Course Title: Plan and manage film and media pre-production

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: BUSM6218C

Course Title: Plan and manage film and media pre-production

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6087 - Advanced 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

C6087- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA

Teacher:
Ms Roz Williams
Phone: 9925 4974
Email: roz.williams@rmit.edu.au 
 

C6087DIGIT- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA)

Teacher: Nicole McKinnon
Phone: 99254375
Email: nicole.mckinnon@rmit.edu.au
Teacher: Peter Kennedy
Phone: 9925 8079
Email: p.kennedy@rmit.edu.au
Teacher: Arthur Michalopoulos
Phone: 9925 4111
Email: arthur.michalopoulos@rmit.edu.au
Teacher: Darren Ballingall
Email: darren.ballingall@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 30

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

C6087- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA
This course covers all aspects of production management at the pre-production stage of a production.

This is the designated Work Integrated Learning (WIL) course for C6087 Advanced Diploma of Screen & Media. This course includes a WIL experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/or community is integral to your experience.

C6087DIGIT- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA)
This unit of competency, Plan and manage film and media pre-production CUFPPM601A is delivered in the class Design Studio 3, together with Realise productions CUETEM08B and Originate and develop concepts BSBCRT501A. This unit introduces concepts and practices of pre-production and project management, which include storyboarding, animatics, schedules, treatments and technical, safety and budgetary requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFPPM601A Plan and manage film and media pre-production

Element:

1 Confirm scope of productions.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Consult with producer or director to clarify production expectations based on negotiations or decisions made during the development phase.
1.2 Break down scripts scene by scene to establish detailed resource requirements .
1.3 From script breakdowns, identify issues that have budget or shooting implications.
1.4 Prepare preliminary overall and pre-production schedules.
1.5 Prepare preliminary shooting schedule to confirm that length of shoot allowed in budget is accurate.
 

Element:

2 Finalise budgets.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Establish cost and availability of required resourcesfrom reliable suppliers and information sources, taking into account relevant considerations .
2.2 Re-time scripts to help prepare accurate estimates of production times and to identify whether scripts need pruning to meet budget constraints.
2.3 Liaise with relevant colleagues to clarify requirements, roles and responsibilities in different production and post-production areas.
2.4 Identify potential problems with conflicting production requirements, and take appropriate action to resolve.
2.5 Present cost estimates to relevant colleagues for discussion and negotiate changes and compromises as required.
2.6 Compile final resource schedule, including adequate contingency plans.
2.7 Ensure budgets reflect realistic achievement of creative and technical production requirements, availability of resources and personnel requirements.
 

Element:

3 Manage pre-production

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Oversee establishment of a production office, ensuring that it is fully operational for the start of pre-production activities.
3.2 Meet regularly with heads of departments to monitor expenditure against budget estimates, taking action as required to keep overall expenditure within budget.
3.3 Circulate scripts to relevant personnel and establish and monitor the process for communicating script changes.
3.4 Set up the financial organisation of the production and processes for reporting against budgets.
3.5 Ensure that all arrangements for access to locations are completed correctly.
3.6 Organise publicity and press briefings as required.
3.7 Commission safety reports from approved safety consultants and circulate reports to relevant organisations and personnel .
3.8 Oversee pre-production activities of all departments, providing guidance and assistance as required.
3.9 Finalise shooting schedules and circulate final production
documentation to relevant personnel.
 

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to confirm the scope of a production, finalise budgets and manage pre-production.


Details of Learning Activities

C6087- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA

You will participate in a range of:

In class activities
• lectures
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• workshopping
• independent project based work
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• workshopping of students’ own projects

Out-of-class activities
• research
• independent study and project work


C6087DIGIT- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA)

In-class learning activities include, but are not limited to:
• demonstration and practical application
• lab work
• screenings
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• online research
• independent project based work
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• workshopping of students’ own projects

Out-of-class activities include, but are not limited to,
• online research
• workshopping
• independent project based work


Teaching Schedule

C6087- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA
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 Assessment Elements
1 Introduction.
Review crew hierarchies, how each department works, requirements during pre-prod and prod.
 		   1.1
2.3
3.2
 
