ART 4100: Directing

Instructor: Matthew Herbertz

Phone: 863.680.4133
Email: mherbertz@flsouthern.edu
Class Hours: M/W 1:40 – 3:25pm
Office Location: ART H-205
Office Hours: MW 11:00am – 1:00pm, Friday 11:00am – 12:00pm; All other times by appointment!
Email/youcanbookme to guarantee a meeting!

I am here to help so please, PLEASE, schedule meetings to talk to me about the course. What is
working for you, what you need, what you think could be improved, help on assignments, or to just
chat. I get paid to help you. So, use me. If you wait until course evaluations to complain, you are part of
the problem. Schedule via youcanbookme to guarantee a meeting!

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course reinforces and applies advanced film production on a rotating topic basis. Rigorous attention is
given to film and video production techniques such as writing, directing, cinematography, and editing.
Course may be repeated for credit with different topics.

COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Students will critically analyze film from a 4. Students will understand and challenge the
creator perspective. importance of audience messaging,
2. Students will demonstrate advanced directing responsibility, and ethics.
techniques. 5. Students will demonstrate an ability to
3. Students will be introduced to diverse communicate their vision.
examples of directors and their work. 6. Students will leave with a directing portfolio.

REQUIRED TEXT:

All text provided via PDF on Portal. TBD.

ASSIGNMENTS

Participation 10%
Quizzes 10%
Announced or unannounced over anything.
Projects 35%
EXAM 20%
Test over course content.
Final Directing Packet/Project 35%

GRADING POLICIES

Students are expected to turn in all assigned work on or before the established deadlines. Late work will
lose a FULL LETTER GRADE for each DAY after the deadline.

Late work forfeits the right to professor feedback.

Extra Credit:
If you attend an ART OF FILM at the museum 2%
PITCH me an idea 1%

NO OTHER EXTRA CREDIT OFFERED.

Grades are updated on Portal on a regular basis. I highly recommend staying on top of where you stand.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are expected to attend every class on time. Attendance will be taken at the onset of each class
period. The success of this course relies on students showing up to each class on time. Frequent absences
will result in you failing the class. This is up to the professor.

ELECTRONICS

Use of computers, phones, tablets, etc. are forbidden in class unless otherwise instructed by the professor.
This includes the computers in a lab! The first offense will result in a verbal warning. The second offense
will result in the student’s removal from class. If you have a health issue that requires you to take notes on
your computer please see the Students With Disabilities Statement section.

STATEMENT OF ENGAGED LEARNING

Engaged learning is an approach to teaching and learning in which students are responsible for developing
the skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary for success in life. The role of the professor is to empower
students to achieve these outcomes. The engaged learning method of teaching encourages learners to
conduct meaningful inquiry, reflect, think critically, and develop learning strategies for dealing with real-world
challenges. Engaged learning may take place in a variety of settings using approaches varying in complexity
and tailored to diverse learning styles.

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

As an academic community, Florida Southern College is firmly committed to honor and integrity in the
pursuit of knowledge. Therefore, as a member of this academic community, each student acknowledges
responsibility for his or her actions and commits to the highest standards of integrity. In doing so through
this Honor Code, each student makes a covenant with the college not to engage in any form of academic
dishonesty, fraud, cheating, or theft. Further information on the Honor Code is available in the
current Catalog.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT 2019-2020

Florida Southern College and the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) are committed to providing
accessible and inclusive learning environments for students with disabilities and/or temporary medical
needs. Conditions include but are not limited to mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing,
physical, or health needs. If you anticipate or experience any barriers to learning based on a disability or
temporary medical condition, you are welcome to contact SDS to engage in an interactive process that will
include you, your professor, and SDS to explore solutions.

Your SDS contact is Dr. Marcie Pospichal, Coordinator of Student Disability Services, Carlisle Rogers
Building Room 120, tel: (863) 680-4197, e-mail: disabilityservices@flsouthern.edu. Documentation of
disabilities can also be faxed to Dr. Pospichal at (863) 680-4195.
For more information on disability accommodations and access, please also visit our website at
http://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-resources/student-disability-services.aspx.
STATEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Students in the course may experience and use technology in the form of:
• Research Databases
• Video production equipment.
• Video Editing

DISCLAIMER
This class may screen material that may make some students uncomfortable and may offend/traumatize. I
encourage all students to challenge themselves and engage with all material presented in this class. But, if
a student feels as if they are unable to watch a scene that may contribute to unnecessary post-traumatic
stress, anxiety, panic, religious affiliation, etc. they may be excused from a specific screening and/or for the
duration of the content. I will give necessary warnings to students prior to any potentially disturbing
content. Even though I have this goal, I may not be aware of all images/content that potentially could be
triggering. I ask the students for help, guidance, and understanding of my limitations as an instructor.
Alternative assignments may be given in special circumstances.

