MEDIA 317 : Screen Tools

Arts

2020 Quarter Three (1206) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Designed to enable students to produce a serial drama, recorded in the television studio with inserts shot on field location. As well as developing technical skills in multi-camera television production, single camera location shooting and digital editing, students will explore the processes of script breakdowns, casting and directing actors. This is an intensive, workshop-style production class drawing on creative and technical skills from drama scripting through to acting, directing and producing.

Course Overview

This course is designed to enable students to produce a serial drama, recorded in the television studio with inserts shot on field location. As well as developing technical skills in multi-camera television  production and single camera location shooting and digital editing, students will be introduced to the processes of script breakdowns, casting and directing actors. This is an intensive, workshop-style production class which draws on creative and technical skills from drama scripting through to acting, directing and producing. 
 
One of the primary considerations of the course is for participants to develop an understanding of the collaborative and co-operative nature of the making of drama for film, television or digital platforms within strict time limits. Informed decision making is vital. 
 
The class will produce multi-camera recorded scenes and a short drama (possibly for new technology markets) structured around a central theme and a small core of characters. The completed drama will be produced by ‘teams’ of students who will be responsible for certain sections of final film among themselves and in consultation with other teams. The group produced episodic drama is comprised of three x five-to-six minute portions; one shot on location single camera, the other two portions being scenes to be shot multi-cam in the studio.

The course is available for International students, Study Abroad and domestic students. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: Academic Head or nominee approval Restriction: FTVMS 317

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Create a short television drama within a collaborative industry-based format (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.2)
  2. Demonstrate and understanding of and expertise within a clearly defined television production role (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
  3. Apply an understanding of society and people within a cultural form (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 4.2 and 6.2)
  4. Evaluate ones own abilities and performance within a clearly defined production role and within a collaborative process (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 4.3 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Practical 20% Individual Coursework
Practical 20% Group Coursework
Practical 60% Group & Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This is 15 point intensive television drama production course taught over four weeks within the June/July inter-semester break (quarter 3).  The course is condensed into 2 x 4 hour in-studio workshops per week with an additional 4 hours of TV studio time available in the last week should that be required.   

As this is a highly intensive short course, students will need to attend all 32 hours of in-studio workshops and should expect to commit a minimum of an additional 5 hours per week for talent recruitment and rehearsal and a location shoot.  During this time you will be creating content for your weekly video vlog based on your wider reading about drama production as well as working on your final production which is screened on the last day of the course.   

In week 2 students have a day field trip to Hobbiton Matamata, and to Weta workshop and Nga Taonga Film archive in Wellington, week 3.  The field trips are included in the package for International students and an optional extra for domestic students. 

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

International and domestic students are drawn to this course because of its highly intension nature delivered within industry guidelines and production expectations.  Past international participants found this course to be "life changing", "exciting", "exhausting" and "challenging" - "don't expect to get too much sleep for a month but it is totally worth it!".  Another international student felt the course encouraged her to "come out from under my rock" and she could not believe what she achieved personally and in her production group within such a short time.  
Matthew Chang (2019 International Screentools student) said, "I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for my time and experience in the University of Auckland’s Screen Tools programme. I had a great taste of how professionals make films and best of all, we did it in New Zealand, the home of Middle Earth! Even better, one of the actors from The Hobbit was our instructor". 
The mix of international and domestic students was a highly appreciated aspect of the course. Both groups of students welcome the opportunity to mix with others across such a wide range of cultural and production experience. 

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 20/12/2019 09:40 a.m.