Scoring for Film and Multi-Media Audio 206 - Spring Quarter - 2012

Syllabus
Instructor: Dan ny McCollim
Ph# 533-3238
Room: Bld 15/221
Office: Bld 15/115
Email: dan nym@spokanefalls.edu
Text: Complete Guide to Film Scoring Richard Davis
Prerequisites: Audio 205, Audio 219 and concurrent e nrollme nt in Audio 220, 259
Cours e D e s cription:
The Film Scoring course is an introduction to the Post-Production process. The Independent Film,
Videography, and Video Game industry has had steady growth over the years and there is need for skilled
video/music editors, composers/orchestrators, sound designers, game developers, in this thriving industry.
This course introduces the student to the art scoring for visual media beginning with a brief history of the
film industry, through the process of writing the score, and finally to an explanation of the music business as
it pertains to the visual media industry.
The student will develop a foundation of creative musical skills including basic composition, counterpoint,
basic orchestration, and further develop computer/synthesis and music notation skills. Students will learn
the techniques of preparing synchronous music for use with visual media and an introduction to writing
interactive music for video games using the Lua scripting system. Student will complete a portfolio that will
include a finished score of a short film clip and movie trailer, fully produced and synchronized to a QT movie
format, and a functioning interactive video game using the Pipmak game engine and possibly Unity.

Cours e Req uirem e nt s:

While no previous film scoring experience/knowledge is required, a fundamental background in
contemporary harmony and a functional ability with Pro Tools digital audio software and Finale notation
software is essential. A basic ability to read and notate music is also important.

Cours e Outcom e s:
The main goal of this course is to guide you through the various stages in the post-production process as it
pertains to music. Expected outcomes upon successful completion of the course:

Analyze and express an understanding of various dramatic situations used in visual media
Identify various video techniques and terminology used in the 3 stages of the video production
process
Demonstrate a facility with fundamental scoring techniques
Identify basic human emotional response to music and developing a musical code.
Spot music to several short visual sequences of varying content
Understand the various positions and responsibilities in the visual media/post-production industry
Create and implement original music for an interactive environment using the Pipmak game engine

Cours e Sc hed u le:

Le s s o n 1

Le s s o n 2

Le s s o n 3

Drama and Mu s ic

Course introduction and Syllabus discussion.

Overview of the History of Film Music
Lesson 1 Drama and Music (download from course web site)
Reading assignment: Chapters 1 and 2
Quiz - Lesson 1

Describe how the music enhances viewers perception of a visual scene

List three categories of dramatic functions of film scoring
Identify specific dramatic functions of given music

Dramatic Fu nctio n s

Spotting for Mu s ic

Le s s o n 4

Film Termino logy a nd Dramatic Applicatio n

Le s s o n 5

Technical issues file size and

Developing 3 interactive game play modes for game action.
Developing Stingers for game

Spotting a nd Scoring a Cut Sc e ne

Le s s o n 8

Testing the Waters- Exploring the Pipmak Demo game

Learning some basic syntax to play sound in game
Converting Wav to Vorbis Ogg using Audacity audio software

Creating int eractiv e m u s ic for v id e o game

Le s s o n 7

List the three stages of film production

Identify/use terms related to the structural/dramatic components of a scene
Relate film-scoring terms to scenes spotted for music, for determining dramatic
support and emphasis
Analyze a scene's structural components

Exploring Pipmak Game E ngine

Le s s o n 6

Identify areas in a film where music enhances the drama

Log the starting and ending points for music in various scenes
Consider the relationship between other visual and sound elements within a scene to
assess the dramatic need for and specific placement of music.
Spot music for several dramatic scenes that have no music

LC final project.
Recording ADR, Foley, Sound Design, Sound Effects and original Soundtrack

Profe s s io na l ScoringPreparations a nd Applicatio n

Exploring business opportunities in multimedia market

Developing Demo Reel

Grading Policy

Grading is determined on project completions, assignments, demonstration of software functions, attendance

and Tests scores.
Your grades will be determined using the percentage you achieve of the total according to the following table:
Percentage
> 97
> 94 but <
97
>90 but <
94
> 85 but <
90
> 80 but <
85
> 75 but <
80

Letter
Gr a de
A+

G PA
4.0

3.7-3.9

A-

3.4-3.6

B+

3.1-3.3

2.8 -3.0

B-

2.4 -2.7

Percentage
> 70 but <
75
> 65 but <
70
> 60 but
<65
> 55 but
<60
> 50 but <
55
< 50

Letter
Gr a de
C+

G PA
2.0-2.3

1.6 1.9

C-

1.3 1.5

D+

1.0 1.2

0.7 0.9

0.0

Text: The Complete Guide To Film Scoring (The Art and Business of Writing Music for Movies and TV). Richard Davis
We will provide you with classroom materials. You will be required to print materials on your own time/at your
own cost throughout the quarter. It will be your responsibilit y to collect these materials systematically in your
binder.
Course Web Site: The online syllabus web site will be a critical feature of the course. As the course progresses you
will be able to find assignments, problems with solutions, links to online activities, our course schedule, and
even this syllabus. Here is the site address: http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/. You can navigate here from the SFCC
home page by choosing Online Syllabus under the Current Students heading to the left of the page. Then scroll
to click on the following link. McCollim, Danny Music Technology. Film Scoring (Audio 206) Pass Word is fs101.
Attendance Policy:
* Excused absences are those that are pre-approved by the instructor, that is, the instructor OKs or is informed of the
absence prior to the class. In certain rare cases such as serious illness, or other emergencies when its impossible to
contact the instructor before the absence, the student may be granted an excused absence upon review of the case.
Supporting documentation or evidence (i.e. a doctors note) will be required. Make-up exams will only be granted for
excused absences.
* If a student is absent on the day of an exam, quiz or when an assignment or project is due, the student will receive a
0% grade for that particular item. Late assignments and projects will only be accepted from those students with excused
absences.
* Since this course is very lecture oriented, missing more than 6 classes total, excused or not, during the quarter (app
20%) will result in class failure.
* Being tardy (10 minutes late) to class will be marked as an absence.

Commentary: This course will give you an insight into how music has an effect on the human response
and how it can change or enhance our moods and evoke certain emotions.
Even if you never again attempt to compose music after this program, you will at least have an
understanding of why certain music is chosen for its dramatic content. You will hopefully develop at least
an understanding and an appreciation for other genres and styles of music. This will carry over into your

careers as audio engineers. You need a good understanding of many styles of music to make good
objective choices when tracking, mixing or when choosing music for post-production work. Broadening
your knowledge base has two effects; it allows you to think critically about your choices and gives a
respect for the creative process.
This industry is very competitive and any background and experience you can bring to the table is going to
give you an edge on your competition.