall 201	elham.nikoo@uah.edu
Office Hours: By appointment	Office: 350

//Course Description

This course is about storytelling in time-based media. Time-based media range from short films and animations to games and feature movies. This course offers storytelling principles and techniques that apply to all time-based media; however, the focus is more on storytelling skills for short animations. Throughout this course, methods for moving from ideas to well-developed stories are discussed. This includes developing characters internal and external features, cinematic language, visual language, drafting thumbnails, storyboarding, pitching storyboards, story reels, and animatics.

//Learning Objectives

• Develop ideas to form a cohesive and appealing story for short animations.
• Learn industry standard workflows and tools to make digital storyboards and story reels.
• Establish working knowledge of cinematography and effective use of visual elements to convey moods and feelings in time-based media.
• Promote critical thinking, learn to give constructive feedback, and appreciate and seek candid feedback from others.
• Become acquainted with the gradual progression of stories and to become comfortable revisiting the work as much as needed to make it to the perfection.

//Method

In teaching this course, I will incorporate a combination of videos, sample works of story artists, and Pixar in a Box online courses in the talk and demonstration portion of the class. I will generally limit my talks to one hour in the overall time of each class, and the rest of the time will be spent on in-class assignments and studio work. The assignments for this class will use a variety of materials and tools to enhance different skill sets that are necessary for you to develop your own stories.

//Course Requirements

• Lots of blank(not ruled) index cards 3x5-Inch for storyboarding( we’re gonna kill lots of trees … but we will recycle all the papers!)
• Sharpie markers, pencils for sketching.
• A phone with a camera or any device that can be used to take photos of hand-drawn works and transfer them to a computer.
• Having a Wacom Tablet is a requirement for this class. There are Wacom Tablets available to you in the classroom, but you will need one for at home assignments toward the second half of the semester as you start digital storyboarding for your final project. 
• Basic knowledge of Adobe applications such as Photoshop and After Effects is helpful but is not necessary.

//Classroom

Do not save to the C/OS drive of the computers, instead save all files to D/Data.  The D drive will not be erased without notice, but the C drive may be overwritten (and all files on it deleted) several times a semester.  Make sure you know where your files are being saved!

You will get card access to the lab and will have access anytime you are in the building and there are no other classes taking place.  Wilson Hall is open Monday to Friday 7AM to 10PM, Saturday 8AM to 10PM, and Sunday 9AM to 10PM.  You may use the lab outside of those hours, but you will need to already be in the building in order to do so.  Please do not prop open doors. 

//Assignments, Major Projects

For the first half of the semester, traditional storyboarding tools are used which are paper, markers, pencils, etc. The assignments are going to help you complete your first main project: a complete line-work storyboard for your short animation along with well-developed characters.

And for the second half of the semester digital pens (Wacom Tablets) are used for digital storyboarding with Photoshop. Towards the end of the semester, you will learn to use After Effects to complete your final major project: shaded and timed out storyboard, and a complete set of character sheets.

Critique sessions and analyzing parts of your favorite movies and animations are also among the assignments.

Detailed instructions for completing main projects and grading criteria will be posted on canvas at least two weeks ahead of the deadlines. Following descriptions are given as general outlines and are subject to change if necessary.

Mid-semester project: Line-work storyboard and character sheet

From the beginning of the semester, you work on developing characters and story for a short animation. You will learn how to use visual elements and cinematic language to tell a story in an appealing way. Incorporating what you learn in your own story, you will draw a storyboard and a character sheet for a short animation and turn them in for your first main project. For the first half of the semester, you will mostly use traditional drawing tools and focus on artistic aspects more than technical ones.

Final project: Shaded and timed out storyboard and character sheet

In the second half of the semester, you will incorporate digital tools and applications to present your story with industry standards. This means using Wacom tablets to clean your scanned line-work storyboards in Photoshop, and to add light and shades, etc. You will also learn basics of After Effects to time out your storyboard. For the final project, you will turn in a shaded and timed out storyboard in a movie format and a complete set of a colored character sheet.

//Grades

Assignments and participation	40%
Projects	60%

Homework and in-class assignments are graded as complete or incomplete only. If they are turned in on time and at an acceptable level of completion and show effort and time put into them, they will receive 1 point. The assignments are designed to prepare you for learning a topic or help you better understand what you’ve just learned. That is why all assignments should be turned in on time, and late assignments and incomplete work receives no credits, 0 points.

