PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS

Areas of Study • Art Adventure Weekends

2D/3D Fine Arts Portfolio Development
Animation
Art Online
Digital Filmmaking
Digital Photography
Fashion Design + Merchandising
Theatre

Digital Filmmaking
This course presents the basic concepts, techniques, and processes of filmmaking, including story boarding, shooting, and computer editing. Narrative/dramatic, documentary, and experimental genres will be discussed and the students will participate in directing and producing a short film. Final Cut Pro and Adobe CS 3 software will be used on a Macintosh OSX operating system. Knowledge of the operation of your camera is required.

Digital filmmaking students should bring the following to class the first day:

• Digital video camera with a fire wire port (consumer grade camera is acceptable)
  
• Fire wire cable for connecting your camera to a computer (4 Pin to 6 Pin)
  
• Tripod
  
• No consumer Hard drive or DVDRam camcorders may be used. Bring MiniDV Tape camcorders only.
  
• Bring with you:
  -5 blank MiniDV tapes
  -10 blank DVD-R discs
  -Headphones
  -Optional: USB 2.0 or Firewire portable hard drive (for personal storage)
  -80GB or more storage space
  -Notebook, binder, and pen

Some Suggested MiniDV Tape Camcorders:
JVC GR-DA30US - $200
JVC GR-D770US - $300
Panasonic GS320 - $450

Before attending the first class please read the following books:
Ascher & Pincus. The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age . ISBN-10: 0452286786

Mamet, David. On Directing Film . ISBN10: 0140127224

Instructor Bio:

Jacob A. Dodd is an independent filmmaker who specializes in the blending of narrative, documentary, and experimental approaches. Dodd is originally from Kittanning, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Ithaca College earning a B.F.A. in Film, Photography, and Visual Arts and a minor in Art History. Dodd received his M.F.A. in Photography and Film from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

Dodd’s work has been exhibited by several film festivals including the DC Independent Film Festival and the James River Film Festival. He has been the recipient of several grants and awards including the prestigious James B. Pendleton Production Grant and the VCU Graduate Thesis Assistantship. His motion pictures explore the subtleties of family history and oral storytelling tradition through personal narrative, often incorporating his own family into his work.

Dodd recently executive produced a short film titled, “Tide” with filmmakers Bryant Dameron and Shane Rocheleau. “Tide” is a ten-minute 35mm short currently in festival submission.