Course Title: Create digital visual effects
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2011
Course Code: COSC5382C
Course Title: Create digital visual effects
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5216 - Diploma of Screen and Media
Course Contact : Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Ms Trewlea Peters
Phone: 99258011
Email: trewlea.peters@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 70
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This course covers the skills and knowledge required to create digital visual effects to simulate physical or natural phenomenon, such as fire, crowds or weather conditions. Compositors are responsible for creatively combining elements into the final image, ensuring that the established style of the project is respected and continuity is maintained. You will use a range of software applications to create and refine digital visual effects.
This course is taught and assessed with CUFPOS401A Edit screen content for fast turnaround.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUFANM402A Create digital visual effects |
Element: |
1 Clarify work requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 |
Element: |
2 Prepare components. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 |
Element: |
3 Assemble previsualisations |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 |
Element: |
4 Produce visual effects. |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 |
Element: |
5 Finalise visual effects |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.
You will be able to:
- create a range of digital visual effects sequences that:
- meet the requirements of a brief
- demonstrate attention to detail and an ability to refine visual effects to achieve the required creative effects
- adopt a collaborative approach to work
- meet deadlines.
Details of Learning Activities
You learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• demonstration and practical application
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching, observation and questioning
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions
• workshopping of students’ own projects
• analysis/critique of students work
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• online and other research
• independent study
Teaching Schedule
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
| Week | Class content | Exercises | Elements |
Week1 |
Introduction to the principles and elements of editing. Introduction to pre-visualisation and visual effects. | CUFPOS401A (1) CUFANM402A (1) |
|
| Week2 | Understanding framing and sequences. Breaking down a script and storyboarding. | Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (1) CUFANM402A (1) |
| Week3 | Visual storytelling. Breaking down a script, analysing FX requirements and digital storyboarding. | VFX Formative task | CUFANM402A (1) |
| Week4 | Overview of Final Cut Pro – Importing/exporting, the interface, FCP Preferences, System settings, A/V settings, and Codecs. Creating a sequence from digital storyboard. | CUFPOS401A (2,3) | |
| Week5 | Capturing and using the three point edit. | Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (2,3) |
| Week6 | Adjusting sound, generators, effects and editing tools. | CUFPOS401A (2,3) CUFANM402A (2) |
|
| Week7 | Capturing and using the three point edit. Adjusting sound, generators, effects and editing tools. | VFX Formative Task |
CUFPOS401A (2,3) CUFANM402A (3) |
| Week8 | Fine tuning an edit, mastering sound levels and colour correction in FCP. Creating chapter markers for DVD. | Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (4) CUFANM402A (4) |
| Week9 | Outputting from FCP. Introduction to DVD Studio Pro. Menus, tracks, preferences, settings, working with templates, chapter markers, building and burning in DVD Studio Pro. | CUFPOS401A (4) CUFANM402A (4) |
|
| Week10 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | CUFPOS401A (1) | |
| Week11 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | CUFPOS401A (1) | |
| Week12 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | CUFPOS401A (1) | |
| Week13 | Log and Capture footage. Start selecting and editing footage from independent Interview production. | CUFPOS401A (2) | |
| Week14 | Independently edit Interview and receive verbal feedback on rough-cut. Edit rough cut of interview. | Edit formative task |
CUFPOS401A (2,3) |
| Week15 | Independently edit Interview and receive verbal feedback on fine tuned cut. Fine tune duplicate of rough cut | CUFPOS401A (3) | |
| Week16 | Master fine-tuned edit and output from FCP. Develop menus, tracks, preferences, settings, template, chapter markers, build and burn Interview in DVD Studio Pro. | Submit Interview on DVD Summative task | CUFPOS401A (3,4) |
| SEM 2 |
| Week | Class content | Exercises | Elements |
| Week1 | Masks and Mattes in Motion | VFX Formative task | CUFANM402A (2,3,4) |
| Week2 | Keying in Motion | VFX Formative task | CUFANM402A (2,3,4) |
| Week3 | Particles emitters and behaviours in Motion | VFX Formative task | CUFANM402A (2,3,4) |
| Week4 | Advanced pre visualisation and analysis of a brief. | CUFANM402A Summative assessment task | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| Productions Begin | You must attend one of each workshop around your productions | ||
| Week5 | Pre-visualisation workshop - Working with your DOP to develop script breakdown, shot lists and storyboarding key scenes for your production. | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week6 | Pre-visualisation workshop - Working with your DOP to develop script breakdown, shot lists and storyboarding key scenes for your production. | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week7 | Mastering your production in FCP workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week8 | Mastering your production in FCP workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week9 | Mastering your production in FCP workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week10 | Color workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week11 | Color workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week12 | Color workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week13 | Mastering DVD Studio Pro workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week14 | Mastering DVD Studio Pro workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week15 | Mastering DVD Studio Pro workshop | CUFPOS401A | |
| Week16 | Submit final edit of production on DVD | CUFPOS401A |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You will require a personal hard drive PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE DETAILS IN CLASS.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is ongoing throughout the course and will include both project work and practical exercises that assess skills and knowledge
Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative.
Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered as essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are graded.
For further information on the assessment and grading criteria, please refer to the course Blackboard site.
To demonstrate competency in this course, you need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard.
Formative Tasks
Pre-visualisation exercise - digital storyboarding, matching fx with production shots.
Keying - Pre-visualisation in FCP, Keying and colour correction exercise.
3 in class assignments -
- keying and colour correction
- masking and animation
- tracking and particles.
Summative task
Independently develop an effects scene in Motion utilising the footage provided - keying, colour correction, animation, masking, tracking and particles.
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrated alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration
Other Information
Ethics and your work:
In this course you are required to submit work which could be broadcast to a majority audience and would meet a rating of between G and MA (follow the links on The Office of Film and Literature Classification website - oflc.gov.au) to inform yourself of criteria, and also meets RMIT’s
Ethical Conduct requirements (follow the links on the RMIT website- rmit.edu.au) and Australian law with regard to vilification.
It is each student’s responsibility to acquaint him/herself with these regulations before submitting work for assessment.
In line with this requirement the majority content of your film productions must be approved and signed off by your production supervisor (a Screen and media teacher)one month ahead of the first day of photography. 

Feedback:
You will receive spoken and written feedback from teachers on your work. This feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Late Submissions
Please advise teacher in advance if an extension of time or special consideration is required for submission of work. Refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions.
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1
Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview