Overview
This unit of study builds on prerequisite foundation units to teach visual storytelling concepts and narrative film-making techniques. You will learn how to create a visual story narrative by employing principles and elements of story design. You will develop practical film-making skills related to directing and cinematography during the production of a narrative short film. You will learn how to constructively critique screen production work through an exploration of screen culture and history.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: MMST11009 Digital Video and Audio Antirequisite: Students who have completed DGTL13003 Advanced Media Production may not enrol in this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Evaluation
More information required on camera techniques, such as how certain conditions effect the camera and how to film at night etc.
The content of this unit is being updated in 2020 for the new Screen Production minor and will focus more on these topics.
- Create a narrative short film by employing principles and elements of story design
- Create a narrative short film through the application of film-making principles and skills related to directing and cinematography
- Constructively critique screen production work within the context of screen culture and history.
Not applicable
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 40% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
Introduction to Cinematography
- Edition: eBook (2018)
- Authors: Hoser, Tania
- Routledge
- ISBN: https://bit.ly/2UTdBgr
- Binding: Website Link
Cinematography: Theory and Practice, 3rd Edition
- Edition: eBook (2016)
- Authors: Brown, Blain
- Routledge
- ISBN: https://bit.ly/2Vgebna
- Binding: Website Link
Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art
- Edition: eBook (1998)
- Authors: Rogers, Pauline
- Routledge
- ISBN: https://bit.ly/2wl8j3A
- Binding: Website Link
Dirty Light with Bob Davis
- Edition: Learn by Video (2014)
- Authors: Bob Davis
- Wiley
- ISBN: https://learning.oreilly.com/videos/dirty-light-with/9781118931981/
- Binding: Website Link
Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers
- Edition: PDF download on unit Moodle site (2010)
- Authors: Marcos Mateu-Mestre
- Design Studio Press, California
- California , USA
- ISBN: 9781933492957
- Binding: Other
From Still to Motion: A photographer’s guide to creating video with your DSLR
- Edition: eBook (2010)
- Authors: Matt Gottshalk, Robbie Carman, Richard Harrington, James Ball
- New Riders
- ISBN: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/from-still-to/9780321704160/
- Binding: Website Link
Hands-on Manual for Cinematographers
- Edition: eBook (2014)
- Authors: Samuelson, David
- Routledge
- ISBN: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/hands-on-manual-for/9780240514802/
- Binding: Website Link
Lighting Fundamentals for Photographers: Learn by Video
- Edition: Learn by Video (2016)
- Authors: Joe Lavine
- Peachpit Press
- ISBN: https://bit.ly/34kiPVq
- Binding: Website Link
Living With A Creative Mind
- Edition: Book (2011)
- Authors: Jeff Crabtree and Julie Crabtree
- Zebra Collective, Australia
- ISBN: 9780987104601
- Binding: Paperback
Motion Picture and Video Lighting
- Edition: eBook (2012)
- Authors: Brown, Blain
- ISBN: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/motion-picture-and/9780240807638/
- Binding: Website Link
Practical Cinematography
- Edition: eBook (2012)
- Authors: Wheeler, Paul
- Routledge
- ISBN: https://bit.ly/34lEWuA
- Binding: Website Link
The Filmmaker's Eye
- Edition: eBook (2013)
- Authors: Mercado, Gustavo
- Routledge
- ISBN: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/the-filmmakers-eye/9780240812175/
- Binding: Website Link
Think/Point/Shoot
- Edition: eBook (2016)
- Authors: Annette Danto, Lonnie Isabel, Mobina Hashmi
- Routledge
- ISBN: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/thinkpointshoot/9781317536390/
- Binding: Website Link
Video production 101: Delivering the Message
- Edition: eBook + Learn by Video (2014)
- Authors: Manriquez, Antonio; McCluskey, Tom
- Pearson Higher Ed
- USA
- ISBN: 978-0-13-382553-4
- Binding: Website Link
Voice & vision: a creative approach to narrative film and DV production
- Edition: eBook (2018)
- Authors: Mick Hurbis-Cherrier
- Focal Press
- Burlington Burlington , Massachusetts , USA
- ISBN: 9780415739986
- Binding: Website Link
Additional Textbook Information
All resources listed except for 'Framed Ink' (Mateu-Mestre) and 'Living With A Creative Mind' (Crabtree) are available from the CQUni Library database 'O'Reilly Safari'. If you do prefer your own copy, you can purchase one at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- HandBrake, a free open source video transcoder available from http://handbrake.fr/
- Videolan VLC, a free open source media player available from http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
- Vimeo.com (Vimeo is the free video hosting and sharing platform used for peer-reviews in this unit.)
