Course Title: Create digital visual effects
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2014
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
Trewlea Peters
trewlea.peters@rmit.edu.au
Alex Joseski
aleksander.joseski@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. A historical overview and principles still used today. |
CUFPOS401A (1) CUFANM402A (1) |
|
2 | Understanding framing and sequences. Visual storytelling. Breaking down a script and digital storyboarding. |
Editing Formative task
|
CUFPOS401A (1) CUFANM402A (1) |
3 | Introduction to pre-visualisation and visual effects. | VFX Formative task | CUFPOS401A (2,3) |
4 | Overview of Digital Editing software – The interface. | CUFPOS401A (2,3) | |
5 | Post production methods and techniques | CUFPOS401A (2,3) CUFANM402A (2) |
|
6 | Refining work. Fine tuning an edit, mastering sound levels and colour correction. | CUFPOS401A (2,3) CUFANM402A (3) |
|
7 | FOLLOW BRIEF AND SCRIPT TO EDIT THE RAW FOOTAGE INTO A FINAL MASTERED SEQUENCE AND OUTPUT FOR SUBMISSION. | Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (4) |
8 | Individual appointments discussing interview structure and overlay to reinforce story. | Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (1) |
9 | Individual appointments discussing interview structure and overlay to reinforce story. | Editing Formative task |
CUFPOS401A (1) |
10 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | ||
11 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | ||
12 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | ||
13 | Interview Productions – Integrated assessment | ||
14 | Start selecting and editing footage from independent Interview. Edit rough cut of interview. | Editing Summative task | CUFPOS401A (2,3) |
15 | Edit Interview and receive verbal feedback on rough-cut. Fine tune duplicate of rough cut after receiving feedback. | Editing Summative task | CUFPOS401A (3) |
Week16 | Deliverables: Master fine-tuned edit and output from edit suite. | Editing Summative task | CUFPOS401A (3,4) |
SEM 2 |
CUFPOS401A (1,2,3,4,)
CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5,)
Week | Class content | Exercises | Elements |
1 | Introduction to Visual Effects - composites and animation. |
CUFANM402A (2,3,4) | |
2 | Masks, mattes and keying | CUFANM402A (2,3,4) | |
3 | Motion Tracking and animated masks. | CUFANM402A (2,3,4) | |
4 | In class assignment | VFX Formative task | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4) |
5 | Production - shoot VFX material | VFX Summative assessment task | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
6 | Post Production - composite VFX material | VFX Summative assessment task | CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5) |
Productions Begin | |||
7 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | ||
8 | Pre-Production, Production and post production period | CUFPOS401A (1,2,3,) |
|
9 |
Pre-Production, Production and post production period. Rough cut feedback. |
Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (1,2,3) |
10 |
Pre-Production, Production and post production period. Rough cut feedback. |
Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (1,2,3,) CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4) |
11 |
Pre-Production, Production and post production period. Rough cut feedback. |
Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (1,2,3,4,) |
12 |
Pre-Production, Production and post production period. Rough cut feedback. |
Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A ,3,4,) |
13 | Rough Cut feedback | Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A ,3,4,) |
14 | Rough Cut feedback | Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A ,3,4,) CUFANM402A (3,4,5,) |
15 | Rough cut feedback. |
Editing Formative task | CUFPOS401A (4,) |
16 | Submit edited master and documentation. | Editing Summative task | CUFPOS401A (4) |
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
Please note: This competency is co delivered and assessed with CUFPOS401A Edit screen content for fast turnaround.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Previsualisation
In class assignment demonstrating skills and knowledge aquired in previous lessons
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Shoot and composite a visual effects scene
Assessment tasks in this unit are either ungraded (Formative) or graded (Summative). 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
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.
Feedback - You will receive spoken and written feedback from teachers on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Student feedback at RMIT http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=9pp3ic9obks7
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Student progress policy http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=vj2g89cve4uj1
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. You can apply in writing for up to a week’s extension from your course teacher. If you need a longer extension, you wil need to apply for special consideration. Special consideration, appeals and discipline http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism - RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n
Work Placement:
It is a requirement of this program that all students participate in authentic work related tasks. These may be either simulated or in a real work environment. On occasion, we are approached by industry and given opportunities for students to apply for short term placements. When these placement opportunities arise, students are required to negotiate the specific details with the relevant program coordinator or teacher. All industry placements require students, RMIT staff and host organisations to sign a written agreement prior to the commencement of the placement.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview