Digital Media Production

Students who choose the digital media production emphasis will complete six communication courses and two art courses in addition to completing the general requirements for a communication degree. Students will also choose one more communication course, and two courses from art, business administration, English, music, or theater arts. Through these courses, students will learn how to write, film, edit, and act in films. An internship is also required as a part of this emphasis.

• Design Theory: Manipulation of two-dimensional design through the use of the basic art elements: line, shape, value, color, texture, and space. The course is intended to develop a visual vocabulary and an imaginative approach to design.
• Motion Graphics: This course is an introduction to the art of 2-D and 3-D digital graphics animation and interactivity for video, Web, and DVD. Students will gain knowledge of digital animation and its history. Projects are centered on getting hands-on experience and will integrate learning with real-world video production. The course also focuses on planning, design, and production using lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and screenings. Students will focus on using the most popular software programs.
• Introduction to Film/Video Production: In this introductory course, students will gain working knowledge of sophisticated cameras and equipment, a beginning knowledge of editing on the Avid platform, and in-depth discussion of what it means to be a Christian in the communication and entertainment industry today. Students will work in teams to produce films during the semester.
• Film Criticism: Movies are one of the most powerful forms of communication of the modern era, but how many of us actually know how to “read” them?
  Directors use camera angles, color, music, sound, blocking, mise-en-scene, and various other techniques to tell us a story without words. Knowing the language of film will make them more enjoyable and help you understand them better. Film screenings will include popular films, classic films, and films that both critics and audiences praise. Students will be introduced to theories of film criticism.
  
• Advanced Film/Video Production: Building on the preproduction, production, and postproduction skills gained in Communication 250, students will bring their film/video production skills to a deeper level through in-depth analysis of other filmmakers’ work and through hands-on work with green screen techniques and more. A variety of videos will be produced during the semester.
• Advanced Video Editing: Students will do an in-depth study of the film/video editing techniques of great editors through history, study the impact that editing decisions have on a final product, and bring their own editing abilities to a new level through advanced training with Media Composer.
• Documentary Film Making: A study of the history of the genre; screen documentary films and draw upon a wealth of critical writings produced in the past to help us decipher the textual strategies that create documentary films’ “reality effect.” Students will also explore the creative, technical, and practical aspects of creating a documentary film. Teams will produce documentary films for their final projects.
• Media Production Practicum: Building on skills learned in Communication 250 and 320, junior and senior communication majors work independently to create media content for a client or on a project the student cares about deeply. Students gain valuable experience in meeting production deadlines, dealing with client expectations, and behaving in a professional manner while producing media content. Students will regularly reflect on issues of ethics, excellence, and Christian perspective in one’s work through readings, written reports, and discussion. Students will give a public screening of their project at the end of the semester.
• TV and Radio Broadcast Production: This television and radio broadcasting course strives to obediently communicate God’s unfolding creation, equipping and encouraging students to use their video and radio broadcasting skills to live according to His Word. Students will learn the basic fundamental skills in radio and television news reporting, interviewing, commercial production and broadcast remote production.
• Public Relations: As an introduction to public relations, this course will set the background for additional courses in communication and business administration. After a study of the history of public relations, students will learn what is expected of public relations workers, study the various publics, become familiar with current problems and issues in public relations, analyze several cases, and develop a Christian perspective for the continued study of public relations.
• Public Relations Writing: This course is, above all, a writing course. Focused on public relations writing that serves overall organizational goals, the course readings and assignments allow students opportunities to further develop their writing, research, and critical thinking skills and creativity in one of the most culture-shaping industries.
• Integrated Marketing Communications: In this course, students will study the principles and practices of promoting a product or service including advertising, personal selling, direct marketing, public relations, trade promotions, and the internet, all from a Christian perspective. The importance of integrating all these areas of marketing communications will be emphasized.
• Screenwriting: Students will gain insight into the process and the techniques involved in scriptwriting by studying film scripts and creating their own. Students will receive hands-on instruction in concept development, character development, plot structures, dialogue, and visualization.
• Music and Digital Technology: The course surveys modern uses of digital technology relating to sound and develops skills relating to the most common types of manipulating digital sound.
• Acting for the Camera: The basic techniques of acting for the camera and strategies for adapting stage-acting methods for the camera. Students will perform on camera in class and have the opportunity to hone their craft through critical analysis of their recorded performances.

See the course catalog for more information.