DXARTS 456 — FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Who is eligible to take this class?
2. How do I apply to this class?
3. Do I need to submit a portfolio with my application?
4. What is the "thought experiment" aspect of the application?
5. When can I apply to the class?
6. When are the applications due?
7. Are there any prerequisites?
8. Is prior filmmaking experience necessary?
9. What are you looking for in applying students?
10. Can I meet with an advisor before applying to this class?
11. How many students will be accepted into the course?
12. I'm not sure what role or department in a filmmaking team I'm best cut out fot, how should I apply?
13. Must I specify a role or department in my application? I'm willing to do anything...
14. How will role assignments be made?
15. How did this course come to be?
16. What other film/video production courses does UW offer?
17. What film is this class making?
18. What style of film will this be?
19. Why is the story already decided? Why not let the students write the story?
20. What else can you tell me about the film?
21. How far will we get in 9 weeks?
22. What will the Editors, Compositors, Sound Designers, and other postproduction staff be doing during production in the summer?
23. When will the film be finished?

1. Who is eligible to take this class?

   Anyone. The class is open to undergraduate, graduate, and non-matriculated students.

2. How do I apply to this class?

   Application and admission to DXARTS 456 will be a competitive process taking place during spring quarter ’05. Before applying, prospective students will read the entire course website, becoming familiar with the organization of this unusual course. You will apply to a general department with a specific role in mind. You will submit a formal application online, including a “thought experiment” specific to the role or department you are applying for. In addition, applicants to some roles or departments (such as the Art Department) are recommended to submit portfolios of relevant work. Applications are online now.

3. Do I need to submit a portfolio with my application?

   This depends a bit on what sort of role you’d like to be given in the class. If you are applying for an Art or Camera Department position, such as camera operator or costume design, a portfolio is encouraged. In addition, if you have a background in architecture, film, dance, theatre, studio/graphic arts, photography, design, music, creative writing, etc. you are encouraged to submit a small portfolio of your work, regardless of the role to which you are applying. Portfolio format is typically electronic (website, DVD, CDR, etc) but this is flexible.

4. What is the "thought experiment" aspect of the application?

   The “thought experiments” are written problem solving, analysis, or ideation essay questions tailored to specific roles and departments to which prospective students will apply. For example, an applicant interested in costume design may be given a portion of a film treatment or a short story and asked to provide costume descriptions and character profiles based on their analysis.

5. When can I apply to the class?

   Now. Applications are online here.

6. When are the applications due?

   Applications are due May 20, 2005.

7. Are there any prerequisites?

   No.

8. Is prior filmmaking experience necessary?

   No. While prior experience actually making films is helpful, it’s not necessary. What we are looking for is experience and/or a passion to learn in any of the following areas:

   • Cinematography, camera departmental work
   • Set, lighting, costume, & production design, props and art departmental work
   • Editing, script supervision, continuity
   • Compositing, animation, visual effects, image processing
   • Public Relations, promotions, publicity design
   • Accounting, advancement, fundraising
   • HR management, production management & organization
   • Performing arts, fine arts, dramatic arts
   • Sound design, audio engineering/recording
   • Architecture, construction, craftsman arts
   • Script breakdown and structure
   • Storytelling
   
   
   
9. What are you looking for in applying students?

   The most important traits we are looking for in our applicants are a willingness to learn and take risks, good work ethic, creativity, intelligence, responsibility, resourcefulness, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

10. Can I meet with an advisor before applying to this class?

    Yes, prospective students are welcomed and encouraged contact the course instructor or TAs to discuss application procedures and to gain an overview of the expectations and unique focus of the course. However, please do so early. Applicants requesting a meeting with the instructor/TAs at the last minute before applications are due may find that the schedule is full.

11. How many students will be accepted into the course?

    25 students will be accepted.

12. I'm not sure what role or department in a filmmaking team I'm best cut out for, how should I apply?

    First, read through the roles page. Next, download the explanation of roles document from the supplemental material page. Read this document and look for crew positions that describe your particular gifts. Apply for the role that you think is a best-fit for your interests and abilities.

13. Must I specify a role and department in my application? I'm willing to do anything...

    Everyone in the class must be willing to do anything, as all students will be rotated through a variety of onset roles and jobs, so thanks for your flexibility and enthusiasm, but your application will be much stronger if you can self-select into a role or department.

14. How will role assignments be made?

    Students will be admitted to the class organized into departments. During the second week of class specific roles will be assigned, tailored to the gifts and desires of the students. Role assignments may be creative and unconventional. Please read the roles page for more info. You are not locked into the role you select on your application. Also, you will indicate alternate role choices in your application. These alternate roles can be outside the department to which you are applying. For example, a person could apply as a Costume Designer, filling out the Art Department Application, and put Producer, Key Grip, and Production Accountant as his/her alternate role choices.

15. How did this course come to be?

    The idea for this course came from UW students, and was generously fostered and instituted by the DXARTS department and the UW Summer School.

16. What other film or video production courses does UW offer?

    The CSE department offers a series of courses culminating in the production of a computer animated short, CSE 450, 456, 458, 459, 460 taught by Barbara Mones. In addition, the DXARTS department offers an annual course sequence, DXARTS 450, 451, 598 Intro to Experimental Digital Video, taught by Shawn Brixey.

17. What film is this class making?

    The class will make a filmic adaptation of the book At the Back of the North Wind by Scottish author George MacDonald (1824-1905). This lyrical fairy tale tells of a sickly boy named Diamond and his friendship with the magical Lady North Wind, who takes the child on a series of soaring adventures culminating in a visit to the mythical country "at her back." Having been at the back of the North Wind, Diamond is forever changed, and as he tries to reconcile the memories of his fantastical adventures with the difficult realities of the world of his family and friends, he wonders if everything has been only a feverish dream.

18. What style of film will this be?

    The way in which the story is told, including visual style, tone, etc, will be largely determined by the students in the course.

19. Why is the story already decided? Why not let the students write the story?

    The reason is simply that we only have 9 weeks, and it often takes longer than that to write a good screenplay. Applicants will have access to the story, and can decide whether or not it’s something they’d like to be involved in before they apply. The students will turn the screenplay into a fully visualized, storyboarded, scheduled shooting script, and thus will be creative co-authors in the realization of the film.

20. What else can you tell me about the film?

    It will be feature-length, color, and shot on a mixture of video and film formats. It will be shot entirely in the state of Washington, mostly in the Seattle area.

21. How far will we get in 9 weeks?

    During the 9 weeks of the course all of preproduction and principal photography (the shooting of the film) will be completed. Postproduction (editing, compositing, sound, music, etc) will continue into Fall Quarter ’05. Postproduction of the film is likely to be credited as a DXARTS Special Topics course, and students involved participating in the 456 Summer Production Seminar will be encouraged to continue on into the fall.

22. What will the Editors, Compositors, Sound Designers, and other postproduction staff be doing during production in the summer?

    The 456 class will shoot a few short films in the first weeks of the summer quarter, and the editorial staff will immediately begin assembling these shorts, in order to complete them during the summer. Editing, compositing and sound work will begin on the feature simultaneously with production. In addition, all members of the class will rotate through various other on-set crew roles.

23. When will the film be finished?

    The film will be finished by the end of Fall Quarter ’05.