College courses are designed to challenge the way in which we think, work, and synthesize information. I
attempt to emulate a workplace environment to best prepare students to enter into their respective job
markets as critical thinkers and creative problem solvers. Written rubrics may be replaced by oral
instruction, last minute work may be assigned, and harsh constructive criticism may be given. As a result, I
encourage you to ask as many questions as possible, embrace skepticism, and challenge EVERY topic
discussed in class.

Consider this syllabus a contract.

Your continued enrollment is equivalent to signing and agreeing to all of the above.

CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK ONE: Introduction READING

Wednesday Jan 8th

Introduction to the course

What is film directing?
Let’s direct! Workshop

WEEK TWO: Script Work

Monday Jan 13th

Director and Actor relationship On Film Directing

How to analyze a script? Preface, Storytelling
Weston Script
Analysis
Proferes CH 2, 3

Wednesday Jan 15th

Breaking down a script Moss CH 1

Character Work/Backstory Proferes CH 7, 9

WEEK THREE: Directing Techniques

Monday January 20th

NO CLASS Weston, Intro,

Result Direction,
Moment by
Moment, Listening
and Talking

Wednesday January 22nd

Techniques Moss CH 2, 3
Moments 4, 5, 9
Workshops Proferes CH 10
Actors and Techniques

ASSIGN SCENES AND PRESENTATION DATES

WEEK FOUR: Rehearsals and Scene Workshops

Monday January 27th

Group Rehearsals Moss CH 10, 11, 15

Westin Reheasals

Wednesday January 29th

Group Rehearsals Moss CH 16

WEEK FIVE: Scene Workshops

Monday February 3rd

Group Rehearsals Weston Actor’s Choices

SCENE 1 Round 1 PRESENT FEB 5th

Wednesday February 5th

PRESENT SCENES

WEEK SIX: Scene Workshops

Monday February 10th

Group Rehearsals

SCENE 1 Round 2 PRESENT FEB 12th

Wednesday February 12th

PRESENT SCENES

WEEK SEVEN: Scene Workshops

Monday February 17th

Group Rehearsals

SCENE 1 Round 3 PRESENT FEB 12th

Wednesday February 19th

PRESENT SCENES

WEEK EIGHT: Casting

Monday February 24th

How to approach casting Westin Casting

Who are they? Proferes CH 10
Auditions

Wednesday February 26th

Casting Resources
Audition Exercises with Actors

NINE: Spring Break

WEEK TEN: Prepping for the Shoot

Monday March 9th

Visual PreProduction On Film Directing

Workshop Where do you the
Light, Space, Sound put Camera?
Proferes Ch 3, 4, 5

FIND GRANTS TO APPLY FOR

Wednesday March 11th

Film Homework and Analysis Research!

Lookbooks and Visual Research
Full Scene Work and Binders
Assign Scenes and Groups

WEEK ELEVEN:

Monday March 16th

Group Rehearsals
Wednesday March 18th

Present Scenes and Visual Strategy

PRESENT SCENES V1 March 23rd

WEEK TWELVE: Scene Workshops/Projects

Monday March 23rd

Present Directing Scene V1

Wednesday March 25th

Group Rehearsals

WEEK THIRTEEN: Scene Workshops/Projects

Monday March 30th

Present Scenes and Visual Strategy

Wednesday April 1st

Present Scenes and Visual Strategy

Present Scenes V 1 DUE APRIL 6th

WEEK FOURTEEN: Exam and Final Projects

Monday April 6th

Present Directing Scenes V1

Review and Workshop day

Wednesday April 8th

EXAM

WEEK FIFTEEN: Final Scene Projects

Monday April 13th

Work on V2 Final Scenes/Films

Wednesday April 15th

Work on V2 Final Scenes/Films

FINAL SCENES/FILMS DUE APRIL 20th and APRIL 22nd

Final PrePro Packets due Aprill 20th and 22nd

WEEK SIXTEEN: Final Crit

Monday April 20th

Final Scenes Crit

Thursday April 22nd

Final Scenes Crit