2 Case study: screening and discussion   1.3
2.4
3.5 3.7
 
3 Preliminary budget ASSESSMENT 1:
Written analysis of case study
 		 1.5
2.1
 
4 Preliminary budget   1.3
5      
6      
7      
Mar 29 - Apr 5 EASTER BREAK    
8 Setting up a financial organisation.
Establishing a production office
 		 ASSESSMENT 2:
Timing and breakdown sheets of short script - in-class assignment
 		 1.3, 2.4, 3.1 ,3.4 ,3.5 ,3.7
 
9 Identify budgetary problems with script.
Discussion with HODs on how to eliminate them
 		   1.3
2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5
 
10 Revised schedule and budget
2nd AD and Continuity Daily Reports
 		   1.3
2.5,2.6,2.7
 
11 Revised schedule and budget
2nd AD & Continuity Daily Reports
 		   1.3
2.5,2.6,2.7
 
12 Reporting to investors: Daily cost reports and weekly cost reports.
Keeping tabs on daily costs and projecting future costs.
 		 ASSESSMENT 3:
Group assignment leading to reduction of costs in short shooting script
 		 2.5,2.6,2.7
13 Hiring crew and cast.
Location surveys and Safety Reports (aka Safety Analysis Reports or OH & S).
 		 ASSESSMENT 4:
Team evaluations of group work carried out in assignment 3. Students to provide evaluations direct to teacher.
 		 2.3
3.2,3.5,3.7,3.8
 
14 Preparation for 2nd semester shoots   3.8,3.9
15 Preparation for 2nd semester shoots ASSIGNMENT 5:
Final preproduction paperwork folio of short script
 		 3.8,3.9

C6087DIGIT- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA)
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 Assignement Deadlines and Out of Class Preparation CUFPPM601A CUETEM08B
1 Present 3 rough ideas for Project 1
Discuss the visual style you would undertake in the making of these three project ideas.
Students will make their final decision on the concept they wish to complete.
 		 1. Formative Assignment 01: Present three rough ideas for Project 1  1  1
2 Reviewing the Project 1 (Assignment 05) Brief and the milestones
Planning a 45 seconds project
Technical requirements dimensions HD 1080p (1920pixels x 1080 pixels)
Visual requirements (characters, backgrounds other visual elements)
Scheduling requirements
Assessment task deadlines
 		   1  1
3 Present a Rough storyboard / user case scenario and visual designs.

Linear projects
Rough storyboard and visual designs. (minimum of 20 to maximum of 40 frames)

Interactive projects
Create a user case scenario – a storyboard for the interaction of the user on
post-it notes which rough sketches of screen layouts.

Discuss Assignment 02: Completed animatic and Final prototypes Presentation and preproduction material for Project 1
 

   1  1
4 Linear projects:
Present final character and or element designs, and schedule and task breakdown.

Interactive projects:
include User Interface designs (menus, interactive elements, widgets etc)
Completed User Case Diagram (flow chart/storyboard) and rough click-through prototype (simple interactive with just buttons)


A look at Planning a detailed production schedule
 

   1  1, 2, 3
5 Combined class – Auditorium presentation

Presentation of Animatics and Project document

Delivery of Assignment 02: Completed animatic and Final prototypes Presentation and preproduction material for Project 1
 

 2. Summative Assessment task 02
Combined class - panel presentation
Pre-production material
 		 1,2,3  4, 5
6 To be presented to teacher in class time consultation, you should have complete the following:

For 3D projects:
- Model making
- Rigging
- recording dialogue

For 2D projects:
- Key frames
- Recording dialogue

For Motion graphics projects:
Shooting footage
Recording dialogue

For Interactive projects:
- begin building Beta version
- Set up files with separate frame sections for each different part of the interactive
- Start Coding interactive with graphics / sounds
- Start sourcing external code from examples/tutorials
 

   3  4, 5
7 To be presented to teacher in class time consultation, you should have complete the following:

For 3D projects:
Refine 3D, blocking and animation


For 2D projects:
Animate in-betweens

For Motion Graphics projects:
Editing

For Interactive projects:
TBA
 

   3  4, 5
8 Delivery of Assignment 02 Rough cut over animatic – reach a target of 75% completion over the Animatic

Combined class - panel presentation

Linear projects:
Rough cut over animatic – reach a target of 75% completion

3D Projects
blocked out animation
blocking out of environments (not necessarily finished just to get sense of space).

2D Projects
near completion of all character animation
blocking out of environments (not necessarily finished just to get sense of space).

Delivery:
Preview DVD (that means it goes straight into the dvd slot and plays no menus no data disks.)
Label the disk.

