1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 LINKS

link to page with streaming examples

link to voter videos

link to sense of place

link to interactive narrative

link to quiz

VSAR 305: Art and Digital Video For the Web
Fall 2004
http://courses.csusm.edu/vsar305kd3/
Instructor: Kristine Diekman
Class times: Tuesday, 3-8 pm
Arts Building, 340
Email: kdiekman@csusm.edu
Phone: 760-750-4188
www.csusm.edu/diekman

Course Description
Designed for those interested in experimenting with video, audio and other moving images on the Web within theoretical and practical contexts of artmaking. Covers basic desktop digital video and audio applications, video compression and streaming, and basic web design. Integrates reading and writing on various aspects of new media and digital art within the context of art and society, including game theory, gender and cyberspace, desktop theater, narrative, and interactivity.

The applications we will be learning or touching on in this class are:
Cleaner 6
Dreamweaver MX
Final Cut Pro HD
Flash MX
After FX

Grading:
You grade is based on your total performance in the class, including participation, attendance, developing creative approaches to the medium, and completion of production and reading assignments.
There are four major video streaming assignments:
Project #1: 20%
Project #2: 20%
Project #3: 20%
Project #4: 20%
These assignments include producing work, writing, and reading.
All other assignments, quizzes, short presentions, and exercises (2) are worth 20%.

If you would like to see work by students in previous classes, you can visit these sites:
VSAR 305 Fall 03
VSAR 305 Fall 02
VPA 380e, S01

Attendance: Four missed classes constitute a failing grade (F). There is a sign up sheet for attendance. Please sign at the beginning of class. This will be my only record of your attendance.

Required Texts:
VSAR 305 Course Reader:
There is a Reader for the class which includes essential technical and theoretical information. It is absolutely necessary that you purchase this and bring it to every class. This reader can be purchased at CopyServe, 754 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., San Marcos. 760-599-9923. CopyServe is on the corner of Rancho Santa Fe and San Marcos Blvd. If you are travelling west on San Marcos Blvd. from CSUSM, it is on your right, just across Rancho Santa Fe near the NW corner. Turn right into the parking area, and then an immediate left. Purchase your reader immediately as, if they run out, it may take a day to have them make it up. They do not take phone orders. It is under the title and number of the course and instructor name. Other handouts may be given to supplement the course reader. Please buy a three ring binder in which to keep handouts, other technical notes, creative ideas, etc.

Editing Techniques with Final Cut Pro, 2nd Edition, Michael Wolh. This book can be found at the CSUSM bookstore, on-line at Amazon.com, or at bookstores. This text will help you learn editing in FCP.

Highly Recommended text:
If you don't have experience with Dreamweaver
Dreamweaver MX for Windows and MacIntosh, Visual Quickstart Guide, J. Tarin Towers;from sources such as Amazon.com or Borders Books.

Recommended text:
How to Do Everything with Macromedia Flash MX, Bonnie Blake, McGraw Hill/ Osborne Publishing; available at CSUSM bookstore or from other sources such as Amazon.com or Borders Books. (Used are on sale at Amazon, but order now) I won't be teaching Flash in depth, but this book is very helpful if you are interesed.

Supplies:
- 2 pieces MiniDV video tape (minimum); purchased at Fry's, Circuit City, etc. Tape should be 60 minutes long.
- Highly recommended: headphones of the enclosed ear type. Approximately $20.
- Highly recommended: USB Flash storage device. A 128mb USB Flash drive can be purchased for around $30 (Frys, Best Buy, CompUSA) and is much more reliable, durable, and versatile then Zip disks. The drives are cross platform (Mac/PC), and need no special formatting to be used on either platform; just plug them in, and they work. Since many of the computers on campus (Mac and PC) no longer have Zip drives, this is now the recommended personal storage solution forMicrosoft Word documents, Photoshop files, images, etc.

Equipment Checkout--See rules and guidelines handout
Video equipment can be checked out from the VPA department for 48 hour periods. You will be responsible for all equipment you sign out and use. Please do not leave equipment in dusty or hot places. Especially do not leave equiment in your car. Report broken equipment immediately. Do not reassign equipment to other students. Check in and let someone else check it out. If you are late three times your priveledges to check out equipment will be suspended.

Lab Access--see rules and guidelines handout
Arts 340 is designed as a video lab, with the newest version of Final Cut Pro HD editing software, extra highspeed storage, and other peripherals. However, Arts 239 also has some of the software we will be using including Dreamweaver MX, Flash Mx, FCP 3, iMovie, and Adobe After FX. Please check posting and information for on checkout door for updated information on lab hours. Please sign in when you enter the lab. If you are working in the lab after hours, please do not leave doors propped open. You will most likely be using the same computer throughout the semester. To reserve time, you can sign up for 4 hour segments using the sign up sheet above the computer.

Special Events
Please see special Arts and Lectures and other events listed in the week to week schedule on-line. Your attendance or participation is highly recommended and in some cases, required. When attendance is required, I will note it on the syllabus.

WEEK- TO - WEEK
This schedule may change. I will notify you of changes a week in advance whenever possible. If you do not attend class, it is your responsibility to find out if changes to the schedule were made. I will also post changes to assignments on this website in advance. Check the website frequently.

Week 1, 8/31
Introduction to the course, lab rules, checkout
Turning on and off computers and peripherals --looking over syllabus on line
Introduction to class website and VPA website
How to foward your email
Arts and Lectures link
How to set up your own website
Getting your csusm login and password
Testing players; where to find player downloads (for your home computer)
Making a desktop folder for files; Making a directory for your media
Looking at videos from Links page
Starting the FCP Tutorial

Week 2, 9/7
Lecture:
Web Basics: URLs and directories
What is streaming video?
Considering the aesthetics of web video
Examples of streaming video-different players and plugins

Lab:
Camera Demo
Introduction to Camera, Sound and Editing Basics
Introduction to FCP: capturing, editing, outputting, compressing and emailing
Bring Mini DV video tape to class. We will shoot and edit in class.
Exercise #1: Shooting and capturing a short video to email. Working in pairs or groups of three, identify someone you would like to send a video message to. Shoot and edit a QuickTime video one minute long or less following aesthetic and technical guidelines for a small video file appropriate for emailing. Email the video to the person, yourself and to me. Keep your original footage on computer. We will go back to it later.

Reading Assignments: Streaming and Web Basics:
VSAR 305 Reader: 1. Getting Started; 2. Non-Designers Web Book; 3. Cleaner 6 Manual Pages, a. Data Rates, b. Glossary, c. Streaming Basics, d. Shooting for Streaming
Dreamweaver: Chapter 1, Getting Started; Chapter 2, Setting up a Local Site

Reading Assignments: Camera, Editing and Web Basics:
VSAR 305 Reader: Cleaner 6 Manual Pages: 4. Digital Multimedia, a. Video, b. Intro to Video Compression
Final Cut Pro: Please review Chapters 1-3. These provide basic information about editing approaches which may or may not be applicable to video for the web. Howeverthey are useful to know about.

Week 3, 9/14
Lecture:
I will post your videos on a web page you can link to to watch them in class. After watching them, we will have a brief discussion about them-be prepared to discuss why you chose the person you did, why the video is appropriate for that person, what was the person's response, did it download and play well.

Lab:
Exercise #2: Experimenting with compressions. You will need your CSUSM LOGIN and PASSWORD for this assignment. In class: using the :30 movie you completed last week in FCP, output three different compressions from for QT http (progressive) web streaming and place on vpa server. Embed in a web page using Dreamwever and place on course server. Make notes for each compression, indicating what the codec is, frame rate, etc. You can get this info from "get movie properties" in the QuickTime Player. You can also make notes when you do your compressions from FCP. Experiment with compressions.
Demo: accessing the streaming and file servers; creating embed QT movies; understanding compression
Bit rates and streaming
Exercise #2: Quicktime Progressive Streaming
Examples of three different Quicktime compressions embedded on one page (progressive)
The Dreamweaver environment-make a simple web page, html basics
Remote and local ftp access info
Finish page, post, watch in class. Discuss how the movies look.
Assignment: Watch your movies at home before the next class, and make notes about how they stream. Make sure to set your QuickTime Preferences for the connection speed you have at home. Be prepared to discuss your findings in the next class.

Reading Assignment, Week 3: QT Progressive Streaming
Dreamweaver: Chapter 3, Basic Web Pages; Chapter 4, Editing HTML; Chapt. 20, Setting up a local site
Final Cut Pro: Continue reviewing Chapters 1-3. These provide basic information about editing approaches which may or may not be applicable to video for the web. Howeverthey are useful to know about.
VSAR 305 Reader: Cleaner Manual Pages, e. Chpt. 7 Formats, 91-144.

