Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - CA 130 D100

Fundamentals of Film (4)

Class Number: 6188

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
    GOLDCORP

  • Prerequisites:

    Declared status in the film major, film honors or extended film minor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The first of two courses which introduces students to artistic creation in film, with an emphasis on play and experimentation with image and sound. A laboratory fee is required. Film production may require personal funding in addition to the lab fees.

COURSE DETAILS:

What is cinema? This course invites you to answer that question not just in theory, but through practice. We will investigate the art of filmmaking through a dynamic blend of lectures, discussions, screenings, and hands-on production work. You will explore the creative potential of camera, lighting, sound, and editing, with a special emphasis on challenging your preconceived notions of film aesthetics. Assignments are designed to hone your skills in research, pre-production planning, collaboration, and turning constraints into creative opportunities. The course culminates in a final project where you will produce a short, non-sync-sound film based on your own original idea, created in collaboration with your peers. This course serves as the essential foundation for more advanced production courses.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

In this course students will start gaining hands-on experience with fundamental filmmaking tools and techniques while learning to think critically about creative choices in directing, filming, sound recording, and editing. Through practical assignments, they will build essential skills in research methodology, production planning, formal strategies, constraint-based problem-solving, and team collaboration in a filmmaking context. They will also develop their ability to challenge preconceived notions of film aesthetic and approaches to film production.

Grading

  • Silent Ciné-Roman 10%
  • Short Non-Sync-Sound Film 25%
  • Filmmaker Journal 5%
  • Weekly Assignments/Screenings/Presentations of Work in Progress 25%
  • Collaborative Work on Other Film Projects 15%
  • Attendance & Participation 20%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

•  A 1TB (or larger) external Solid State Drive (SSD) from a reputable brand for editing
•  A 2TB (or larger) external Hard Disk Drive (HDD) from a reputable brand for backups

REQUIRED READING:

•  The Visual Story (3rd ed.); by Bruce Block
ISBN: 978-1138014152

•  The Filmmaker's Handbook (5th ed.); by Steven Ascher and Edward Pincus
ISBN: 978-0452297289

RECOMMENDED READING:

•  Why Art Cannot Be Taught: A Handbook for Art Students; by James Elkins
ISBN: 978-0252069505

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.