- Zoom (for online tutorials)
- DaVinci Resolve 16 (Freely available from https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/)
- Audacity (Freely available from http://audacityteam.org)
- Celtx (pre-production, production and post-production management software. Free trial available from http://celtx.com/ or connect to full version using AnyDesk)
- Microsoft Office (connect using AnyDesk)
- Video and Audio recording equipment.
- Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (student price) is recommended, since it includes Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe Audition CC, InDesign CC, Photoshop CC, Acrobat Pro CC and much more.
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.pace@cqu.edu.au
m.randell@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 13 Jul 2020Module/Topic
Introduction to the unit
Assessment#1: Brief
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom session for Online students
Week 2
Begin Date: 20 Jul 2020Module/Topic
Cinematography
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 3-4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 27 Jul 2020Module/Topic
Visual Storytelling
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Feedforward Zoom session for Online students
Week 4
Begin Date: 03 Aug 2020Module/Topic
Assessment #1: Lecturer and Peer Review
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Feedforward Zoom session for Online students
Assessment#1:
- Monday: upload Draft Video Pitch to Vimeo
- Before Friday: Complete 3 x Peer Reviews on Vimeo
- Friday: Submit Final Video Pitch, PDFs and 3 x Peer Reviews to Moodle
Assessment#1: Video Pitch Due: Week 4 Friday (7 Aug 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Week 5
Begin Date: 10 Aug 2020Module/Topic
Assessment#2: Brief
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 17 Aug 2020Module/Topic
No Classes
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 24 Aug 2020Module/Topic
Blocking and Lighting
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom session for Online students
Week 7
Begin Date: 31 Aug 2020Module/Topic
Shoot to Edit
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 07 Sep 2020Module/Topic
Assessment #2: Lecturer and Peer Review
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Feedforward Zoom session for Online students
Assessment#2:
- Monday: upload Draft Test Movie to Vimeo
- Before Friday: Complete 3 x Peer Reviews on Vimeo
- Friday: Submit Final Test Movie, PDFs and 3 x Peer Reviews to Moodle
Assessment#2: Test Movie Due: Week 8 Friday (11 Sept 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Week 9
Begin Date: 14 Sep 2020Module/Topic
Assessment#3: Brief
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 21 Sep 2020Module/Topic
Dailies discussions
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 28 Sep 2020Module/Topic
Dailies discussions
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Feedforward Zoom session for Online students
Week 12
Begin Date: 05 Oct 2020Module/Topic
Assessment#3: Lecturer and Peer Review
Chapter
Introduction to Cinematography
Framed Ink: Chapter 1, 3, 4, p24-30
Events and Submissions/Topic
Feedforward Zoom session for Online students
Assessment#3:
- Monday: upload Draft Final Movie to Vimeo
- Before Friday: Complete 3 x Peer Reviews on Vimeo
- Friday: Submit Final Final Movie and 3 x Peer Reviews to Moodle
Assessment#3: Final Movie Due: Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 12 Oct 2020Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 19 Oct 2020Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Due to the global pandemic all classes for this unit are being delivered online via zoom. If you cannot attend your designated timetabled class, you can attend another class but please inform the lecturers involved prior to class.
If you are experiencing hardship due to the pandemic, please discuss this with your Unit Coordinator as requirements for extensions are more flexible during this time.
1 Practical Assessment
Your first assessment task involves gaining a deeper understanding of visual storytelling and the ideation pre-production process as a director and cinematographer. You will be required to conduct analysis of an existing screenplay and video references to produce a Creative Production Plan for a live-action narrative fiction short film. Your analysis and Creative Production Plan will be submitted as a Video Pitch with supporting documents submitted as PDFs. Please note the Video Pitch is not a Powerpoint presentation and must be produced using video editing software and include video footage of your video references, shots etc. This task is the first step to achieving the ultimate goal for this unit which is for you to create a live-action narrative fiction short film with a clearly recognisable genre and message (as per existing screenplay) between 3-7 minutes in duration. Please read the full briefs for Assessment #1, #2 and #3 before beginning this task, attend all workshops, watch all video lectures and refer to the Unit materials for a full breakdown of requirements.
Week 4 Friday (7 Aug 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Draft Video Pitch to be uploaded to Vimeo for Peer Review prior to deadline.
Week 6 Friday (28 Aug 2020)
Do not wait for written comments. Begin production based on feedforward from your peers and lecturer during week 4.
Video Pitch/Creative Production Plan: Clarity of concept, Scope and scale and Quality of required topics (research, analysis and logical structure.)
Technical A/V skills: Demonstration of ability proportional to task completion.
Peer review: Adherence to the required discussion topics. Quality and completeness of task.
- Create a visual story narrative by employing principles and elements of story design
- Create a narrative short film through the application of film-making principles and skills related to directing cast and crew
- Constructively critique screen production work within the context of screen culture and history.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
2 Practical Assessment
Your second assessment task involves testing and updating your Creative Production Plan during the production of the Test Movie for your live-action narrative fiction short film. The Test Movie is an opportunity for you to hone your technical skills and experiment, update and augment the Creative Production Plan for your Final Movie for Assessment#3 through the creation of supporting documents such as shot lists, blocking and lighting plans etc. Please read the full briefs for Assessment #2 and #3 before beginning this task, attend all workshops, watch all video lectures and refer to the Unit materials for a full breakdown of requirements.
Week 8 Friday (11 Sept 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Draft Test Movie to be uploaded to Vimeo for Peer Review prior to deadline.
Week 10 Friday (25 Sept 2020)
Do not wait for written comments. Begin production based on feedforward from peers and lecturer during week 8.
Creative Production Plan: Clarity of concept, Scope and scale and Quality of required topics (research, analysis and logical structure.)
Test Movie: Quality and clarity of narrative, Expression of Genre conventions, Effectiveness of Composition/ Shot Choice/Creative Lighting and Coherence of overall Visual Style.
Technical A/V skills: Demonstration of ability proportional to task completion.
Peer review: Adherence to the required discussion topics. Quality and completeness of task.
- Create a visual story narrative by employing principles and elements of story design
- Create a narrative short film through the application of film-making principles and skills related to directing cast and crew
- Constructively critique screen production work within the context of screen culture and history.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
3 Practical Assessment
Your third assessment task is the culmination of everything you have learned in this unit as a director and cinematographer. You will execute your updated Creative Production Plan from Assessment#2 to create your Final Movie, a live-action narrative fiction short film based on an existing screenplay. Please read the full briefs for Assessment #2 and #3 before beginning this task, attend all workshops, watch all video lectures and refer to the Unit materials for a full breakdown of requirements.
Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Draft Final Movie to be uploaded to Vimeo for Peer Review prior to deadline.
Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2020)
See Moodle for marking criteria comments about your submission.
Final Movie: Quality and clarity of narrative, Expression of Genre conventions, Effectiveness of Composition/ Shot Choice/Creative Lighting, Coherence of overall Visual Style and Quality of Iteration from Test Movie.
Technical A/V skills: Demonstration of ability proportional to task completion.
Peer review: Adherence to the required discussion topics. Quality and completeness of task.
- Create a visual story narrative by employing principles and elements of story design
- Create a narrative short film through the application of film-making principles and skills related to directing cast and crew
- Constructively critique screen production work within the context of screen culture and history.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