Week 4, 9/21: QuickTime Progressive Streaming (RealMedia Realtime streaming is postponed)
Project #1: Voter Awareness Videos
In this project, we will each create a short (:30 or :60) streaming video which addresses voter registration and the need to vote. We are partnering with ASI (Associated Students) who is conducting an intensive voter registration drive on campus. Because this is such an important election year, you will be able to exercise your civic responsibility as mediamakers in creating short streaming media to address this election. The videos will be used in classrooms and on CSUSM websites to promote voter registration, and later to promote voting. All videos will be shown on a website we create as a class. ASI will select a few which will be used on their website.

Shannon Bennett from ASI will join us to discuss the role ASI will play in this assignment--what their needs are, what info you might want to include, inclusion on the ASI website, etc. She will join us at 5:30pm (after break). Your attendance is required.

Assignment for today: Create a simple story board of which represents your idea or ideas for this assignment. Hand in to me. We will also discuss these in class.
We will view these websites in advance of class and be prepared to discuss creative strategies. If you find other interesting sites with political videos or videos addressing voting, please bring the url to show in class.
MoveOn PAC, "Real People Ads"
MoveOn.org: Democracy in America
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
American Museum of the Moving Image: The Living Room Candidate
Declare Yourself--Register to Vote
National Women's Election Day and Don't Get Mad, Get Even campaign
Unbrand America-Black Spot Campaign (2003)
Beck and Archer (experimental flash animations using found footage)

Review: I will review assignment from last week--discuss compressions; review assignment last week using Dreamweaver site window and ftp and server paths; linking to another html page (or movie). Review FCP setting up and saving a new project and logging (Chpt. 4 Editing Techniques). Review FCP basic editing (Chpt. 5, Editing Techniques).

Lab: Discuss videos, begin work and research on videos. You can use this time to shoot footage or tests.

Technical Reading Assignment:
VSAR 305 Reader: 4. Digital Multimedia; section c, Streamed Video and Video Conferencing
Final Cut Pro, Review Chapters 4 & 5
Dreamweaver; Chpt.5, Working with Images; Chapt. 6, Working with Links

Week 5, M, 9-28
Project #1: Voter Awareness Videos--continue working
Lecture/Lab:
We will use this class time to edit your videos, compress, and link.

Lab: (this will be postponed until a later assignment)
Depending on your progress on the assignment, I will demo outputting video for Realtime streaming through FCP. Creating .ram files. Using the "emmy" server for RealMedia Streams. This may be important for views to be able to play videos on either QuickTime or RealPlayer.
RealPlayer Realtime streaming
Compressing and encoding for RealPlayer stand alone player
Cleaner Compression strategies and ram files
Real Networks Production Guide: This guide has useful information on understanding the Real One Player interface, and how to embed RealMedia into a web page. Please use this guide as a resource.
Real Networks Production Guide


Reading Assignment: Review VSAR 305 Reader, 3. Cleaner Manual Pages, e., f. and g. (pages 90-229).

Week 6, 10/5
Lecture: (3-5pm)
Project #1: Voter Awareness Videos DUE. We will watch in class.
Shooting your videos should be complete by today. We can use this class time to edit your videos,compress, create thumbnails, write a synopsis of your video and post on the web. If you need the entire class to do so, then I recommend not attending the screening of Fahrenheit 9/11. We will assess everyone's progress at the beginining of class.
Requirements for completing the project:
1. Two compressed Quicktime movies--one compressed for 56 kbit modem (low bandwidth), one compressed for 300 kbit modem (high bandwidth). The largest dimension should be no larger than 320 x 240 (or some wide screen version of this if you are working in this style). For low bandwidth, it should be smaller dimension (160x120). However, remember that you can trade off frame rate and picture quality for dimension. Use your experiments from the last assignment to help guide you. Name your movies with relevant titles. Place movies in folder on vpa streaming server called "voter".
2. A thumbnail sized (120 x 90) still from your video, saved using photoshop "save for web" as a gif. I will demonstrate this in class.
3. A short synopsis of your video of about 30-40 words. A synopsis is a short summary statement about the video's content, meaning or intent. You can personalize this, if you want, by adding what concerns you about voting or why you chose to say it in this way. Have this done before class. We can go over them in class for editing.
4. Hand in storyboards or shotlists.

Arts Event: Screening of "Fahrenheit 9/11", Dir. Michael Moore. Arts 240, 6m. Required.

Writing Assignment Due:
Based on Chapt4, Digital Art, identify some of the issues and trends in new media art, including art on the web and netart. Write a two-three page response which addresses in what ways you imagine how YOUR work in this class may be related to some of these issues and ideas. Use examples from the text, or examples of artworks you find on the web. The chapter includes many websites to look at. You can also use the LINKS page from this class website to look at other art, cinema, and design on the web. Your paper may include drawings, pictures, screen shots and other images to explain your ideas.

Reading Assignment
VSAR 305 Reader: New Media in Late 20th Century Art, "Chapter 4, Digital Art" and Cleaner 6 Manual Pages, g. Publishing, pgs. 216-220 (review)

Week 7,10/12: Linking with Hotspots and Embedding Plugins
We will meet from 3-5:30 in Art 340 to discuss new assignment. Please have reading on "place" (see reading assignments below) ready to discuss. After 5:30, you can attend Michael Moore.
Project #2: Sense of Place
Lecture/Discussion:
“Sense of Place", Project #2; Research: Desperate Optimists -visit and study this website for discussion before starting the project. We will look at some of the videos on-line in class. Be prepared to show a video you liked to the class, and discuss why you think it is successsful. If you would like to look at student's previous videos from this assignment, you can visit this site: http://courses.csusm.edu/vsar305kd2/w5place.html. The image on the page has hot spots which link to RealPlayer videos.

Demo: Using Dreamweaver to make links using image maps or hot spots; using Dreamweaver to create webpages to embed plugins and create sized pop-up windows
For examples of sized popup windows, you can look at the videos on my site (www.csusm.edu/diekman/kdvideo.html) or the videos on the Belief website which uses sized popups extensively.(http://www.belief.com/)
Reading Assignment:
VSAR 305 Reader: "Where Limitations Liberate" and "Being in Place" & "On and Off the Map"; We will discuss what a "sense of place" means, and how it can relate to your own work.
Technical Reading Assignment
VSAR 305 Reader: 3. Cleaner 6 Manual Pages; Chpt. 8, Encoding
VSAR 305 Reader: 4. Digital Multimedia; section c, Streamed Video and Video Conferencing
Final Cut Pro, Review Chapters 4 & 5 (review)
Dreamweaver; Chpt.5, Working with Images; Chapt. 6, Working with Links (review)

Week 8, 10/19
Lab: 3-5pm/6:30-8 pm:
Project #2: Sense of Place continued. Work in class. Utilize discussion space during this upcoming week in order to prepare for discussion. Participation in discussion space required.

Lecture: 5-6:30 pm: Arnold Marquez from the San Diego Asian Film Festival will screen film and video from their upcoming festival.

Demo (6:30-7:30):
Chapters from the Editing Techniques book which deal with Advanced Editing and some FX compositing for first hour of class.


Week 9, 10/26
Lecture/lab
Project #2, Sense of Place Due
Please view all the work linked from the Sense of Place web page before coming to class, and participate in the discussion page on line. Be prepared to present your work and discuss it. We will have some time in the beginning of class to watch completed videos and to discuss on line.

Interactive Storytelling Project--overview. Consider ideas about interactivity--draggable layers, same story different points of view, timelines, linking from texxt to different movies, several movies on different pages.....

Web Link to randomize images (with directions): http://www.dlifeinc.com/random/

Time permitting, I will go over FX and compositing in FCP.

Week 10, 11/2
Project #3: Interactive Storytelling
Screening of my work in Professor Liss' class, "Feminist Art and Motherhood". We will join her class from 5:30-6:45. Place TBA.

Develop a narrative (story) you would like to tell through streaming video and audio. This can be a real story, one you write, or one you find. This assignment is about narrative (storytelling) and interaction. In this assignment you will decide on the streaming platform most appropriate to your ideas--RealPlayer Realtime Streaming, QuickTime Progressive, or QuickTime Realtime. You can also experiment with the page design, include multiple videos or audio, hotspots and url end links to videos. You may also use the Quicktime Broadcaster if you would like to do a live show. BRING STORYBOARDS, FLOWCHARTS, SKETCHES, IDEAS TO CLASS,
Links:
Six Principles: Toward a Theory of Interactive Narrative; great structures to work with and good examples and links
Voices from the Mill Town; an audio and picture story
360degress: Perspectives on the Criminal Justice System; interactive flash and html site with images, sounds, texts, quicktime VR
Desktop Theater; Improvisational Theater in a chat space

Lecture/Discussion:
Reading and Writing Assignments:
1. VSAR 305 Reader: Pengkai Pan, “I-views, a storytelling community of by and for the audience”, Find his thesis and more information about sharable media at : ic.www.media.mit.edu. Pengkai Pan is part of Interactive Cinema group at MIT. He has developed video editing software for online use, one of which is called iViews. What is iViews, and how is it "shareable"? One page response only. Please visit ic.www.media.mit.edu to read some of the thesis about interactive narrative.
2. VSAR 305 Reader: "From Barbie to Mortal Combat", Interview with Brenda Laurel.
Consider the following questions and write a two page response:
In what ways does Laurel think that computers and theater are similiar?
How does age and gender determine computer game use and attraction to computer games?
How is interactivity discussed in the the interview by Laurel?
Why does Laurel think it is important at all that girls use computer games, and what does this have to do with empowerment?

Lab:
Work with Cleaner hotspots and end urls. (Cleaner Manual) Overview of Cleaner 6.
Moving layers and creating snapping interactive areas (see Dreamweaver MX Quickstart guide)
Using the Dreamweaver timeline (Dreamweaver MX Quickstart guide)
Develop ideas for Project #3

Technical Reading Assignment:
VSAR 305 Reader: How to do Everything with Macromedia Flash MX. Intro to Flash MX: embedding videos, flash video controller component, preloaders, and testing your Flash movie ( I won't be going over Flash in the class, but if you know something about Flash, the reading assignment on Flash components is easy to follow and create. This creates controller for the Flash movie)
FCP: Chapter 8, Special FX

Week 11, 11/9 QUIZ--LINK TO QUIZ QUESTIONS
Continue work on Assignment #3.
Present to Class: Present sketches, flowcharts, designs to class for Assignment #3. Flowcharts and design ideas include what your navbar may look like, how it links to subsequent pages, how these interrelate.

Week 12,11/16
Lecture/discussion, 3-6pm:
Continue to work on Project #3--due on 11/23 at the beginning of class

"Live: Communications, the Electromagnetic Spectrum, and The War in Iraq, 2003". Exhibition in Arts Foyer Gallery. Opening, 6-7pm; Artist's Talk, 7-8pm Arts 240. Attendance to both are required.


Week 13, 11/ 23
Project #3 Due: Present your work for Assignment #3. We will watch and discuss work starting at 3pm.

Ricardo Peralta Danza Performa, "And I'll Speak of Love", Arts 111,6pm. Binational Dance company combining video and movement. This performance integrates video projection.

Week 14, 11/30

Introduction to Project #4:Live Performance Broadcast. In this class I will present the concepts and technology necessary to create a live, experimental netcast performance. We will be working with Deborah Small's class, Interactive Multimedia, and Bill Bradbury's class, Recording Techniques, to develop ideas for live video and audio broadcasts which will be performed at the end of the semester. Tools we will be working with are multi camera set up, video switcher, QuickTime Broadcaster, audio mixer, and microphones. In class today we will discuss interactivity in netcast performance, and develop strategies for creating these performances.

Reading Assignment:
Vsar 305 Reader: From Snap to Grid, In Search of the Telephone Opera.
Handout: "Touch Sensitivity and Other Forms of Subversion: Interactive Artwork". Lynn Hershman
Writing and Preparation for discussion: We will have an in depth discussion of these essays and the web pages below.
Below are web links which I would like you to look at for this class. Each one contains information about approaches to audience participation and expanded computing, and build on some of the ideas presented in Penkai Pan's thesis (iViews). For our discussion, please be prepared to discuss how these sites and the essays above present ideas about interactivity, expanded computing, audience participation, intimacy, and other ideas. In preparation for discussion, take notes while reading and looking at websites--make 10 bullets points about strategies and examples of iteractivity in netart, performance, and audience participation you found in the readings. Hand in to me.
"Dial Tones, A Telephony"
"Seti@home"
Desktop Theater
View DOWNSTREAM at www.csusm.edu/vpa/downstream

Week 15, 12/7
Project #4 Due for run through. We will meet in Arts 340, gather equipment, then go to Arts 111 to go over all video, audio, and streaming. If possible, those of you who are in both Deborah's class and mine, have short sections of your work ready to run through. Please have a schematic and timeline available so that we can organize the evening in terms of tech.

Live Streaming Event, Friday, December 10. Arts 111. Performance starts at 7:30. Set up starts at 4pm. Your attendance is required, so please make arrangements in advance. You can invite friends and family. This will be our last class instead of a final.