Spring courses examine comic book writing, movie biz, doc making, media message makers
Still looking for courses to fill your spring schedule? A few have been added recently or have opened to more students. Check with your advisor and/or the instructor, where noted, before registering for these courses.
New Media School professor of practice Michael Uslan will teach two one-credit mini-courses this spring, both offered through telecommunications.
- T453 (section 34152)The Business of Motion Pictures is an intensive week-long session designed to expose students to producing movies in today’s Hollywood. Included are discussions of the revolutionary changes taking place in film distribution (with emphasis on new media and the rise of China) and how those changes affect content delivered globally across multiple platforms. From development to packaging to financing and marketing, topics in this course will provide an overview of a rapidly evolving industry. Class meets at various times on these dates: Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 1, 6, 7, 8.
- T453 (section 34153) Writing for Comic Books, Graphic Novels and Animation is a week-long session designed to make it clear that it is not enough to be “creative” or a “creative writer” to be successful in comic book writing. Professional writers will supplement the week’s teaching with practical experience they have learned the hard way. Writers must not only write, they must market themselves and their work in today’s crowded global landscape, so the course also will address how a writer gets published, gets representation and makes a living. Class meets at various times on these dates: Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 1, 6, 7, 8.
To gain admission to either class, prospective students must email Uslan to explain their “passion for a chosen profession or future in the evolving motion picture/television/new media brave new world,” he says.
Communication and Culture lecturer Susanne Schwibs will teach C435 Documentary Filmmaking: Theory and Practice, a hands-on course that explores the variety of documentary film practices from the beginnings of cinema to today. Through screenings, readings and hands-on projects, students will examine fundamental issues such as realism, voice, ethics and objectivity. Students also will create several documentary shorts in a number of production formats, including ENG video, DSLR and Super-8 film. The class meets 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Journalism professor of practice Elaine Monaghan will teach J560 The Media and the Message Makers: Journalism Meets Public Relations. In this skills-heavy, fast-paced class, graduate students (and select undergraduate students) will work collaboratively with support from the instructor to examine coverage of recent and current news events from the perspective of the journalist and the strategic communicator.
Students will learn how to write accurate news headlines, create persuasive email subject lines and craft irresistible 15-second pitch calls; develop strategies and tactics to get past the message to the truth; examine and create news events; apply a critical eye to the news; and publish our stories, blogs and fixes to real-world cases on a course website. Students also will learn the smart use of Twitter, Reddit, Storify, Tumblr and any other online platforms as they shape news coverage and messaging strategies in an environment anchored in the best traditions and practices of responsible, ethical journalism and public relations.
A graduate-level course, undergraduates also may register with instructor permission (email Monaghan). The class will meet 9:30-10:45 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays.