Course Title: Create digital visual effects

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

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

 

Teacher: Ms Trewlea Peters
Phone: 99258011
Email: trewlea.peters@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
With reference to production documentation , clarify requirements for digital visual effects
1.2
In consultation with relevant personnel , clarify work flow sequences to ensure that production schedule deadlines are met
1.3
Select software that best suits the type of production and delivery platform for which visual effects sequences are being created
1.4
Gather and analyse reference material to help with visualisation of final sequences

Element:

2 Prepare components.

Performance Criteria:

2.1
Gather all assets for integration and check that they are in the correct output file format
2.2
Choose digital visual effects that best represent the vision of scripts, as required
2.3
Check that components comply with storyboard requirements
2.4
Determine the appropriate methods and techniques to be used for the production of the required digital special effects

Element:

3 Assemble previsualisations

Performance Criteria:

3.1
Create previsualisation of the required visual effects sequences using the appropriate assets and compositing techniques
3.2
Experiment with previsualisation to establish the best results and solve problems that arise during the process of creating the visual effects
3.3
Submit previsualisation visual effects sequences to relevant personnel for evaluation and feedback
3.4
Match elements as required, such as colour, lighting and camera

Element:

4 Produce visual effects.

Performance Criteria:

4.1
Create final visual effects
4.2
Generate additional required effects to final stage
4.3
Render visual effects to desired format
4.4
Submit visual effects sequences to relevant personnel for evaluation and feedback by agreed deadlines

Element:

5 Finalise visual effects

Performance Criteria:

5.1
Respond to feedback by making adjustments to visual effects so that they comply with design and production specifications
5.2
Save files to specified storage system accessible to production team
5.3
Make back-up copies of visual effects in accordance with enterprise Procedures
5.4
Complete workplace documentation as required
5.5
Review process of creating digital visual effects and note areas for future improvement


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

Week1

 Introduction to the principles and elements of editing. Introduction to pre-visualisation and visual effects.   CUFPOS401A (1)
CUFANM402A (1)
Week2 Understanding framing and sequences. Visual storytelling. Breaking down a script, analysing FX requirements and digital storyboarding.

 Editing Formative task

VFX Formative task

  CUFPOS401A (1)
CUFANM402A (1)
Week3 Overview of Final Cut Pro – Importing/exporting and the interface.    CUFANM402A (1)
Week4 FCP Preferences, System settings, A/V settings, and Codecs. Creating a sequence from digital storyboard.    CUFPOS401A (2,3)
Week5 Capturing and using the three point edit.    CUFPOS401A (2,3)
Week6 Adjusting sound, generators, effects and editing tools.    CUFPOS401A (2,3)
CUFANM402A (2)
Week7 Fine tuning an edit, mastering sound levels and colour correction in FCP. Creating chapter markers for DVD. Editing Formative task 
  CUFPOS401A (2,3)
CUFANM402A (3)
Week8 Outputting from FCP. Introduction to DVD Studio Pro. Menus, tracks, preferences, settings, working with templates, chapter markers, building and burning in DVD Studio Pro.    CUFPOS401A (4)
CUFANM402A (4)
Week9 Individual appointments discussing interview structure and overlay to reinforce story.  Editing Formative task
 CUFPOS401A (4)
CUFANM402A (4)
Week10 Interview Productions – Integrated assessment  Editing Summative task  CUFPOS401A (1)
Week11 Interview Productions – Integrated assessment  Editing Summative task  CUFPOS401A (1)
Week12 Interview Productions – Integrated assessment  Editing Summative task  CUFPOS401A (1)
Week13 Log and Capture footage. Start selecting and editing footage from independent Interview production.    CUFPOS401A (2)
Week14 Independently edit Interview and receive verbal feedback on rough-cut. Edit rough cut of interview.  Editing Summative task  CUFPOS401A (2,3)
Week15 Independently edit Interview and receive verbal feedback on fine tuned cut. Fine tune duplicate of rough cut  Editing Summative task  CUFPOS401A (3)
Week16 Master fine-tuned edit and output from FCP. Develop menus, tracks, preferences, settings, template, chapter markers, build and burn Interview in DVD Studio Pro.  Submit Interview on DVD Summative task  CUFPOS401A (3,4)
SEM 2
Week Class content Exercises Elements
Week1 Masks and Mattes in Motion
 VFX Formative task CUFANM402A (2,3,4)
Week2 Keying in Motion  VFX Formative task CUFANM402A (2,3,4)
Week3 Particles emitters and behaviours in Motion  VFX Formative task CUFANM402A (2,3,4)
Week4 Motion Tracking in Motion  VFX Formative task CUFANM402A (1,2,3,4,5)
 Week5 Sourcing and developing VFX material CUFANM402A VFX Summative assessment task  CUFPOS401A
Week6 Compositing VFX material  CUFANM402A VFX Summative assessment task CUFPOS401A
  Productions Begin    
Week7 Pre-Production, Production and post production period  

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week8 Pre-Production, Production and post production period  

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week9 Pre-Production, Production and post production period  

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week10 Pre-Production, Production and post production period  

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week11 Pre-Production, Production and post production period  

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week12  Pre-Production, Production and post production period  

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week13 Rough Cut feedback  Editing Summative assessment task

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week14 Rough Cut feedback  Editing Summative assessment task

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week15 Mastering  Editing Summative assessment task

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A
Week16 Submit final full HD edit of production onto Master Server  Editing Summative assessment task

CUFPOS401A

CUFANM402A


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

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


Other Resources

You will require a personal hard drive PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE 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

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.

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. 

Feedback:
You will receive spoken and written feedback from teachers on your work. This feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions
Please advise teacher in advance if an extension of time or special consideration is required for submission of work. Refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions.

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.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1



Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

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