Course Title: Staging and Direction

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Staging and Direction

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COMM2819	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	840H School of Communication and Design	Face-to-Face	Viet2 2021, Viet1 2022, Viet2 2022, Viet2 2023

Course Coordinator: Dr. Nick Cope

Course Coordinator Phone: +84332040362

Course Coordinator Email: nick.cope@rmit.edu.vn

Course Coordinator Location: SGS Vietnam Campus 2.5.53

Course Coordinator Availability: by email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study 

You should have satisfactorily completed COMM2817 Digital Storytelling and COMM2818 Screenwriting Essentials before you commence this course. 

AND 

Required Concurrent Study 

You should undertake COMM2825 Sound: Design and Context at the same time as this course as it contains areas of knowledge and skills which are implemented together in practice. 

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.  

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. 

 

Course Description

In this course you will learn how the director analyses a fiction or non-fiction script or screenplay in order to understand its intentions, brief the core creative team and achieve performances from human talent. You will practice the fundamental procedures of staging a project using a shooting script including camera placement, framing and coverage, and how to achieve performances by human talent. You will apply these analytical processes and staging procedures to convey meaning and narrative by directing a scene from a fiction, non-fiction or commercial project.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes: 

PLO3: Develop narratives and screenplays and achieve storytelling outcomes for digital film and video 

PLO4: Select and use contemporary tools, methods and approaches to envision, develop and produce digital film and video work 

PLO5: Communicate with a range of stakeholders to plan, organise, execute and evaluate team-based and self-managed digital film and video projects 

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to: 

CLO1: Describe creative concepts and approaches to script/screenplay analysis and shooting script generation. 

CLO2: Execute fundamental procedures of staging and direction. 

CLO3: Apply analytical processes and staging procedures to convey meaning and narrative. 

 

Overview of Learning Activities

In this course you will engage in practice-based work to apply directing and staging techniques to convey fiction, non-fiction or commercial meaning and narrative. This will require you to take on various roles in the directing and staging of selected works in a group-based project.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will have access to technical resources such as camera, lighting, sound recording equipment and editing tools, as well as studio-based learning spaces.  You will be provided with diverse learning and teaching resources, including web-based resources, library collections, and online learning content. You will also be provided with a range of educational support services, including peer-led academic mentoring, tutorials, and internship and mobility support services.  

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Assessment Tasks 

Assessment Task 1: Script/screenplay analysis and breakdown, 30%, Addresses CLOs 1 & 2 

Assessment Task 2: Shooting script generation, 30%, Addresses CLOs 2 & 3 

Assessment Task 3: Directing a scene, 40%, Addresses CLOs 2 & 3 

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.