School of Architecture and Built Environment

Department of Design and Visual Communication

B. A. Program in Design and Visual Communication
Course Code and
DES 318 Experimental Short Films
Name
Prerequisite DES 232 Audiovisual Media and Films
Semester Fall 2010/2011
Course Instructor Ms. Rusaila Bazlamit
Course Co-Instructor Ms. Beesan Arafat
Mr. Abdulsalam Al Hajj
Instructor e-mail Rusaila.bazlamit@gju.edu.jo
Office Hour – Office Mondays, Wednesdays 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Number Room A88
Course Meeting time Section 1: Sundays, Tuesdays 11:00 - 3:00 p.m.
and Place Room A83

.::. Course Description:

A project-based course integrating conceptual communicative thinking and

experimental short filmmaking. The students learn how to shoot, light, and
edit with different sources of film, analog and digital video. Students are
challenged to push the concept in their work beyond storytelling into
experimental narrative, personal self-portrait, and experimental
documentary, and to explore the capabilities of the projected image. Class
demonstrations include techniques in shooting, use of various stocks and
lenses. Lighting, sound recording, and projection techniques are part of
this experience. Projects are preferably realized in co-operation with actual
clients according to real-world demands.

Module Content Weeks

Introduction to the Course 1st
Introduction
Concise History of Experimental Short Films 2nd
Revision of 3rd
Basics of Film Basics of Cinematography
4th
Making and
experimentation Playing with Sound 5th
Re-writing Narratives 6th
experimentation

Experimental Editing and Montage 7th

Pre-Production Logistics 8th
Eid Al Adha [expected] 9th
Experimental Video 10th
Setting up teams and finalizing subjects 11th
Working on the Pre-production stage 12th
experimental
13th
film Shooting
14th
Editing and Montage 15th
Final Exams Period 16th

.::. Projects

In this course the major theme that the students will work on is:
[Identity : ID/Entity]
Students will be making short experimental films that address different
aspects of their own identities.

Project 1: In this project students will express their identity through ID-ing
their Families [Individual]

Project 2: In this project students will express their identity through ID-ing
their beliefs [Individual]

Project 3: In this project students will express their identity through ID-ing
their places : physical [hometown] and nonphysical [society] . This project
will be the main project of the course. [Teamwork]

Detailed project briefs will be given in due time.

Experimental films are self expressive tools and thus students are
encouraged to understand the project briefs in their own ways. Creative
manipulation of the subjects given will be highly appreciated.
.::. Learning Outcomes:

a) Knowledge and Understanding

1. Know the basics of filmmaking and using professional shooting
equipments.
2. Understand the role of sounds in experimental filmmaking
3. Know how to [re]write narratives in experimental filmmaking

b) Intellectual Skills
4. Understand the history and development of Experimental films as a
film genre and their new aesthetic values.
5. Understand the different styles used in experimental films and the
difference between them and the mainstream films.

c) Professional Skills
6. Use all the knowledge and skills attained [as mentioned above] in the
process of creating experimental short films.

d) Transferable skills
7. Enhancing the student's verbal and visual communication of concepts,
compositional quality, visual sensitivity and filmmaking skills.

.::. Teaching Methods:

This course consists of two studio sessions per week, these sessions are
composed of:
[ ] Lectures and Screenings to address the history, development and
different styles of experimental filmmaking.
[ ] Studio time to work on the projects and assignments on going.
[ ] Discussion sessions between the students and the instructors about their
work and design development and any written or research assignments.
[ ] Discussion sessions of given readings.

Students will all sign in to a social network created for them [ http://
fusionists.ning.com/group/experimental]. After signing in they will have to
contribute to this network by videos, images, discussion forums, etc. Their
contribution will be assessed as their course portfolio.
.::. Assessment:

The criteria of assessment are:

[ ] Creative approaches to the project requirements and the level of
deviation from typical visual solutions.
[ ] The level of mastering the equipments and the editing software
deploying them in the creation of creative short films.

The grading system:

1. Studio Projects: 75 %
Project 1 15%
Project 2 20%
Project 3 40%

2. Assigned Readings, exercises and homework 15%

3. Student's Portfolio [His/ her profile at [Fusionists network] 10%

Projects and assignments must be submitted on time. No late submittal is

accepted except in cases of emergency and meeting the instructor's and the
Dean's approval.

.::. References:

:: Experimental Cinema : The Film Reader in Focus, (2002) Routledge

:: John Libbey Pub. (2006) Experimental Film and Video : An Anthology,
Indiana University Press
:: Levy, Emanuel, (1999), Cinema of Outsiders the Rise of American
Independent Film, New York University Press
:: Skoller, Jeffery, (2205) Shadows, Specters, Shards Making History in
Avant-Garde Film, University of Minnesota Press
:: Small, Edward, (1994) Direct Theory: Experimental Film/Video as Major
Genre, Southern Illinois University Press