GRADUATE SEMINAR 2013-14

(Updated Dec 17, 2013: Winter Schedule) Course Course Webpage/blog Program Prerequisite/Co-requisite Term Time and Location Course Instructor Office E-dress Phone Office Hours FA/Film 5400 Graduate Seminar 3.0 http://54002013.pbworks.com Graduate Programs in Film, Screenwriting, Cinema & Media Studies None Fall/Winter 2013-14 Selected Thursdays, 2-6pm in CFT 239 (plus additional times and locations as noted) John Greyson, Graduate Program Director CFT 228 johngreyzone@gmail.com 647-272-0386 Wednesdays 2-5pm (book appointment via email)

Expanded Course Description Film 5400 Graduate Seminar helps graduate students in the Film MFA and Cinema & Media Studies MA and PhD programs develop relevant skills, related to the study, production, presentation and critical appreciation of moving image media. The Seminar encourages students in the three streams of the Graduate Program Cinema & Media Studies, Production, and Screenwriting to congregate, share ideas and initiate collaborative creative and scholarly projects. All masters students are required to take Film 5400 over the course of their full-time studies. Evaluation is primarily based on attendance at Grad Seminar events in Fall and Winter of first year and Fall of second year, including evening screenings and presentations. Film 5400 culminates in Graduate Symposium, when MA students present on their Major Research Projects (MRP) and MFA students present on their thesis projects. Although students are required to attend Grad Seminar in first year, they do not officially enroll in the course until Fall of their second year. Grades for Film 5400 are recorded at the end of Fall of the second year. Grades are based on attendance, engagement with classmates and course material, participation in a collective curatorial project, and the completion of their Grad Symposium presentation. FIlm 5400 for 1st year Masters and Doctoral students is officially scheduled for selected Thursdays 2-6pm, as well as additional sessions indicated below. Students are encouraged to come early to talk and hang out. Because the course is spread out over three terms, it meets semi-regularly according to the schedule below. Please diarize dates and locations for Grad Seminar so that you do not miss sessions. This schedule is also subject to change. Organization of the Course Each Thursday afternoon class will be split between practical sessions and critical presentations, in relation to the priorities of the graduate program. Events will include panels, screenings, and public lectures. Students will attend all scheduled classes and events, and participate actively, both in discussions and through postings on the course blog. In addition, each student will work collaboratively with others on the curation, coordination, promotion and presentation of one of the following: Depth of Field panel/screening: Depth of Field is an ongoing downtown series of screenings of recent MFA thesis films; York Film Downtown is an occasional series of panels involving alumni and working film artists/theorists addressing current issues. This year, the Grad Seminar will combine these two series, curating and coordinating five evening combos of panels/ screenings at Cinecycle, 401 Richmond St. W. Attendance optional (you are expected to blog about 2 of the 5 events 500 words + per posting -- see topic threads on blog).

 Rebels with a Cause event: Rebels is an annual York film festival, co-presented by OPIRG and new partner Cinema Politica, dedicated to new activist and social-change cinema -- http://rebelsfilmfest.wordpress.com. Attendance optional (you are expected to blog about at least one event 500 words + per posting -- see topic threads on blog). Cinema Politica event: Cinema Politica is the largest campus and community based documentary screening network in the world -- http://www.cinemapolitica.org/). Attendance optional (you are expected to blog about 2 of the 5 Cinema Politicas 500 words + per posting -- see topic threads on blog). In addition, each MA and MFA student will present at Grad Symposium in December, 2014. Course Learning Objectives Students will be trained in various fundamental skills related to their work and research as grad students, including grantwriting, research techniques, and teaching skills. In addition, they will critically engage with contemporary theories and practices of diverse moving image media, through the presentations of visiting artists, collective discussions on the course blog, and participation/involvement in the various public screenings and panels. Course Readings Occasional readings will be made available on the course blog. Course Blog Each student will post regularly on the course blog: 54002013.pbworks.com Evaluation/Grading Attendance 40 % Participation/Class Blog 20 Collective coordination of Panel/Screening 20 Grad Symposium Presentation 20 Additional Grad Seminar follows York standards for Graduate courses, including those for grading, ethics, lateness, academic honesty, access, disability, religious observance, absence due to health reasons, student conduct, etc. All graduate students in masters and the doctoral program are invited to attend any Grad Seminar session. Required attendance is noted by the code below: M1: attendance by first year MFA and MA students REQUIRED M2: attendance by second year MFA and MA students REQUIRED PhD1: attendance by first year Phd students REQUIRED Locations CFT 130 Centre for Film & Theatre, main studio beside equipment room CFT 239 Centre for Film & Theatre, 2nd floor at end of offices corridor (opposite end from Grad Reading Room) Nat Taylor N102 in Ross Building, ground floor film departments favourite theatre Cinecycle, in an old coach house down the lane behind 129 Spadina Ave., on the east side between Richmond St. W. and Adelaide St. W

WINTER BREAK _______________________________________ Wed, Jan 8 3-6pm ACW 206 M1 + PhD1+ M2

LECTURE

PETER MORRIS MEMORIAL LECTURE: WENDY CHUN

Lecture by new media scholar Professor Wendy Chun. Check out story: http://www.yorku.ca/yuevents/index.asp?Event=30933&utm_source=YFile_Email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign =MorningEmail _______________________________________ Thur, Jan 9 2-4pm Nat Taylor Tech workshop for undergrads and grads attendance optional

PANEL

GOIN POSTAL: PRACTICAL & CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR POSTING YOUR FILM

Speakers will address range of practical and creative issues related to editing and finishing your fiction, doc or alt film Ali Kazimi-- workflow issues from cam to edit to colour correx, based on the Fiction 2 shoots Jon Hedley -- York facilities -- final cut vs avid -- espec our inhouse online/colour correx options Manfred Becker -- picture editing issues -- organization of edit; creative working relationships, work flows, scheds Steve Munro -- sound edit issues -- spotting sessions -- working in pro tools -- York in-house mix options -Isaiah Garcia -- working with composers -- spotting sessions -- creative issues Avril Jacobson picture editor top 10 dos and donts of working with a director Moderator: John Greyson -Each panelist will have 8 min -- will show clips/powerpoints -- followed by general discussion and Q & A _______________________________________ Thur, Jan 9 4:15-6pm CFT 239 M1

GRAD SEM #7

WENDY CHUN

Guest speaker (Peter Morris Lecturer) Wendy Chun, question and answer with grad students, moderated by Ken Jacobs ________________________________ Thur, Jan 16 3-6pm CFT 239 M1

GRAD SEM #8

PROMO & PRECIS CLINICS

2-3:30pm: Curatorial Updates go-round/brainstorm/updates on each curatorial project -- and a clinic on curatorial strategies and Promotion how to focus the topic of your event, and how to build an audience and try to solve that eternally perplexing problem why dont York students attend events at York? With John Greyson 3:30-5pm Precis Clinic field trip to the Absinthe Pub, where groups of 3-4 students across streams will workshop, brainstorm and edit each others 1-2 page prcis (folks you havent worked with before) a good opp for feedback outside of your stream, in advance of the faculty feedback sessions. HOMEWORK : Send 1-2 page prcis (summary of your proposed thesis/MRP) by Sun Jan 19 midnight to GPDs who will circulate to all faculty, in preparation for stream-specific feedback sessions on 23rd (MFAs) and 30th (MAs). This prcis is distinct from your 5-6 page proposal, which is due in March and following the approval by your supervisory committee, will be submitted to FGS. In contrast, this prcis is only intended to acquaint faculty with your research interests, and give us something to respond to in the feedback sessions. _______________________________________ Thur, Jan 16 8pm Cinecycle Attendance optional

DEPTH OF FIELD

THE NEW FRONTIER: ONLINE DISTRIBUTION IN MEDIA

The digital landscape is still a new one, rife with mystery and peculiar phenomena. The rules are few, the successes are baffling, and everyone with a keyboard, mic, or camera has a voice. So how does one rise above? How do folks get noticed, find an audience, or turn a profit? 'The New Frontier! Online Distribution in Media' panel will chat with creators, producers, and funders to try and make sense of that most wondrous of worlds: the internet. Panelists: Jill Golick (York professor, Writers Guild of Canada President & successful indie webseries creator); Carly McGowan (manager of the Independent Production Fund, a major funder in the webseries world); Stephanie Ouaknine (associate producer at Smokebomb Entertainment, the digital media arm of major Canadian media company Shaftesbury). Curators: Rob, Alex, Juan, Erik And Daniel

