Course Title: Create digital visual effects
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
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: Janis Lesinskis
Email: janis.lesinskis@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 |
1 |
Overview of post production process and the role of editor and VFX producer. Introduction to post tools and environment. |
CUFANM402A (1) |
|
| 2 | Understanding framing and sequences. Visual storytelling. Breaking down a script, analysing FX requirements and digital storyboarding. |
formative assess task1: storyboard, design folio
|
CUFANM402A (1, 2) |
| 3 | Workflows and pipelines. Ingest and outputs. FX processes. | formative assess task2: File import for compositing. |
CUFPOS401A (2,3) |
| 4 | FCP set up, System settings, A/V settings, and Codecs. Creating a sequence from digital storyboard. | formative assess task3: workflow | CUFPOS401A (2,3) |
| 5 | Post production methods and techniques | CUFANM402A (2) | |
| 6 | Refining work. | CUFANM402A (3) | |
| 7 | Fine tuning an edit, mastering sound levels, intro to colour correction in FCP. | CUFANM402A (4) | |
| 8 | Deliverables: Outputting from FCP | CUFANM402A (4) | |
| 9 | Individual appointments discussing interview structure and overlay to reinforce story. | Editing Formative task |
|
| 10 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | ||
| 11 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | ||
| 12 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | ||
| 13 | Log and Capture footage. Start selecting and editing footage from independent Interview production. | ||
| 14 | Independently edit Interview and receive verbal feedback on rough-cut. Edit rough cut of interview. | ||
| 15 | Independently edit Interview. Fine tune duplicate of rough cut | ||
| Week16 | Deliverables: Master fine-tuned edit and output from edit suite. |
| SEM 2 |
| Week | Class content | Exercises | Elements |
| 1 | Keying methods and strategies |
CUFANM402A (2,3,4) | |
| 2 | FX methods reviewed. | CUFANM402A (2,3,4) | |
| 3 | Combining FX methods. VFX + physical FX. | CUFANM402A (2,3,4) | |
| 4 | Testing and refining FX. | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) | |
| 5 | Presentation of VFX trials. | VFX Summative assessment tasks: 1 & 2 | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 6 | Compositing VFX material | VFX Summative assessment tasks 1 & 2 | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| Productions Begin | |||
| 7 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | FX breakdowns | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 8 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | FX design |
CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5)
|
| 9 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | FX pre vis & trialing |
CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5)
|
| 10 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | FX production | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 11 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | FX deliverables | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 12 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | FX integration | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 13 | Rough Cut feedback | FX integration | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 14 | Rough Cut feedback | FX quality checks and approvals | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 15 | Meet deliverables requirements. | FX refinements and corrections | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
| 16 | Submit edited master and documentation. | Picture Locked. FX locked | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You will require your own media storage and back up equipment.
PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN TECHNICAL 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
You will need to complete a series of production tasks during class and also take responsibility for post production of two productions to complete this course.
Assessment tasks in this unit are either ungraded or graded. Ungraded tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered as essential building blocks for more substantial (graded) assessment tasks.
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.
For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
The following grades are applicable to Summative assessment tasks and apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competent achieved graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit
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. 

Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.
Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.
Plagiarism - RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity
Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.
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:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online
Student Progress Committee
This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)
Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees
Course Overview: Access Course Overview