Course Title: Create storyboards

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2012

Course Code: COMM5917C

Course Title: Create storyboards

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6088 - Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368

Course Contact Email:Brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: John Reeves
Tel: 9925 4895
Email: john.reeves@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

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

Pre-requisites – None

At RMIT Create Storyboards (COMM5917C) is delivered and assessed together with Establish the creative vision for screen productions (VART5924C)

Course Description

The creation of storyboards is a critical skill in the design and development of a broad range of digital content including video, film animation and interactive media. Create storyboards (COMM5917C) covers the skills and knowledge you need for this process and the unit is delivered and assessed with Establish the creative vision for screen productions. (VART5924C) Together these units form the course Story to Screen, which covers the skills and knowledge you need to transform written scripts into screen productions through the use of sound and visual images.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFPPM404A Create storyboards

Element:

1. Plan storyboards.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 In consultation with relevant personnel, clarify storyboard requirements for productions with reference to scripts and stories.
1.2 Identify factors that affect type of storyboard to be created.
1.3 Contribute ideas in pre-production meetings to help refine storyboard requirements
1.4 Research and select suitable amount of storyboard tools for a given purpose.
1.5 Obtain sign-off form relevant personnel on the type of storyboard to be created.

Element:

2. Draft storyboards.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Break down content, scripts and stories into frames
2.2 Specify storyboard elements for each frame
2.3 Specify the logical linear or non-linear frame sequence, showing the connection between each frame.
2.4 Provide descriptions for each frame.
2.5 Seek feedback on work in progress form relevant personnel and incorporate ideas and feedback as appropriate.

Element:

3. Finalise storyboards.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Present draft storyboards to relevant personnel for discussion and feedback
3.2 Refine storyboards as required to incorporate feedback
3.3 Ensure that final storyboards present accurate visual interpretations of scripts, stories or text and meet all agreed specifications
3.4 Make back-up copies of storyboards as required according to organizational procedures
3.5 Submit storyboards to relevant personnel by agreed deadlines
3.6 Review the process of creating storyboards and note areas for improvement.


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to visualise a screen production through the creation of a storyboard.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• lectures
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• industry speakers
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion

2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent and group project based work
• online and other research
• discussion and comment via blackboard
• independent study

In Story to Screen, you will be working in self-managed teams to establish the creative vision of the script writer, through the completion of a practical project. This will involve working outside class hours on planning, filming and editing the nominated film script. You will spend a minimum of 18 hours outside class time working on this team-based project with the support of your teacher.


Teaching Schedule

Week Content Assessment due Competency and Elements
1 Explanation of course content and assessment requirements
Discussion of goals
Experience inventory
Overview – previous class films
 
  CUEMAR03B - 1
CUFCMP501A 1,2
 
2 Overview – previous class films (cont’d)
Initial script discussions

 
  CUEMAR03B - 1

CUFCMP501A 2
3 The short film – briefing
Possible production roles
Script discussions (cont’d) 
  CUEMAR03B - 1
4 Script development
Discussion of storyboards and their purpose
Storyboarding a short script  
  CUEMAR03B – 1
CUFPPM404A – 1,2
5 Studio – intro to camera, lighting, sound, switching for drama    CUFDRT601A-1
CUFPPM404A 1
 
6 Studio – single camera operation   CUFDRT601A-1
CUFPPM404A 1
 
7

Forum Guests #1 & #2
Script development

Storyboard presentations

  CUFDRT601A- 1
CUFPPM404A -1
 
8

Forum Guests #3 & #4
Script development (cont’d)

Storyboard presentations 

  CUFDRT601A- 1
CUFPPM404A -1
 
9 Forum Guests #5 & #6
Pre-production Week #1
 
  CUFDRT601A- 1
CUFPPM404A -1,2
 
10 Forum Guests #7 & #8
Pre-production Week #2
 
  CUFDRT601A- 1
CUFPPM404A -1,2
 
11 Studio – refresh camera and crew production skills prior to shoot
Pre-production Week #3
 
  CUFDRT601A
1-3
CUFPPM404A
3

 
12 Film Shoot: Studio/Location (attendance may also be required on Friday of this week)   CUFDRT601A
1-3
CUFPPM404A
3

 
13 Second Unit/Film Editing   CUFDRT601A
1-3
CUFPPM404A
3
 
14 Film Editing Assessment #1: all forums due to have been completed by this date CUFDRT601A
1-3
 
15 Film Editing Assessment #3: all storyboard presentations due by this date CUFDRT601A
1-3
 
16 Film Screening Assessment #4: Production reports due on this date CUFDRT601A
1-3
 
       


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Any prescribed reading material will be distributed in class


References

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


Other Resources

You will require access to a computer and to the Internet


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is on going throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in practical projects, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.


Assessment Tasks

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

Assessment 1. CLASS FORUM
Organize and present a one-hour class visit, workshop, excursion or demonstration with an industry professional in a key production role.
Your work may include:
- Research production role and guest
- Develop brief for the class including aims and format of the visit
- Select and present material for workshopping, case study or use as examples
- Manage the presentation of the event, including class participation, so as to illuminate the relationship of each professional role with the writer and the script throughout the production process
Due date: As scheduled throughout semester
Percentage Weighting: 20%


Assessment 2. PRODUCTION
Collaborate effectively with all other members of the creative team in the creation and realisation of a script into a visual format.
Due date: As scheduled
Percentage Weighting: 40%


Assessment 3. STORYBOARD
Create a storyboard for a short film, and present it to other team members in a way that effectively conveys your vision for the project.
Due date: In class as scheduled - all presentations to be completed by Week 15, October 25
Percentage Weighting: 20%


Assessment 4. PRODUCTION REPORT
At a screening of the produced collaborative project, report to class on your role in the process and outcomes of the group production including:
- The challenges and concerns of the various roles in interpreting and realising the script
- The input and cut-off points for the writer in the collaborative process
- The transformation of the script through the production process, and the value added by other players at the various levels of creative input
Written report to be supplied: 1200-1500 words.
Due date: Week 16, November 1
Percentage Weighting: 20%

The unit Establish the creative vision for screen productions is graded. The grades used are as follows:

80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail

The unit Create Storyboards is assessed as :

CA     Competent

NYC  Not yet competent


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. This is available through the course contact in Program Administration

Other Information

Submission of Assessment Tasks
You are required to submit all written assessment tasks in hard copy with a completed School of Media and Communication cover sheet. You are expected to keep a copy of all assignments submitted.

Late Submissions
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension before that due date. Please refer to the program blackboard site for information on late submissions and on applying for an extension.

Feedback
You will receive both oral and written feedback on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is about the honest presentation of your academic work. Presenting work in a manner that fails to acknowledge other people’s work within yours can compromise academic integrity. For further information on academic integrity and plagiarism, please refer to the following URL: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kkc202lwe1yv

Course Overview: Access Course Overview