Special Effects for TV and Film – COMM 3750 – Summer 2025
Recommended READINGS: Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book and Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book.
Required Softwares: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere and Adobe Media Encoder. These are all part of the cloud suite and you can request a license here:
https://adobe.northeastern.edu/
USE ACTIVE DIRECTORY
CLASS MEETINGS: Asynchronous. Assignments posted on a weekly basis. You are responsible to complete assignments and class exercises on a weekly basis.
The syllabus will change as needed.
Assignments will be online every Wednesday at 7PM.
Assignments due on a weekly basis every Wednesday by 7PM with exception of the midterm and final. Due dates are listed on the last page.
Anything that is later than this will be considered late and drop 2 letter grades.
All work is created on your own, otherwise you will automatically fail.
COMM 3570 Objectives: This course will explore a variety of approaches to making effects for film and video. We will have hands-on lessons during class time, and students will make their own effects sequences as part of assignments. Work is due as noted on the syllabus. If you are unclear about the objectives ofthis class it is your responsibility to ask clarifying questions.
Workload. A majority of the work will be accomplished outside of class. Plan on spending hours in the studio editing and grasping the software. The more time you spend editing the easier the projects will be. Students will be expected to “book” lab time in the studio for developing skills and working on projects. Strong organizational skills are a must for finishing productions on time. In addition, deadlines missed will heavily affect your grade.
ATTENDANCE: none
CAMD considers student feedback essential and requires all students to complete TRACE evaluations at the end of the semester.
GRADING:
You will be graded on a 800-point system. You will start the semester with “0” points and will earn points throughout the semester for quizzes, training exercises, class participation, critiques, and all major productions 1-3. Your performance on these elements is dependent on your participation and completion of each assignment.
Outstanding: Going above and beyond the expectations and minimum requirements will earn you full point credit for each assignment (A range).
Good: Above average, doing just a bit more than the minimum requirements will earn you 80% full point credit for each assignment (B range). Many students confuse this with A work. The difference is generally found in the meticulousness of masking properly and doing little things like adding a fade at the beginning and end of a segment.
Satisfactory: Meeting the minimum requirements will earn you 70% of the full point value for each assignment (C range). I.e. If you just follow the directions and do nothing more.
Unsatisfactory/Failing: If you do not meet the minimum requirements your point value will go down (60% or more) from the full point value for each assignment (D range and below).
**Point value will vary based on assignment and total points you can earn for that given assignment.
DEADLINESAND SUBMISSIONS:
All productions and assignments must be completed by class time on the dates listed in the syllabus. Any late items will result in considerable point loss; point loss will vary depending on assignment (between 30-50% of the total point value).
**Specifics will be posted on the Production/Assignment under rubrics.
**Failure to read the directions will result in point loss.
FINAL GRADES:
Calculating the final grade from overall points breakdown:
Grades will be based on a 750 point scale.
Homework = 250
Midterm = 250
Final project = 350
Week 1:
Introductions, handout syllabus. Upload a video via Canvas introducing yourself. Photoshop basics.
In class Project 1: In the class project you will make a hardwood floor with a Celtics logo.
FirstName_Lastname_inclassproject#.psd. You will share the psd file in Canvas under the upload function. You will find your name and upload this file under the in class exercise folder.
In Class Project 2:
We will knock out the background of an image using an AI tool and some of the other selection tools. We will make a quick mask.
Additionally, you will make a poster for National Geographic. You will share the psd file Canvas via the upload function. FirstName_Lastname_inclassproject#.psd
Homework 2: Replicate an existing magazine. Make a composite image from at least 4 different sources. Remove one object from the background AI. Color in a subject with a selection tool (any marquee tool will suffice) and the paint bucket tool. Use paths with text. Try to make the magazine as close as possible to the original. If you do not need to use paths with text or the clone stamp tool, do not use it.
Lastly, upload an intro video of yourself.
Week 2:
Syncing music with text
In Class Project: Syncing audio to text files. Importance of audio in special effects. In class we will sync words to the Wilco song “Either Way” .
Homework: In this project you will be responsible for syncing at least 30 seconds to an audio track that you. The length of the video is unimportant, but I want the words to sync up with.
Week 3:
Creating a show opener
Midterm: You will recreate the intro for Brooklyn 99.
Week 4:
Tracking, image stabilization, 3d and green screen
In Class Project 1: During this class you will learn to motion track and stabilize footage using two different pieces of footage. In the first you will have shaky camera footage of a pianist and violinist and which we will stabilize. In the second and third clip we will motion track some text to a moving object both 3d and 2d.
Final Assignment will be handed out
In Class Project 2:
You will place a ballerina in a small box using cameras, 3d, plane and keying.
Homework: You will place a green screened object in a 3d space.
Homework:
You will use all the elements ofthe in class assignment but find your own source materials.
Week 5
Intro to sporting event
In Class Project 1: In this class we will essentially make an introduction to a sporting event or show using the 3d plane.
Homework 1: Homework is recreating the exercise file. You will have only one assignment to hand in. You will also begin your final project.
Week 6
Puppet Pin tool
In this module you will learn how to use the puppet pin tool. You will make static photos come alive. Homework: You will create and use the tools in class to animate 5 photos.
Week 7:
FINAL PROJECT DUE