Center: 
Freiburg
Discipline(s): 
Film Studies
Course code: 
FS 341
Terms offered: 
Spring
Credits: 
3
Language of instruction: 
German
Instructor: 
Dr. Franz Leithold
Description: 

In this course students learn the artistic and technical aspects of film making. Camera perspective, movement, light, sound will be analyzed and then used in filming. Montage, cutting film, and other studio techniques will be applied to accomplish the intended effects and picture sequences of the finished film.

Learning outcomes: 

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand all aspects of film making;
• Produce their own film;
• Analyze films competently, based on practical experience.
• Training of social competencies: all aspects of film making require highly coordinated team work

Method of presentation: 

Lecture, seminar (audio-visual), practice tutorials in the New Media Center of the University. Films made by students, film projects, Cameras, editing stations, lighting systems and sound systems will be provided by the NMC of the University.

Required work and form of assessment: 

Project journal (compiling and analyzing team/studio work) = 10%, first project reflecting technical and filming basics = 15%, Mid-term/ second project: advanced filming, including creation of an exposé and a storyboard = 25%, final project: 5-10 minute films reflecting all aspects of film making as learned in the course. Discernible progress in filming, compared to the first two projects is required = 50%.

content: 

1. Plenary Sessions: In 4 plenary sessions (each lasting 2 hours) theoretical knowledge is conveyed using numerous examples from film. In the final session the practical work of the students will be analyzed and the concept of a film project explained.

1. Which components of film need to be taken into consideration generally; Emphasis on camera work: adjustment possibilities, perspective, camera movement, light, color

Literature:
Petrasch, Thomas; Zinke, Joachim (2003): Chapter 3: Beleuchtung; Chapter 4: Kamera, Bildgestaltung.

Kamp, Werner (2005): Chapter 1: grafische Grundlagen der Bildsprache, S. 7-35; Chapter 2: Die Kamera als Ausdrucksmittel, S. 38-72.

Dunker, Achim (32001): Chapter 1: Wahrnehmung von Lichtverhältnissen, S. 8-10; Chapter 2: Die Möglichkeiten der Lichtgestaltung, S. 10-17; Chapter 3: Lichtlogik und Lichtkonzeption, S. 17-21; Chapter 4: Der fotografische Stil, S. 21-23.

2. Emphasis on montage: camera shot and return shot, analytical montage, alternating montage, match cut, shutter control

Literature:
Müller, Arnold Heinrich (2003): Geheimnisse der Filmgestaltung. Montage und Filmgestaltung für Filmer. Berlin. (Wie erzählt wird, S. 125-141; Ausdrucksformen der Dramaturgie, S. 247-267).

Kamp, Werner (2005): AV-Mediengestaltung. Grundwissen: Haan-Gruiten. (Chapter 6: Schnitt, S. 141-
160; Chapter7: Montage, S. 162-191).

3. Sound: background sound, language and music (used as a leitmotif, juxtaposition, amplification, association)

Literature:

Lyver, Des (2004): Grundlagen des Videotons. Gau-Heppenheim. (Kapitel 3 und 4).

Kamp, Werner (2005): AV-Mediengestaltung. Grundwissen: Haan-Gruiten. (Chapter 4: Tongestaltung, S.
91-113).

4. Analysis of the students’ film projects; Introduction to the concept of a film project (Exposé, screenplay, storyboard). Final discussion

Literature:

Begleiter, Marcie (2003): Storyboards. Vom Text zur Zeichnung zum Film. Frankfurt a.M. (Chapter2: Storyboards in der Vorproduktion, S. 23-62).

2. Sessions for practical film making: Various technical components of film will be explained in 5 sessions, each lasting 4 hours (the maximum number of participants per group is 12)

Literature: instructor will provide photocopied/e-attached handouts, relevant for each session. The .pdf
files sent to students are power point slides, which the professor compiled himself, with the film stills pulled from various different movies. The charts and graphs are taken from the following books:

Katz, Steven D. (21999): Die richtige Einstellung. Zur Bildsprache des Films; das Handbuch. Frankfurt a.M.

Müller, Arnold Heinrich (2003): Geheimnisse der Filmgestaltung. Montage und Filmgestaltung für Filmer. Berlin.

Kamp, Werner (32008): AV-Mediengestaltung. Grundwissen. Haan-Gruiten.

Mikunda, Christian (2002): Kino spüren. Strategien der emotionalen Filmgestaltung. Wien.

1. How to operate a modern digital 3CCD camcorder
2. Continuation with the camera, effective use of light, setting up microphones. Second half: participants film their first shots (various settings, which can be used for the cutting in the next session, in groups of 3 respectively)
3. Introduction to the digital cutting program. The participants then cut their own filmed material
4. Communal viewing of the first produced film clips. Second half: the students again make film recordings, this time on a different subject
5. Cutting of filmed material. The participants have to be available throughout the entire session
Communal analysis will the follow in the 4th plenary session

Required readings: 

Kamp, Werner (32008): AV-Mediengestaltung. Grundwissen. Haan-Gruiten.

Begleiter, Marcie (2003): Storyboards. Vom Text zur Zeichnung zum Film. Frankfurt a.M. (LS Film 67/6)

Dunker, Achim (32001): Die chinesische Sonne scheint immer von unten. Licht- und Schattengestaltung im Film. München. (LS Film 368/2)

Field, Syd (122000): Das Handbuch zum Drehbuch. Übungen und Anleitungen zu einem guten Drehbuch. Frankfurt a. M. (Zweitausendeins) (LS Film 67/4)

Katz, Steven D. (21999): Die richtige Einstellung. Zur Bildsprache des Films; das Handbuch. Frankfurt a.M. (Zweitausendeins) (LS Film 10/5)

Monaco, James (32001): Film verstehen. Kunst, Technik, Sprache, Geschichte und Theorie des Films und der Medien. Mit einer Einführung in Multimedia. Reinbek bei Hamburg. (LS Film 10/7)

Müller, Arnold Heinrich (2003): Geheimnisse der Filmgestaltung. Montage und Filmgestaltung für Filmer. Berlin. (LS Film 293/1)

Schleicher, Harald; Urban, Alexander (Hrsg.; 2005): Filme machen. Technik – Gestaltung – Kunst. Klassisch und digital. Frankfurt a.M.

Brief Biography of Instructor: 

Franz Leithold earned a Ph.D. in Slavic and German Studies from the University of Freiburg. He is currently Media and Computer Center Director at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg library, where since 1996 he has taught seminars and lectures on German film and literature. He pursued a degree in Library Science in Cologne from 1989-1990. Current research areas include film history, film theory, aesthetics of film, and film production. Mr. Leithold has also produced several TV features. Among his more recent publications: Studien zu A.P. Cechovs Drama "Die Moeve” (1989), 193 p.; several articles on Russian literature, which were published in Harenbergs Lexikon der Weltliteratur. Autoren –Werke – Begriffe. 5 volumes (1989). In addition, several of his articles on Russian literature have been published in reviews and newspapers. Mr.Leithold has also received several awards and prizes. Among others:
2001- Lehrpreis des Landes Baden-Württemberg 2001
2002- Intermedia-Globe in gold, Worldmediafestival, Hamburg
2005- Förderpreis beim Medienpreis der Universität Freiburg für Uni-TV