Film | Media | Design – AiB

Film | Media | Design

Semester Program

AiB TAMU VIZ

Term: Spring/Fall

In Cooperation with: Texas A&M University (TAMU) & Institute for Education and Social Innovation (ibugi)

Directed at students from the College of Architecture Visualization track, the AiB TAMU VIZ semester program invites students to create visual experiences, design solutions and design innovation by exploring the interplay between art and science in a studio-based learning environment. Students acquire artistic, scientific and technical abilities within the realm of film making, animation, game design and interactive graphics. The program is structured to provide a specialized skill set based on a synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge drawing on video technology, architecture, art, illustration, politics, philosophy and culture to create design solutions for a socially and culturally relevant project.

AiB Contact: Mara Teresa Minkler (Senior Academic Manager) – mm@aib-bonn.org

More information

Courses:

VIST 301 – Field Studies in Design Innovation (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

This course focuses on coming up with innovative, visual design solutions in the context of animation, gaming and interactive graphic design, while also drawing upon the cultural, social, economic, geographical, climatic and technological factors influencing design solutions while being in an international environment. Additionally, the application of known and existing design techniques and principles to areas that are not classical fields of application are also an important aspect of the course. The semester-long studio project is rooted in this course.

VIST 311 – Field Studies in Design Communication (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

Students are introduced to a variety of different animation techniques, methods and tools. Special emphasis is placed on different variations of animation (e.g. realistic animation, cartooning, restricted animation, stop-motion techniques, but also VR and AR techniques), as well as on overarching techniques such as narration and storytelling.  A wide variety of outstanding European and international artwork and animations is examined and analyzed in detail to provide students with a solid understanding of the history of animation as art. Workshops and professional studio visits complement this course and give students valuable insights into relevant fields and standard practices.  

VIST 331 – Field Studies in Design Philosophy (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

This course is aimed at students without any pre-knowledge of the German language. The goal is to give students the ability to speak, understand, read and write German on a basic level. Every-day conversational skills that students will need outside of the classroom are emphasized. Additionally, the academic contents of the course will cover aspects of German history, directly connecting the learning of the language with a better understanding of the students’ study abroad location.

VIST 485 – Directed Studies (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

In this course students go through all the steps of a successful video production. The course is split into two parts – videography and editing. A special focus is placed on the practical application of the theories and concepts learned. The video material obtained in the first part of the course is the basis for the editing and cutting techniques in the second part of the course. In this way, students learn to structure and plan their final video product with regard to intention, effect and narration from the very beginning.

Academic Extended Study Tours:

4 days Berlin, Germany

1 day Amsterdam, Netherlands

4 days Stuttgart, Germany (Spring) – International Conference for Animation, Effects, Games and immersive Media (FMX)

4 days Turin, Italy (Fall) – International VFX Computer Graphics Conference (View)

Academic Regional Study Tours:

Multiple academic one-day study tours to regional locations such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bad Kreuznach, Ahrtal.

Cultural & Social Activities:

AiB Charity Day, Bonn Marathon, Rhine River Cruise, Visiting German Castles, Museum of German Postwar History, Intercultural Workshops

Special Projects:

Studio Project
A semester long project focusing on a socially or culturally relevant topic where students come up with their own design solutions to the project prompt while applying new perspectives and skills. A self-organized public exhibit of the students’ work is also part of the project.

Accommodation:

Host Family, Hotel/Hostel (during Academic Extended Study Tours)

Semester Program

AiB LMU Film & Television in Europe

Term: Fall

In Cooperation with: Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles (LMU) & Institute for Education and Social Innovation (ibugi)

The AiB LMU Film & Television in Europe program is directed at students enrolled as film production majors or screenwriters. It introduces and teaches key skills for the production of fictional and non-fictional films, such as cinematography, editing, directing, production sound as well as documentary production. Next to the academic in-class contents of the program a major emphasis is put on the semester-long project work of planning, shooting and editing a documentary film in Europe. Thus, the program enables students to learn the art of international documentary film production by means of a specific project.

AiB Contact: Florian Königs (Senior Academic Manager) – fk@aib-bonn.org

More information

Courses:

PROD 365 – Cinematography (3 credits) – taught by US and AiB faculty:

Students dive into the techniques of cinematography and experience its creative potential while also learning how to handle its difficulties, especially regarding technical aspects and social surroundings. They learn how to best frame and light a picture for video and develop their eye for shadow, color, depth, and other technical requirements a cinematographer must focus on whilst shooting film.

PROD 366 – Editing (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

Students learn the fundamentals of editing through lectures, assigned readings and editing projects. They work with the non-linear editing system Avid Media Composer as well as with Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve. By doing so they learn about the complete editing workflow from the ingestion of footage up to the color correction of the edited film.

PROD 379 – Directing (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

Students develop a basic understanding of the craft and art of directing and learn how to develop a working methodology for directing motion pictures. The course is divided into the two sections “Directing Narrative” and “Directing Documentary” and thus deals not only with the production of non-fictional screenplays, but also introduces key concepts of documentary directing which students will have to apply in their semester-long project of shooting a documentary film.

PROD 392 – Intermediate Production (3 credits) -taught by US and AiB faculty:

Students experience and learn about field production as a complete process – from the initial conception of the idea, to the shooting of the project, through to the final phase of post-production. The course is taught as an intermediate film production course, focusing on digital video projects outside the studio.

RECA 367 – Production Sound (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

The course educates students in the basic technical and creative understanding of sound production techniques for documentary and narrative films. A focus will not only lie on production sound on set, but also the overall sound design and post-production process in film production, here also focusing on the work with and functions of Avid ProTools.

PROD 398 – Basic German and Documentary Research (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

The goal of the course is to introduce students to the German language and culture and provide them with the ability to speak, read and write basic German. Next to in-class instruction the course will introduce cultural and historical elements of the German and European past and present through a multitude of study trips. Furthermore, the course supports students in the process of documentary research in that it deals with the development of film ideas, the procedure of contacting possible in-film subjects as well as the legalities of shooting film in Germany.

Academic Extended Study Tours:

4 days Berlin, Germany

4 days Leipzig, Germany (Documentary Film Festival), Germany

Academic Regional Study Tours:

Multiple academic one-day study tours to regional locations such Cologne, Amsterdam and the Eifel region.

Cultural & Social Activities:

Visiting German castles and cathedrals, Visiting sites of historical importance in German and European history.

Special Projects:

Studio Experience – Intensive Workshop Week

Students direct short screenplays, which they will have developed in their directing class. This workshop week allows students to collaborate with German acting students and actors whilst also learning the technical and creative aspects of working on a film set.

Shooting of a 10-minute Documentary Film

Over the course of the semester, students plan, shoot and edit a documentary film in Europe. They get to know the whole production cycle of international film production and will additionally collaborate with German film composing students from our partner institute Musicube Academy (www.musicube-academy.de) who will create unique scores for the students’ final documentary films.

Accommodation:

Host Family, Hotel/Hostel (during Academic Extended Study Tours)

Semester Program

AiB LMU International Documentary Production

Term: Spring/Fall

In Cooperation with: Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles (LMU) & Institute for Education and Social Innovation (ibugi)

The AiB LMU International Documentary Production program is the international component of a production minor that is designed for non-production majors coming from various fields of study. The program offers a unique learning experience for all students interested in understanding the production cycle of a documentary film from an international perspective. The in-class instruction is extended through many hands-on workshops and the semester-long project of planning, directing, shooting and editing a documentary film.

AiB Contact: Florian Königs (Senior Academic Manager) – fk@aib-bonn.org

More information

Courses:

PROD 340 – Introduction to Cinematography Non-Fiction (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

Students dive into the techniques of cinematography and experience its creative potential while also learning how to handle its difficulties, especially regarding the technical aspects and social surroundings of shooting a documentary on location. They learn how to best frame and light a picture or make use of available light sources and develop their eye for shadow, color, depth, and other technical requirements a cinematographer must focus on whilst shooting non-fictional film.

PROD 367 – Post-Production for Non-Majors (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

Students learn the fundamentals of editing through lectures, assigned readings and editing projects. They work with the software Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve. By doing so they learn about the complete editing workflow from the ingestion of footage up to the color correction of the edited film.

PROD 210 – Introduction to Documentary Production (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

Students develop an understanding for the production process of documentary filmmaking in the digital age. Through lectures, practical labs and project-work students will learn how to plan the production cycle and collaborate with each other in order to produce a non-fictional film.

PROD 355 – International Documentary Production (3 credits) -taught by AiB faculty:

This course builds on the “PROD 210 – Introduction to Documentary Production” class and emphasizes issues and factors of international documentary production in particular. Students learn about the intricacies of and preparatory work for production on a foreign location and in what ways these can transform the regular production cycle.

RECA 330 – Sound Design for Documentary (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

The course educates students in the basic technical and creative understanding of sound production techniques for documentary films. A focus will not only lie on production sound on location, but also the overall sound design and post-production process in documentary film production.

GERM I – Elementary German – taught by AiB faculty:

This course is aimed at students without any pre-existing knowledge of the German language. The goal is to give students the ability to speak, understand, read and write German on a basic level. Everyday conversational skills that students will need outside of the classroom are emphasized. Additionally, the academic contents of the course will cover aspects of German history, directly connecting the learning of the language with a better understanding of the students’ study abroad location.

Academic Extended Study Tours:

4 days Berlin, Germany

4 days Documentary Film Festival, Changing Locations in Europe

Academic Regional Study Tours:

Multiple academic one-day study tours to regional locations such Cologne, Amsterdam and the Eifel region.

Cultural & Social Activities:

Visiting German castles and cathedrals, Visiting sites of historical importance in German and European history.

Special Projects:

Shooting of a 5-10-minute Documentary Film

Over the course of the semester, students plan, shoot and edit a documentary film in Europe. They get to know the whole production cycle of international film production and will additionally collaborate with German film composing students from our partner institute Musicube Academy (www.musicube-academy.de) who will create unique scores for the students’ final documentary films.

Accommodation:

Host Family, Hotel/Hostel (during Academic Extended Study Tours)