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: C4295 - Certificate IV in 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: Andrew Harrison
Phone: (03) 9925 4350  
Email: andrew.harrison@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 unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to create visual effects for television.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFANM402A Create digital visual effects

Element:

1. Clarify work requirements.

Performance Criteria:

1 With reference to production documentation, clarify
requirements for digital visual effects.
2 In consultation with relevant personnel, clarify work flow
sequences to ensure that production schedule deadlines
are met.
3 Select software that best suits the type of production
and delivery platform for which visual effects sequences
are being created.
4 Gather and analyse reference material to help with
visualisation of final sequences.

Element:

2. Prepare components.

Performance Criteria:

5 Gather all assets for integration and check that they are in
the correct output file format.
6 Choose digital visual effects that best represent the vision
of scripts, as required.
7 Check that components comply with storyboard
requirements.
8 Determine the appropriate methods and techniques to
be used for the production of the required digital special
effects.

Element:

3. Assemble previsualisations.

Performance Criteria:

9 Create previsualisation of the required visual effects
sequences using the appropriate assets and compositing
techniques.
10 Experiment with previsualisation to establish the best
results and solve problems that arise during the process of
creating the visual effects.
11 Submit previsualisation visual effects sequences to
relevant personnel for evaluation and feedback.
12 Match elements as required, such as colour, lighting and
camera.

Element:

4. Produce visual effects.

Performance Criteria:

13 Create final visual effects.
14 Generate additional required effects to final stage.
15 Render visual effects to desired format.
16 Submit visual effects sequences to relevant personnel for
evaluation and feedback by agreed deadlines.

Element:

5. Finalise visual effects.

Performance Criteria:

17 Respond to feedback by making adjustments to visual
effects so that they comply with design and production
specifications.
18 Save files to specified storage system accessible to
production team.
19 Make back-up copies of visual effects in accordance with
enterprise procedures.
20 Complete workplace documentation as required.
21 Review process of creating digital visual effects and note
areas for future improvement.


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to create visual effects for television.


Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will take place in a studio, computer lab or classroom using industry standard tools and resources. You will complete exercises and industry style projects. You will also be required to undertake independent study.

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

Out-of-class activities include, but are not limited to:
• online research
• work-shopping
• group project based work
You will be responsible for your learning and will be expected to engage in independent research, reading, study, practice and screenings


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

Assessment

Elements               


Week 1
 

Overview of  the course content, resources, assessments and course expectations.
• Introduction to resources, assessments and course expectations
• Introduction to After Effects – set up, layout, media files, compositions

• File and Project management
• Introduction to principles of compositing and
visual effects

Includes – class exercises and discussion
 

Summative Task 1: assessment guide handed out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

8, 10, 12, 13,

14, 15, 16, 18,

19


Week 2
 
For Summative Task 1 - Develo ideas and clarify requirements for:
• Production documentation – production brief, schedule, software list, script
• Previsulisation and storyboards
After Effects –
• Introduction to Type and Text - Part 1
Includes – class exercises and discussion
Summative Task 1: Develop ST idea, preproduction documentation guide handed out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

8, 10, 12, 13,

14, 15, 16, 18,

19

 


Week 3
 

• After Effects –
• Revision from week 2
• Introduction to Typ and Text - Part 2: keyframing, transparencies, shapes, simulating 3D, colour effects

• Render queue – output codecs, movie file
• Media management

Includes – class exercises and discussion
 

  1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

8, 10, 12, 13,

14, 15, 16, 18,

19

 

 


Week 4
 
• After Effects –
• Revision from week 3
• Text and Type – motion and animation paths,
motion blur, pre-composing, mattes and
modes
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
  1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

8, 10, 12, 13,

14, 15, 16, 18,

19


Week 5
 
• After Effects –
• Revision from week 4
• Text and Type – animation, presets,
compositing text into the scene
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
  1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

8, 10,1 2, 13,

14, 15, 16, 18,

19

 

 


Week 6
 
• Revision of weeks 1 to 5
• Practical Assessment – Formative task 1
Formative Task 1: Due 1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, 15, 16,

17, 18, 19, 2 0,

21


Week 7
 
• After Effects –
• Revision from week 6
• Motion Tracking – stabilise footage, viewer window, track motion, pre-compose
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
  1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 8, 9, 10,

12,1 3, 14, 15,

16, 18, 19


Week 8
 
• After Effects –
• Revision from week 7
Keying – modes, track matte, masking, luma
matte, alpha matte, transparencies, colour
blending
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
  1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 8, 9, 10,

12, 13, 14, 15,

16, 18, 19

 


Week 9
 
• After Effects –
• Revision from week 8
• Keying – layers, pre-composing, mattes
• Rotoscoping, roto brush
• Sound effects and music integration
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
  1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 8, 9, 10,

12, 13, 14, 15,

16, 18, 19

 


Week 10
 

TV Studio –
• Green Screen and VFX shooting
• Practical class
• After Effects –
• Revision from week 9
• Composite filmed assets to a draft stage

Includes – class exercises and discussion

  1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

15, 17, 18, 19


Week 11
 
• After Effects –
• Revision from week 10
• Keying – composting a sequence
• Composite filmed assets to a final stage
Includes – class exercises and discussion
  1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, 15, 16,

17, 18, 19


Week 12
 
• Revision of weeks 7 to 11
• Practical Assessment – Formative task 2
Formative Task 2: Due 1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, 15, 16,

17, 18, 19, 20,

21


Week 13
 
• Practical Assessment – Summative task 1
• Develop VFX idea
• Source VFX assets
• Produce pre-production documents
 
Summative Task 1 1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

18, 19, 20


Week 14

 

• Practical Assessment – Summative task 1
• Pre-production documents due
• Composite VFX material
Summative Task 1: Pre-production documents due 1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, 15, 16,

17, 18, 19, 20,

21

Week 15 • Practical Assessment – Summative task 1
• Present draft version to class for comment and
feedback
Summative Task 1: Presentation
Due and Feedback session
1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, 15, 16,

17, 18, 19, 20,

21

Week 16 • Practical Assessment – Summative task 1
• Refine visual effects and prepare to finalise
• Final render for export and submission
Summative Task 1: Due 1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, 15, 16,

17, 18, 19, 20,

21


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Christiansen, M 2012, Adobe After Effects CS6 Visual Effects and Compositing Studio Techniques, Adobe Press, USA


References

Brinkmann, R 2008, The Art and Science of Digital Compositing, Morgan Kaufmann, USA (available in the library)
Allan, D, Connor, B 2007, Encyclopaedia of Visual Effects, Peachpit, USA (available in the library)
Wright S 2006, Digital Compositing for Film and Video, Focal Press, USA (available in the library)
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

You will require a personal hard drive to store class materials and exercises.
• Portable Hard Drive – Firewire 800, USB 3
• USB Stick or passport drive
• SDHC Cards
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access of the library resources.

 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will be ongoing throughout the class period and include group and individual tasks


Assessment Tasks

Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are graded.

To demonstrate competency in this course you need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard.
You must submit all pieces of assessment in order for your competency to be assessed in this course.

Formative Assessment Task 1 must be completed to a competent standard before you can attempt Formative Assessment Task 2.

You cannot proceed to the Summative assessment until both Formative assessments have been completed to a competent standard.
Formative and Summative assessment tasks must be completed during scheduled class time as observation of your practical skills and knowledge by the tutor is an integral part of assessment.

You will receive feedback on all assessments and a grade for the Summative assessment.

Formative Assessment
1. Titling, masking, shapes, keyfrmaing and motion paths  task

Due week 6 of Semester 1

2. Keying, masking, rotoscoping and colour balancing  task

Due week 12 of Semester 1

Summative Assessment

1. Conceive and construct an opening title sequence for a TV show (Roy Melba) group exercise

- Pre-production documents due week 14 of Semester 1
- Draft version due week 15 of Semester 1
- Final project due week 16 of Semester 1


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
NYC  Not Yet Competent
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 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