Re: creativity

Mark - I think the actual experience of waiting for toast is a notch better than anything having to do with Crystal Skulls.

Stephen,

You can't teach creativity - you can only encourage it. Sure college courses focus a lot on equipment, but my professor had it right - learn the gear then get going on making stuff. And let students critique one another.

I always envisioned running a video class like it is a production house. You the instructor are the client. You come up with projects and let the students come up with the ideas, pitch their concepts and then do the work. If you as the client like the work, you pay them with points. The more points you get, the higher your grade.

Another class assignment: Re-create something you see on tv and tell me why you like it and how you accomplished it. This marries technical skills with some recognition of aesthetics.

Dissect a scene from a film or tv show as a class. Does it work? Why or why not?

There are ways to encourage students to be creative. unfortunately university cirriculums tend to be old fashioned and not very good at this.

Mike Cohen