Major Project #2 – Choose One of the Following Options

Students will work in pairs on Major Project #2.

For all options:

Due Dates:
Treatment – March 2 (on A2L)
Fine Cut – April 6 (on A2L) – students will screen Fine Cuts in class
Final Finished Video – April 17 (on A2L)

• Write a treatment about your project (that answers all questions on the ‘treatment plan’ form)
• Pitch your concept/treatment to either the TA or Prof in class on March 2
• Pitch your concept/project to your peers in a peer-to-peer workshop on March 13
• Return to the Treatment submission folder (on A2L) and summarize the feedback you
received in from instructors and the peer-to-peer workshop
• Create a 2-5 minute video based on the specs for the option chosen
• You must submit a written support summary, minimum 200 words, with the Fine Cut of
your project (on A2L)
• You must upload your Fine Cut to A2L by noon on the day of the class critique, April 6
• You must upload your Final Finished Video to Avenue to Learn using the correct naming
protocol

Please note: All projects must incorporate some animation - whether it is an animated title
sequence, animated sequences within the larger video, combinations of live video and animation,
rotoscoping, etc. The entire piece could also be a form of animation such as stop motion.

More on written summaries:

Write a reflection that describes your intention and outlines your process. Clearly define
your conceptual and formal approach to the project as well as how your project responds to the
assignment brief. Include information and details about your technical approach. Remember to
include terminology from readings and lectures to help articulate your project. (Double-spaced,
12 point font.) This should be submitted at the Fine Cut stage.

Technical Details:
1. At the end of your video, place a 3-second end credit with the following information: Your
Name, MEDIAART 2B06 Major Project #2, McMaster University, Winter 2023.

2. Render your sequence and export to Quicktime (.mov) or .mp4 using the following naming
protocol: lastname__lastname_MP2_option. For example:
platt_huang_MP2_HbridMedia.mp4

MARKING
In general, your final project will be assessed on the following criteria:

• concept: creativity/originality/clarity of idea/fulfills assignment brief/fresh approach

• technique: technical skills and formal choices, including cinematography, lighting, art
direction, sound design, editing, graphics, titles
• realization: how all the elements come together: structure, organization, pacing, cohesion,
story arc, integration of all elements
• engagement: ambition/effort/experimentation/risk-taking
• incorporation of feedback: respond to and make changes based on feedback received during
class critique, feedback from prof or TAs, and your own assessment of areas in need of
improvement

Please note that Fine Cuts do not have a specific rubric and are marked, in large part, on
amount of work completed to date.

DEDUCTIONS
(all deductions will be taken off your final average for your completed video)
-10 for not showing your Fine Cut in class on critique day (note: one student can represent the
group in Fine Cut critique and there will be no deduction)
-5 for failure to submit a written summary
-2 for improper naming protocol

Choose one option:

Option #1 – Multi-genre
This option focuses on exploring different approaches to the same subject. For this option
students will complete two videos – one a Public Service Announcement (PSA) and the other one
in any genre. The subject matter should be the same, but the approach/theme/concept should be
different. PSA video should be standard 30 seconds or one minute; second video should be 3-4
minutes in length; maximum 5 minutes.

Description:
For context: Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are short, didactic, videos that contain a
clear and forceful message. They are intended to convince the viewer of something (such as
bullying is bad, drugs mess with your mind, or climate change is real) and often contain a clever
hook or reveal at the end. They are explicit and don’t normally leave any ambiguity about the
position being taken on the subject.

In this Project you will create a two short videos about a subject you have chosen and that you
care about. The first video will be a PSA (of a standard length) and the second video will be in
any genre. For example, let’s say you chose to make a PSA about the dangers of smoking
cigarettes. For your second video, you would address this subject from a different
perspective. For example, you might make an impressionistic remix of old B&W Hollywood
films that show how smoking was represented as cool, sexy, and ubiquitous. Or you might make
a personal film about how hard it was for you to quit smoking. Or you might make a short
documentary about your grandmother who died of lung cancer. Or you might make a more
abstract and expressionistic video of close-ups of (someone blowing) smoke rings. The goal is to
demonstrate distinctly different approaches to the same subject matter across your two
videos. For this reason, your open genre video should not make the same argument – or take up
the same position - as your PSA.
-You can use music (copyright free or made by you), but not songs (unless source is visible in
the video). Music must not be over the entire video and video must not be edited to the beat
of music. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a ZERO for the project.

Option #2 – Video poem

This option focuses on cinematography, formal innovation, thematic development, evocation
over explanation, juxtaposition/montage, abstract/gestural compositions, sound design, and
non-narrative/experimental approaches to time-based media.
Final video should be 2-3 minutes in length; maximum 4 minutes.

Description:
Create a time-based media project using a short poem (max 40 words). Visualize the poem
by considering what images best represent the feeling or theme the poem is expressing.
Consider visual metaphors that will complement (but not illustrate) the poem. You can use
voice to narrate the poem or you can use text on the screen. It is important that you choose a
poem that you can connect with and that your project reflects the poem and the feeling it gives
you. What is your sound design like? Will you have the poem narrated? Fifty percent of this
mark will be given for sound treatment.

- You should use sound effects to develop a complex sound design to accompany your visual
track. Think about what sounds will enhance and support your visual track both conceptually and
formally, and how you want the viewer to experience the poem (as spoken words/narration, as
text on screen, or as a combination).

-You can use music (copyright free or made by you), but not songs. Music must not be over the
entire video and video must not be edited to the beat of music. Failure to follow these
guidelines will result in a ZERO for the project.

Examples:
Grief Without Fantasy, by Midi Onodera http://midionodera.com/film/grief-without-fantasy/
Someone Who Is Like No One, by Aeyliya Husain https://vimeo.com/122770915
Password: someone

Poets who (sometimes) work in short form: Joy Harjo, Billy Collins, Claudia Rankine, Lydia
Davis, Brian Blanchfield, Christopher Soto, and Elaine Sexton.
Websites of poetry journals: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine;
https://thefiddlehead.ca/; https://aprweb.org/; https://poets.org/poem-a-day;
http://www.threepennyreview.com/; https://arcpoetry.ca/

Option #3 – Hybrid Media

This option focuses on mixed genres (such as combinations of animated titles, graphics,
animation, and live video), non-traditional editing (dissolving rather than cutting), visual
storytelling, formal innovation, and sound design. This option can incorporate narrative,
documentary, and experimental forms of time-based media.
Final video should be 2-3 minutes in length; maximum 4 minutes.

Description:
Building off concepts in the Manovich essay, create a hybrid project that mixes multiple forms
(such as animation, motion graphics, kinetic typography, and live action) – what Manovich calls
‘deep remix’ – or explore what Manovich describes as the transformation of the basic filmic
grammar, from the ‘cut’ to layers that transform and overtake the imagery (as can be achieved in
After Effects). Consider how this approach could relate to non-time-based media forms such as
painting and collage. The subject matter and theme of your piece is completely open; consider
what types of projects would be best served by this treatment. For example, you could explore
glitch art, kinetic typography, more fantastical or sci-fi subjects, or themes around how
technology impacts our lives.

- You can use music selectively and/or build a soundtrack from sound effects and ambient
sound. Any music with lyrics MUST have the source visible in the scene (from a radio, TV,
person playing the music, etc.) and must not be over the entire duration of the video.

- Music must not be over the entire video and video must not be edited to the beat of music.
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a ZERO for the project.

Examples:
Winchester by Jeremy Blake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-UObceKpk0
Pink Dot by Takeshi Murata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZkY6zFbwgQ
Monster Movie by Takeshi Murata: https://vimeo.com/147761897
Interview with Takeshi Murata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0wALLf75jU