DRAM 3820

This course teaches you how to use Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro. I believe you have to buy the software on your own ( I already had it) although there is a student discount you can use when you purchase it or you can torrent I guess. The class is very focused on aesthetic quality and symbolism as opposed to linear storytelling (the usual fun movie projects you would do), so grading is a little arbitrary. There were about 4 video projects, which includes 1 group project and the final (the rest are individual), 1 research project (pwpt 2 person group) and a couple of weekly video critique responses in the beginning of the semester. To succeed, make sure you finish up your video projects as much as you can before the "critique", which is basically where you show your video in front of the class and receive feedback from the teacher and your classmates. You have one more chance to revise your video for the final submission (not shown to the class), but make sure you put into account Mona's feedback. If you can have Mona review your video before the critique, that's even better. Sometimes your grade may be based on your initial critique rather than your final, so make sure to follow up on your grade if you think it hasn't changed since the initial critique. You may find yourself re-shooting like crazy after feedback so make sure to bounce your initial idea fully fleshed out to her and assemble your idea as early in the process as possible to show to her. I liked how this course taught you how to do some fun tricks with Premier and pay attention to aesthetic detail like consistent coloring and tones, but honestly re-shooting like crazy, editing for 5+ hours and then receiving average grades were a little disappointing. Also she has favorites lol - if you're her favorite expect to participate like crazy - "use of sound, flow and consistency in style" are words you gonna be saying every class lol.

Here's a link to the syllabus: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14yXTAqSlwfnZmiAI-TpB1a74m3H8OxB6wbN_sgaJggc/edit
Here's a link to the schedule: https://dram3520f16.wordpress.com/schedule/ (although you might have to be added to the wordpress site)