______________________________________ Fri, Jan 17 1-6pm CFT 104 Pre-registration required

WORKSHOP

INTRO TO RED CAMERA

NOTE: at 1-2pmpm, an intro to the Red DVD will be played in 104. Also links will be forwarded to participants in advance of workshop. Instructor: Rozette Ghadery (cinematographer, director, York MFA) A hands-on workshop for directors wishing to collaborate with a Red-approved cinematographer. Students will be given an introductory orientation on the Red, review practical workflow issues (2K vs 4K, post decisions, etc) and collaboratively shoot a variety of shots which exploit the specific strengths of this camera. (Reminder: this workshop does NOT qualify any participant to sign out the Red as per established policies, the Red can only be accessed by cinematographers approved by the Department and its reserved for thesis projects). Pre-registration required email johngreyzone@gmail.com _______________________________________ Thur, Jan 23 2-5:30pm CFT 239 1st year MFAs

GRAD SEM #9A

FACULTY FEEDBACK ON MFA THESIS PRECIS

The purpose of this session is for MFA students to present their thesis prcis to, and critically engage with, our fulltime production and screenwriting faculty speed dating at 24 fps -- with the goal of meeting each other and identifying good matches for the supervisory committees. Format: Faculty will read 1-2 page prcis in advance (sent to them on Sunday, Jan 19). In this session, each student will summarize their written prcis (5 min, verbal summary only, no clips or powerpoint), followed by 10 min of Q & A. Reverse alphabetical order. MAs welcomes to observe. HOMEWORK: Following this session, each MFA should finalize this 1-2 page Thesis prcis (and include short list of faculty who you think might be good for your supervisory committee note: this will be kept confidential and only seen by the GPD) -- and send by Fri Jan 24 midnight to GPD (John) who will then re-circulate to faculty. GPDs will then work with faculty and students to form supervisory committees by early Feb. (Note: while best efforts are made to match students up with faculty of their choice, and vice versa, it sometimes isnt possible, due to schedule conflicts, sabbaticals, other commitments its a process that has to be fair to the whole group thanks in advance for your understanding!)

_______________________________________ Thur, Jan 30 2-5:30pm CFT 239 1st Year MA

GRAD SEM #9B

FACULTY FEEDBACK ON MA THESIS PRECIS

The purpose of this session is for MA students to present their thesis prcis to, and critically engage with, our fulltime CMS faculty speed dating at 24 fps -- with the goal of meeting each other and identifying good matches for the supervisory committees. Format: Faculty will read 1-2 page prcis in advance (sent to them on Sunday, Jan 19). In this session, each student will summarize their written prcis (5 min, verbal summary only, no clips or powerpoint), followed by 10 min of Q & A. Reverse alphabetical order. MFAs welcomes to observe. HOMEWORK: Following this session, each MA should finalize this 1-2 page Thesis prcis (and include short list of faculty who you think might be good for your supervisory committee note: this will be kept confidential and only seen by the GPD) -- and send by Fri Jan 31 midnight to GPD (Brenda) who will then re-circulate to faculty. GPDs will then work with faculty and students to form supervisory committees by early Feb. (Note: while best efforts are made to match students up with faculty of their choice, and vice versa, it sometimes isnt possible, due to schedule conflicts, sabbaticals, other commitments its a process that has to be fair to the whole group thanks in advance for your understanding!) ______________________________________ Thurs, Jan 30 8pm Cinecycle

DEPTH OF FIELD

PLACES WITH MEANING: SHORT CANADIAN PICKS

A program of recent shorts exploring ideas and representations of place Sabrina Ratte, Auroratone (2012) 3 mins Chris Landerth, Subconscious Password, (2013), 11 min Martin Thibaudeau, Reflexions, (2012), 5 min Peter Mettler, Away, (2007), 3 min Christine Negus, Slit Me A River (2013) 4:36 mins

Ray Fenwick, I Will Always Love You (2009) 1:30 mins Scott Fitzpatrick, Places With Meaning (2012) 2:50 mins Christine Lucy Latimer, Mosaic (2002) 3:20 mins Vinh Truong, Cock Mountain (2007) 5:02 mins Curators: Leslie, Sama, Franco. _______________________________________ Fri, Jan 31 10-6pm CFT 130 Pre-registration required

WORKSHOP

BLOCKING FOR THE CAMERA

John Greyson will lead participants through a directors approach to blocking from the camera, from scene analysis and shotlisting/storyboarding to three hands-on approaches for how to block both your actors and camera on set. Participants will break into smaller groups and practice sbooting short dramatic scenes. Pre-registration required: johngreyzone@gmail.com _______________________________________ Thur, Feb 13 2-5pm CFT 239 M1

GRAD SEM #9:

FEATURE FILM FINANCING WORKSHOP

Producer Jennifer Jonas and writer/director/producer Leonard Farlinger of New Real Films, will present case studies of the various features theyve produced, examining the lures and limits of such financial models as broadcast, Telefilm, arts council, and crowd-sourcing. _______________________________________ Fri, Feb 14 noon-4pm CFT 130 Pre-registration required

WORKSHOP

INTENSIVE INTRO TO CINEMA LIGHTING

Instructor: Maya Bankovic (cinematographer, My Prairie Home, Murder in Passing) and Gaffer TBA A hands-on introductory lighting workshop for dramatic cinema. Working in small groups, students will be given a thorough orientation on basics of lighting, learn technical and creative fundamentals, and collaboratively light and shoot several simple dramatic scenes. Pre-registration required email johngreyzone@gmail.com _______________________________________ Wed, Feb 26 8pm Cinecycle

DEPTH OF FIELD

MY PRARIE HOME SCREENING

MFA alum Chelsea McMullen latest film, My Prarie Home, about singer-songwriter Rae Spoon, just premiered at Sundance catch this exclusive sneak preview and meet Chelsea and some of her collaborators. Curators: Amber, Raheem, Natalie, Shabaz _______________________________________ Thurs, Feb 27 6pm Nat Taylor

CINEMA POLITICA FEATURE LENGTH FINANCING IN TORONTO

PANEL: with two members of MDFF production company Christopher Heron of The Seventh Art Ingrid Veninger who created the 1K Wave last year Peter Kingstone from the Toronto Arts Council.. Curators: Zain, Francine, Neil ______________________ Fri, Feb 28 2-6pm CFT 130 Pre-registration required

WORKSHOP

INTRO CINEMATOGRAPHY

Instructor: Maya Bankovic A hands-on introductory camera workshop for dramatic/doc/alt cinema, focusing on the Canon 5D/7D. Working in small groups, students will be given a thorough orientation on basics of DSLR shooting, learn technical and creative fundamentals, including workflow, and collaboratively shoot several simple dramatic, documentary and alt scenes. Preregistration required email johngreyzone@gmail.com

_______________________________________ Thur, Mar 6 6pm Nat Taylor

CINEMA POLITICA BDS MOVEMENT & PALESTINIAN CINEMA

Titles and speakers TBA Curators: Kami, Mahsa And Karam _______________________________________ Fri, Mar 7 2-4pm Alter Ego Pre-registration required

WORKSHOP

INTRO TO COLOUR GRADING

Instructor: Conor Fisher A field trip to Alter Ego, one of the premiere post facilities in Toronto. York Film Alum Conor Fisher will lead a workshop in colour grading. Pre-registration required: johngreyzone@gmail.com _______________________________________ Thur, Mar 13 & Fri Mar14 Nat Taylor

PHD SYMPOSIUM CORPUS COLLEGIUM

A 2-day symposium for Film 08 and 09 Phd Candidates to present their research Mar 13 1:30 3:30pm Panel #1: Panelists to be announced Mar 13 4:00-6:00pm Panel #2: Panelists to be announced Mar 14 11:30 1:30pm Panel #3: Panelists to be announced Mar 14 2:00-4:00pm Keynote: Michael Snow in conversation with Corpus Callosum collaborator Greg _________ Mar 14 4:15 6:00pm GRAD PARTY, Future Cinema Lab, Goldfarb, 3rd floor _______________________________________ Thur, Mar 20 2-6pm CFT 239 M1

GRAD SEM

RESEARCH IN THE ARCHIVES

Panel with Prof. Janine Marchessault, Phd Cand. Genne Speers, U of T Professor James Cahill concerning their various adventures with archival research. Includes guided tour of Ontario Archives.