COMM 2400 - Production and Distribution Fundamentals

Catalog Description:
Students in this course will gain a practical understanding of the planning and distribution of media productions and film projects.  This course incorporates budget; recruitment of crew and talent; preparation of sets, props, and costumes; and marketing media strategies. In addition to learning through lectures, screenings, and labs to gain an in-depth understanding and working knowledge of the business side of media, students will use digital technology to optimize media for broadcast, web, commercial, and social-media outlets across various devices.  Digital methods will include media streaming, DVD authoring, television, and podcasting.  Special attention will be given to providing students with practical experience in preparing their own media portfolio for presentation to prospective employers, clients, and college or university admission.  

Course Objectives:  
At the completion of this course, the student should be able to: 
1. Identify the fundamentals of video and audio compression.
2. Explain the connection of the digital workflow and media distribution with content and communication goals.
3. Identify the common video distribution codecs and formats and explain the benefits and disadvantages of each.
4. Explain how contemporary devices have shaped the development of media codec’s.
5. Identify and explain the development of current trends in media distribution.
6. Identify and explain suitable strategies for marketing a media production or film project.

Text:    
Compression for Great Video & Audio, 2nd ed., by Ben Waggoner

Requirements: 
Class attendance/participation, during critiques, group work, quizzes, exams and presentations.
This class consists of a series of lectures and multimedia presentations.  ALL WRITTEN WORK SUBMITTED MUST BE TYPED.   

NO LATE PAPERS OR PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON. All assigned work will be collected on the due date at the beginning of class (unless otherwise noted). This means if you forget your paper, you cannot hand it in later in the day. If you are sick and do not attend class, you cannot hand in the paper later. Any work that is not handed in on time will be recorded as a  “0.”

Grading: 
4 quizzes 5% each for a total of - 20% 
1 Writing Assignment - 5%
Audio encoding Assignment – 5%
Video encoding Assignment – 5%
Midterm exam  - 20%
Presentation/Portfolio Assignment  - 25%
Final exam  - 20%

You will also be evaluated on attendance, attitude, promptness, meeting deadlines, and demonstrating initiative. Points are given for demonstrating acceptable school and workplace behavior, completing assignments/projects, participating in group/class activities and demonstrating other areas stated above. Points are deducted for unacceptable behavior, absences, etc. Extra points may be added for superior participation or demonstration of specific competencies, etc. 

Attendance:
If you will be missing class for any reason the instructors should be notified before class.  You will be working in teams and members of your production team will be counting on your attendance and contribution to each production/assignment.  
In the real world of work, you must meet deadlines. If you don’t, you simply lose your job. Deadlines are critically important in the field you have chosen to study: communications. Without deadlines, radio and TV programs would never get broadcast, and newspapers wouldn’t get printed on time. 

English Department Attendance Policy 
“Class attendance is vital to student success because it provides opportunities to enhance learning by interacting with fellow classmates and instructors. With this goal in mind, the English Department created its attendance policy. When students register for a course which meets on a specific day(s) and time, they are consenting to be on time and present. Faculty members follow the policy in an effort to treat everyone equally. Remember that absences should be used only if absolutely necessary for bereavement, serious illness, court appearances, and other unavoidable circumstances.”

Accommodations:

The Disability Services Office (DDS) provides support services and coordinates reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  Students are responsible for identifying themselves to the DDS office and submitting appropriate documentation in advance of the requested accommodation.  For more information, contact DDS: (401) 825-2164 in Warwick, (401) 333-7329 in Lincoln, (401) 455-6064 in Providence and (401) 851-1650 in Newport.

Weekly Schedule

Week	Ch.	Topic	
1	1&2	Introduction / Light, Sound, Uncompressed Video & Audio / The Pre-Production Plan	
2	3&4	Fundamentals of Compression/Digital Video Production Workflow /  Budgeting	
3	5&6	Quiz / Preprocessing / Casting & Crew	
4	7-9	Video & Audio Codecs / Production Plan / lab / Audio Project Issued 	
5	10-13	Quiz/ MP3 & MEPG-4  / lab / Directing 	
6	14&15	H.264 / Flash Video / Audio Project Due / Equipment Purchases & Rentals /Video Project Issued	
7	16&17	Midterm Exam / Windows Media &VC1 / Written Assignment Issued 	
8	18,19&21	Video Project Due / Final Project Issued / Portfolio Strategy	
9	22-24	Web Video & Html 5/ Optical Disc / Phones & Devices / quiz / Distribution Planning	
10	25&26	Marketing Strategies for your media production or film project / lab / writing assignment due	
11	27&28	QuickTime & Mac OS & Media on Windows / quiz /lab	
12		Market Opportunity and Segmentation / lab	
13		Flash & Silverlight / lab	
14		Final Project Due - Present, Screen & Critique	
15		Final Exam