Interactive projects:
Main coding mechanic of interactive working
- Tested on impartial users: testing documented
- Plan of action formulated to address bugs/usability changes within the time left

Delivery:
Burnt on to a CD or DVD. Label the disk.
 

 Formative Assignment 03 Rough cut over animatic – reach a target of 75% completion over the Animatic 3  3, 4, 5
9 Continue working on Project 1 - receive feedback   3  4, 5
10 Combined class - Auditorium presentation

Assignment 04: Fine cut over animatic – reach a target of 100% animation / action completion.

Linear projects:
Delivery: Preview DVD (that means it goes straight into the dvd slot and plays - no menus no data disks.)
Label the disk.

Interactive projects:
Delivery: Burnt on to a CD or DVD. Label the disk.
 

 Assignment 04: Fine cut over animatic – reach a target of 100% animation / action completion.  1,2,3  1, 3, 4, 5
 16    Summative Assignment 05: Completed animatic and Final prototypes Presentation and preproduction material for Project 2  N/A  1, 2, 3


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.

C6087- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA • Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) http://www.alliance.org.au 
• Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) http://www.spaa.org.au
• Film Scheduling, by Singleton, Ralph S., pub Lone Eagle 1997

Film Resources:
• Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (producers: Les Mayfield, George Zaloom, 1991)


Other Resources

C6087- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA
You require access to the internet

C6087DIGIT- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA)
 Access to computers cameras and audio recording equipment.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in a range of class workshops and on-location projects that will help equip you with the skills to successfully manage a film production, using industry procedures.


Assessment Tasks

C6087- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA


Assessment tasks in this course 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) tasks.
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete each of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.

ASSESSMENT TASKS (ungraded - formative):

1. Case study:
Hearts of Darkness is a documentary depicting the notoriously out of control feature film Apocalypse Now, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola (1979). Summarise the difficulties and their causes as shown in this documentary (approx 1,000 words)
Due: Week 3 (Feb 25, 28)


2. Timing and breakdown sheets of short script:
In-class assignment, timing and completing breakdown sheets for provided short film script
Due: Week 8 (Apr 8, 11)


3. Group assignment:
Students will be broken into groups of 5, to include Producer, Director, Writer, DOP, Production Designer positions and asked to provide the following:
Notes from meeting with HODs on resolving budgetary problems with script, preliminary A – Z budget and schedule: This should include:
• Minutes of meeting/s with heads of departments on resolving budgetary issues with the script
• Script amendments
• Preliminary A – Z budget
• Preliminary schedule
Due: Week 12 (May 6, 9)
4. Team evaluations of group work carried out in assignment 3.
Students to provide evaluations direct to teacher. Blank evaluation forms on Blackboard.
Due: Week 13 (May 13, 16)

ASSESSMENT TASK (Graded - Summative):

5. Pre-production paperwork folio of short script (either your own for production in 2nd semester or from the one provided in class)
This should include the following:
• Final script
• Final shooting schedule
• Final budget
• Breakdown of locations
• Breakdown of cast
• List of crew positions required
• Safety (OH & S) report
.Signed weapons declaration form
• Call Sheets
Due: Week 15 (May 27, 30)
All formative assignments must be completed in order for the Summative Assignment to be graded.
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
CHD: Competent with High Distinction
CDI: Competent with Distinction
CC: Competent with Credit
CAG: Competency Achieved - Grade
NYC: Not Yet Completed
DNS: Did Not Submit for Assessment


For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
********************************************************************************************************************


C6087DIGIT- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA)


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.

Formative Assessment Tasks:

1. Assignment 01: Present three rough ideas for Project 1
Week 1

3. Formative Assignment 03 Rough cut over animatic – reach a target of 75% completion over the Animatic
Week 8

4. Formative Assignment 04: Fine cut over animatic – reach a target of 100% animation / action completion.
Week 10

Summative Assessment Tasks:
2. Summative Assessment task 02
Combined class - panel presentation
Pre-production material
Week 5
5. Summative Assignment 05: Completed animatic and Final prototypes Presentation and preproduction material for Project 2
Due week 16


For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.

Grades which 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 Competency Achieved - Graded
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
 


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration

Other Information

Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Feedback - You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Student feedback at RMIT

Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Student progress policy

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. Special consideration, appeals and discipline

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.

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

Late Submission
Work submitted late without an extension or special consideration will be penalised. See the program website for more details.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview