T206 section 11153
Introduction to Design and Production
Fall 2004

Instructor: Steve Krahnke (skrahnke@indiana.edu)

A note from the instructor
I am a working professional in the television business (I`m an
Executive Producer of PBS programs, as well as a set designer.) So,
I want this course to focus on the medium of television, and all
that implies. We will use examples from television, the web, film
and theatre, but we will always be directing the conversation toward
the understanding of design and production of television. We can
talk about anything, but what I know a lot about is television.

Required Text/Materials:
• Introduction to Media Production: From Analog to Digital, Kindam,
Musberger, Elsevier (at IU Bookstore)
• Several readings posted on OnCourse
• A 35mm, digital, Polaroid or disposable camera
• Access to a Television, VCR and the Internet
• A notebook to be used for a “video diary” (possible extra
credit)

Course Information
This course provides the foundations for understanding and
critiquing production and design techniques used in television
production. Students will look at a range of visual media, analyze
story- telling techniques, and look at how stories are structured.
Students explore the entire production process, looking at
photography, lighting, editing, sound, and set design. While this is
not a hands-on production class, students are expected to carry out
or think through pre-production work for many of the assignments and
labs.
T206 counts toward College of Arts and Sciences A&H requirement.
T206 is required for Telecommunications majors.
.
Students are expected to:
• Be interested in and/or curious about exploring television
production techniques.
• Attend class, read the book and articles, make presentations,
participate, turn in all assignments.
• Have all required materials and access to a television, VCR, and
the Internet.
• Use OnCourse as your primary communication tool.

Your Role
This class is primarily about communication. To that end, students
will be expected to communicate. Television is first and foremost a
story-telling medium. However, television uses a variety of tools to
accomplish what it intends to communicate. The associate instructor
and I will explain what those tools are, how they are used, and why.
We don’t expect anyone to be proficient in using these tools by the
end of class—no one is proficient in all of them—but I expect
students to demonstrate full understanding of how they work and why
we use them.

What students think matters-- Why do you like some shows and dislike
others? How do different subjects, techniques and perspectives
affect your emotions? Your reasoning? More important, how you
express what you think matters—can you write well, draw, take
pictures?—students will be expected to do more than regurgitate what
you listen to, read and practice. An opinion counts, but not as much
as a well crafted, persuasive argument.

College students in 2004 are  the most media affected generation of
all time. With rare exceptions, everything we  know is colored by
televised images. But today’s college students have always had
Sesame Street and MTV;  have always had Cable TV; have always had re-
runs;  have always rented movies at Blockbuster (or somewhere
else.)  This class teaches  the way stories impact audiences so that
students as  producers and designers can reproduce these effects. In
order to accomplish this, all students must be willing to
participate in class discussions, speak and defend  opinions and
keep their eyes open for good stories. We encourage students to tape
or otherwise locate stories that you like and bring them to class so
we can discuss them.

Attendance, Lecture and Lab procedures
Promptness and attendance are mandatory.

Attendance is taken at random-- Students will have no idea when we
will or won’t take attendance. 3 or more unexcused absences result
in:
• 10 points  deducted from your total grade for 3 or more unexcused
absences
• You are NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY EXTRA CREDIT for the course.
Students who have 3 or fewer unexcused absences:
• Receive 10 points extra credit
• Are eligible for extra credit opportunities.

In addition, students will receive 0 points for any presentation,
quiz, test, or exercise that you miss without an acceptable WRITTEN
excuse. We will provide you with a “pass” for each absence that you
must be able to produce on request to confirm your excuse.

Participation

I expect students to be on time, to contribute to discussion, and to
be collegial. Participation represents 20 points, or 2/3rds of a
grade. Chronic lateness, poor attitude, silence, disrespect, etc.
will all reduce these points by significant amounts. This can cause
a B grade to fall to a C, or a C to a D.

Illness and Personal absences
Indiana University understands that unforeseen and unfortunate
events occur in people’s lives. However, many unethical and un-
collegial students in the past have, through fabrications and lies,
made automatic acceptance of excuses impossible. Therefore, in line
with University policy, the following excuse procedures are in
place:
• If students cannot arrange for permission in advance, they must
talk to their AI, in person, as soon as they are physically able.
• If a student suffers a loss of family or friend he/she must
provide proof of his/her attendance at the funeral. Funeral homes
provide these forms.
•Illness must be documented by  a medical professional who will
provide a note documenting the illness.

All documentation must be received within one week of the absence or
it will not be accepted.

Cell Phone and Pager Policy
Turn your cell phone and/or pager off before entering the classroom.
If a cell phone rings, do not answer, and turn off the ringer. If a
student chooses to answer the  phone he/she must leave the classroom
and not return for the day. He/she will then be assessed an absence
for the day.

Late Work Policy
Late work is not accepted. Excuses related to computer hard drives,
lost files and software meltdowns are not acceptable. A strategy to
deal with this is to save all your files onto your CFS account. It
is secure, accessible from any computer on campus and backed up
every day. ALWAYS make or keep a redundant copy of computer files or
paperwork turned in. It is a student’s  responsibility to have these
materials when required. If there are extraordinary circumstances
that keep a student from completing an assignment on time, talk to
the instructor immediately. E-mail is not appropriate for this type
of conversation.

Grading
The total final points awarded will be resolved into a percentage of
100. The final grading criteria are:
A+ = 98-100
A = 94-97
A- = 90-93
B+ = 87-89
B = 84-86
B- = 80–83
C+ = 77–79
C = 74-76
C- = 70-73
D+ = 66-69
D= 63-65
D- = 60-62
F = 60-00

Grading Criteria:
30 pts Quiz #1
30 pts Quiz #2
50 pts Storyboard and analysis project (uses photography)
80 pts Commercial or Video Storyboard, Treatment and analysis
project
90 pts Final Exam
20 pts Participation
300   total points