CMCO 160 Introduction to Film Studies
3 hours. The critical analysis of the moving image, including television programming and film. Employs textual, contextual, and ethical methods for illuminating the relationship of these media artifacts to modern culture, both secular and religious.
CMCO 220 International Film Studies
3 hours. Film is a truly international medium, stretching across borders, decades, and cultures. By viewing and analyzing films from other countries, we can learn much about the art and culture of the countries that produced them. Students will analyze international films in terms of the cultural, political, ideological, and economic forces that shaped them.
CMCO 230 Introduction to Video Production
3 hours. An introduction to the language and the technical, creative, and aesthetic elements of the video production process. Course includes basic lighting, sound, camera operation, composition, and design of visual elements, producing, and directing through both classroom and supervised laboratory experiences.
CMCO 233 Contemporary Christian Songwriting and Producing
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. Working with professionals in the contemporary Christian music field, students will learn basic techniques of songwriting including lyrics and song structure. Students will write their own songs, which they will then produce and record.
Prerequisite: CMCO 243 Introduction to Audio or permission of instructor.
CMCO 243 Introduction to Audio
3 hours. Concentrating on recording, editing, and mixing multitrack audio on a digital platform. The course will look at special recording techniques for (a) human voices in speaking, singing, and dramatic performance; (b) musical instruments; (c) dramatic sound effects. Students will complete projects in editing and mixing of multitrack sound programs.
CMCO 250 Digital Multimedia Production
3 hours. The Web has revolutionized the way we find and utilize information. Students in this class will have the opportunity to originate graphics, audio, text elements, and simple animations elements and build them into interactive Web pages.
CMCO 260 Scriptwriting for Media
3 hours. Offered 2008-09. An introduction to the styles, techniques, content, and forms of television writing. Both dramatic (sitcom and dramatic features) and nondramatic (news and informational) forms of writing are covered. The writing of several short scripts is required in the course.
Prerequisite: WRIT 110 College Writing.
CMCO 270 Broadcast News I
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. This class covers the basic principles of broadcast journalism: broadcast news writing, broadcast videography, and Internet-distributed video news production. Students participate in a student-focused television news show by creating news and feature videos for broadcast (cable, online); they will create a demo tape/DVD from those packages.
Prerequisite: CMCO 230 Introduction to Video Production or permission of instructor.
CMCO 310 Intermediate Directing
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. Working with classmates as crew, students take turns directing scenes from Hollywood movies in this hands-on directing workshop. Beyond storyboarding and shot planning, this class focuses on working with actors, working with crew, and other skills required for balancing the technical and the artistic aspects of directing.
Prerequisite: CMCO 230 Introduction to Video Production or permission of instructor.
CMCO 320 Dramatic Scriptwriting
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. An introduction to the art of writing for film. Dramatic structure is emphasized and plot scenarios, dialogue, and characterization are among several topics examined and exercised. Students create scripts for original features, short films, or plays. The writing experience is complemented through an examination of the business aspects of writing, including spec-scripts, agents, and the Hollywood system.
Prerequisite: CMCO 260 Scriptwriting for Media or permission of instructor.
CMCO 333 Camera and Lighting
3 hours. This course explores the various camera and lighting techniques used in film and digital video production. Students will focus on applying lighting techniques and camera movement to create specific visual effects. Students will apply the ideas discussed in the text and lectures to a series of in-class explorations, in addition to scenes filmed outside of class.
Prerequisite: CMCO 230 Introduction to Video Production or permission of instructor.
CMCO 343 Sound Design
3 hours. This class explores the use of digital sound technology to record, edit, and mix audio for film and television. Students will use their audio skills to record sound both in the field and in the recording studio.
Prerequisite: CMCO 243 Introduction to Audio or permission of instructor.
CMCO 344 Studio Sound Recording
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. Students will learn to record music and vocal tracks in a digital multitrack studio environment. Students will produce music, advertising, and other audio projects in this hands-on studio course.
Prerequisite: CMCO 243 Introduction to Audio or permission of instructor.
CMCO 350 Editing Video
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. Theory and practice in editing the moving image. Analysis of Hollywood and avant-garde styles of editing is followed by practice exercises illustrating each concept.
Prerequisite: CMCO 230 Introduction to Video Production or permission of instructor.
CMCO 355 Event Video Production
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. This course concentrates on live multicamera production of sporting, theatrical, and entertainment events. The course concentrates on producing and directing components, but also features setting up multicamera remote systems for video broadcast. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours total.
Prerequisite: CMCO 230 Introduction to Video Production or permission of instructor.
CMCO 360 Animation I
3 hours. Offered 2008-09. An introduction to the fundamentals of animation production, from traditional cel animation to 2-D computer animation. In this hands-on workshop, students will produce short animation projects.
CMCO 363 Motion Graphics and Special Effects
3 hours. Offered 2008-09. Students explore different means of producing special effects using digital computer imaging, blue-screens, compositing, and old-fashioned movie magic. Students will also learn how to create animated text sequences and video graphics.
CMCO 370 Broadcast News II
3 hours. Offered 2008-09. This class takes students out of the classroom into the field to learn Electronic News Gathering (ENG). As part of the class, students produce a news program to be aired on cable access or campus TV network.
Prerequisite: CMCO 270 Broadcast News I or permission of instructor.
CMCO 430 Producing and Directing Video
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. An advanced course in video directing and producing. Students explore the preproduction, production, and postproduction of original short feature videos for the Fox Film Festival.
Prerequisite: CMCO 350 Editing Video.
CMCO 460 Advanced Animation
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. Students continue to develop their skills in 2-D or 3-D animation, including techniques for creating characters in the digital domain, transformation, and movement.
Prerequisite: CMCO 360 Animation I or permission of instructor.
CMCO 470 Journalism II
3 hours. Offered 2007-08. Students hone journalistic skills in areas such as interviewing techniques, cultivating sources, investigative reporting, and editing and layout.
Prerequisite: WRIT 230 Introduction to Journalism or permission of instructor.
CMCO 475 Field Experience
2-10 hours. An internship experience designed to give students an opportunity to practice video and film techniques and principles in an off-campus, professional setting. Students choose from a variety of options - cable, broadcast, corporate, medical, or commercial production facilities - based on the student's goals and interests. Up to 3 hours may apply to the communication media major.
Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
CMCO 481 Advanced Production Workshop I
3 hours. Offered 2008-09. In this intensive hands-on production course, students will draw on all their filmmaking skills to produce 10- to 30-minute shorts - narrative, documentary, or animated - for their portfolios and film festivals. This semester focuses on preproduction and production, including script breakdown, casting, and actual filming.
Prerequisites: one of the following: CMCO 310 Intermediate Directing, CMCO 320 Dramatic Scriptwriting, CMCO 333 Camera & Lighting, CMCO 343 Sound Design, CMCO 350 Editing Video, CMCO 430 Producing & Directing Video, or permission of instructors. Admission to the class is a competitive process based on the student proposal and script.
CMCO 482 Advanced Production Workshop II
3 hours. Offered 2008-09. This course continues the project started in Advanced Production Workshop I into postproduction, including editing, sound design, color correction, and DVD authoring.
Prerequisite: CMCO 481 or permission of instructors.
CMCO 490 Senior Portfolio
1 hour. This class helps prepare students for entry into the professional realm by developing networking and marketing strategies, and by preparing a professional reel of their best work, which will be critiqued by members of the local media industry. (To be taken during the student's senior year.)
CMCO 495 Special Study
1-3 hours. Individual study in an area of special interest to the student. Offered to exceptional students at the discretion of a faculty member.