The syllabus and class schedule are subject to change.
COURSE GOALS
This course has three main goals. The first is to develop a diverse and adaptable set of skills in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. The second is to become confident enough in your abilities to be able to continue to learn and explore those programs on your own. The third is to develop creative problem solving skills as you create dynamic video content.
SCHEDULE
8/25 – Inspiration
Show examples of the kind of work we’ll be doing and go over the syllabus. What is everyone’s background? Why did they want to take this class?
Assignment – find an example of something you find inspiring on YouTube or Vimeo.
9/1 – Advanced Basics
Setting up and organizing a Premiere project file, best practices for professional work, keyframes and effects, transitions, exporting.
Assignment – set up an organized project and create a simple piece using existing footage.
9/8 – Sound Mixing and Design
Timeline tools (mute, solo, pen tool), the audio track mixer, panning and gain, best practices for mixing.
Assignment – add audio to a silent piece, incorporating multiple layers of sound.
9/15 – Color Correction and Grading
Color correction versus grading for a specific aesthetic, scopes, the Fast Color Corrector effect, Lumetri.
Assignment – grade a sequence of shots with different color looks.
9/22 – Green Screen 101
Best practices for filming green screen footage, cropping and mattes, using the Ultra Key effect, compositing layers of footage.
Assignment – create a series of short composited clips.
9/29 – What Is After Effects?
Introduction to the After Effects workspace, how Premiere and After Effects are similar and different. Discuss midterm project.
Assignment – first draft of midterm project.
10/6 – Introduction To Motion Graphics
Effects, properties, keyframes, and layers of various sorts. Review midterm drafts and make revisions.
Assignment – continue to revise midterm project.
10/7 to 10/12 – FALL RECESS
10/13 – Digging Into After Effects
Transfer modes, track mattes, easing keyframes, manipulating layers.
Assignment – create a title screen and lower third graphic..
10/20 – Animation
Review finished midterm projects. Setting up a puppet in Photoshop or Illustrator, animating using anchor points and parenting.
Assignment – create a short character animation.
10/27 – Revenge of the Green Screen
Compositing using KeyLight and supporting effects, animated masks, round-tripping between After Effects and Premiere.
Assignment – create an expertly-composited shot with multiple layers.
11/3 – The Third Dimension
3D layers, movement, and using a virtual camera.
Assignment – create a graphic with 3D movement using a virtual camera.
11/10 – Lights, Shadows, Action!
Using virtual lights in 3D compositions, discuss and work on the final project.
Assignment – begin work on final project.
11/17 – Expressions
Review drafts of final projects and make revisions.
11/18 to 11/28 – THANSGIVING BREAK
12/1 – Final Project
View finished projects, discuss and critique.