SCREEN 200 : Foundations of Screen Production

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Students will be exposed to the concepts, working methods and technical aspects of narrative screen production (drama and documentary). Through a series of workshops, exercises and lectures, students will be instructed in basics of production, cinematography, editing, and the broad technical skills required to create well-crafted, proficiently made, time-based projects for the screen.

Course Overview

A foundation-level core course in Screen Production introduces students to the conceptual and practical aspects of realising a narrative for screen. The overarching goal is to learn that filmmaking is a very deliberate process, everything seen on screen is a choice made by the filmmaker.  We will analyse films and the choices made by filmmakers to find links between conceptual ideas and the practical techniques used to realise them.
The course comprises of lectures, discussions, screenings, exercises and three key creative projects demonstrating lessons learned.  Assessment is based on participation, in-class tests and three practical assignments utilising the techniques learnt in lectures and workshops.
The course is broken into four major areas corresponding to the four aspects of production, camera, sound, lighting and post production. Each week will feature a two hour workshop where we will investigate the techniques highlighted in the one hour lecture that precedes it.
The first four weeks of the course focus on the conventions of image in film, the visual language of film, camera movement, continuity and coverage and how we realise a script in the visual medium. We will then cover the various aspects of editing, production and post-production sound and lighting for film.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points from COMMS 100, FTVMS 100, 101, MEDIA 101 and Academic Head or nominee approval

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand the fundamentals of production techniques in narrative storytelling for screen. (Capability 1.1)
  2. Demonstrate basic familiarity with camera, editing, lighting and sound techniques and software. (Capability 1.2)
  3. Learn collaborative skills and ways to receive and provide constructive criticism on their creative practice. (Capability 4.3)
  4. Develop three creative projects from concept to completion that expose them to the different techniques of cinematic storytelling. (Capability 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 70% Group & Individual Coursework
Quizzes 20% Individual Test
Presentation 10% Individual Coursework

Next offered

2021

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 1 hour of lectures, a 2 hour workshop, and 7 hours of  work on finishing in class exercises, assignments and/or test preparation per week.

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.

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 03:10 p.m.