Being able to meet deadlines is an essential skill for most jobs. In the animation industry, late submission of your work has serious consequences for you and the project you’re working on. That is why I am gonna apply the same rule for major project submissions. For the two major projects, late submission is accepted but will result in one grade penalty per week starting immediately after the project is due.

Grading criteria for major projects:

The work submitted should demonstrate time and effort you put into it. Incorporating helpful comments you received in critique sessions is also important. 

The storyboard should tell the story without relying on dialogues, and you should include as much drawing as needed to tell your story visually and should not count on narrating over it. 

Your storyboard should also demonstrate what you’ve learned about cinematic language. This is shown through the effective use of a variety of shots and camera angles to convey feelings and moods.

The most important factor considered when grading is: making progress by putting time and effort in completing the projects, and turn them in on time. That is to say, no matter where you stand at the beginning of the semester, if you turn in a complete work on time that shows gradual improvement and understanding of the topics covered in the course, you will get a good grade. All in all, we are all here to learn, work hard, and have fun!

//Attendance

Class attendance is required! Good attendance record and effort put in on assignments can positively influence your final grade. Also, lots of course topics will be covered in each class, and most of the class topics are related. That is to say, if you miss a class, not only you miss the topics covered in that class, it will also negatively affect your performance and understanding of the topics in the coming classes. If you cannot make it to class for whatever reason, please communicate with me as soon as possible so I can help you keep up with the course. Other than official university absences, you are responsible for any assignments given during your absence and are required to turn in any assignments, regardless of attendance. Missing class critiques or assignments given and collected on the same day will result in loss of credit.

//Schedule

The following weekly schedule is for reference and is subject to change if necessary.

Week 1	Overview of the syllabus Favorite movies for analyzing throughout the semester
Week 2	Starting with story and character One-line story, getting to know your main character, and the world your story takes place
Week 3	Story development | Visual language Story structure, conflicts, beats, and moral of the story | Line, Shape, space, tone
Week 4	Character development | Visual language Character’s Obstacles, wants and needs, activities to know your character  | Movement, color
Week 5	Film grammar | Storyboard Shot types and their meaning, dynamic shots and camera movements | Thumbnails
Week 6	Storyboard for main scenes | critique session for work in-progress Thumbnail cont., choosing 5 critical shots and storyboarding them
Week 7	Storyboard cont. | Character Digital line-work storyboarding with Photoshop | Character back story and line-work character sheet
Week 8	Mid-semester Project: Line-work storyboard | Character sheet
Week 9	Digital shaded storyboarding with Photoshop Basic of digital painting with photoshop: layers, adjustment layers, brushes | Digital storyboard shaded starts with the 5 critical shots
Week 10	Visual character development | Storyboard shaded cont. Character sheet and character poses colored and shaded | digital storyboarding cont.
Week 11	Visual character development cont. | Storyboard shaded cont.
Week 12	After Effects essentials | Critique session 1
Week 13	Timed out storyboard in After Effects | Critique session 2
Week 14	Final Story reel and Animatics
Week 15	Final Project: Story reel and Character sheet

//General Course Policies

Academic misconduct:

All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited, and individuals or groups found guilty of any such misconduct may be subject to discipline as listed in the UAH Student Handbook Code of Conduct. Refer to the UAH Student Handbook for policies related to standards of conduct, including plagiarism, cheating, and student rights and responsibilities.

Professional behavior:

Every student is required to act respectfully and lawfully and in such a way as not to adversely affect the educational processes of the University or the rights of members of the University community and others. Violation of this general standard of behavior may be considered as misconduct.  

Plagiarism prevention:  

Plagiarism is the utilization of another person's work, published or unpublished, as one's own work. Any indication of plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct will be investigated and documentation of such will be considered justification for failure of the course and disciplinary action. Plagiarism includes submitting for a grade, work previously submitted by another student.  

Cell Phones:   

Cell phones are to be turned off or set to vibrate during class and are not to be talked on in the lab. Please be respectful of those around you.

Canvas:   

Students must access Canvas regularly as course announcements and materials will be posted throughout the semester.  Canvas is the official Course Management System for UAH.  Login problems and password resets need to be directed to the OIT Help Desk, helpdesk@uah.edu, 256-824-3333, http://www.uah.edu/oit.  

ADA:  

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for all qualified students with disabilities.  Students with disabilities must notify their course manager the first week of class, and contact the DSS office (256.824.1997) with requests for accommodations no less than two weeks prior to the start of term (http://www.uah.edu/health-and-wellness/disability-support).