Course Title: Shoot a wide range of television content

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: VART5931C

Course Title: Shoot a wide range of television content

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5231 - Diploma of Audiovisual Technology

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: 03 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Rowan Humphrey
Phone: (03) 99254345
Email: rowan.humphrey@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

No pre-requisites or co-requistes are required.

Course Description

The aim of this course is to enable learners to compose shots, position a camera and microphones, select appropriate lens, and lighting equipment, operate a camera and field mixer. This unit describes the skills and knowledge required by a camera person who usually works without supervision to shoot television content using professional video equipment. The person undertakes the preparation and technical aspects of a shoot, including camera, sound and lights.
On occasion, the camera person works with a sound recordist or lighting technician and may coordinate their operations. Other duties may include manipulation of cameras, e.g. on dolly tracks and cable control.

Program styles covered by this unit include news and current affairs, corporate videos, coverage of events and relatively complex documentary materials. Typically the camera person contributes creatively to outcomes and works collaboratively with producers or directors, either as an employee of a production house or as a freelancer on assignment.

Edit screen content for fast turnaround
VART-5930C is undertaken in parallel with this course under the working title of ENG (Electronic News Gathering).


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFCAM401A Shoot a wide range of television content

Element:

1. Prepare for shoots

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Attend pre-production briefings and contribute creative ideas for the visual interpretation of intended productions.
1.2 Appraise ideas for shots, taking into account the potential impact on costs, timelines, scripts and technical feasibility.
1.3 Survey locations prior to shoots as required.
1.4 Plan, prepare and pack required equipment and accessories for shoots, including special requirements, such as lenses and filters.
1.5 Ensure equipment is in working order and fix minor faults or arrange to have them fixed.
1.6 Select capture media that is appropriate and sufficient to meet production requirements.
1.7 Anticipate OHS requirements as they apply to the preparation and implementation of shoots.
1.8 Complete required documentation.

Element:

2. Set up shoots

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Survey sites and determine camera positions to achieve shots and compositions best suited to production requirements.
2.2 Generate a range of ideas that offer creative solutions for particular productions.
2.3 Appraise ideas for potential impact on cost, schedules, technical feasibility and suitability to meet production requirements.
2.4 Set up and implement lighting plans, and install required cables
2.5 Confirm light temperature and exposures are sufficient for production requirements by utilising appropriate light meters.
2.6 Position microphones and conduct audio checks.
2.7 Liaise and collaborate with other production personnel and talent to maximise creative outcomes.
2.8 Rehearse shots as required.

Element:

3. Shoot content

Performance Criteria:


criteria 3.1 Check camera movements to implement planned and rehearsed shots where applicable.
3.2 Ensure captured shots meet editing and other post-production requirements.
3.3 Employ photographic and composition techniques to achieve aesthetic requirements and to capture well-composed and well-focused shots.
3.4 Collaborate with other production personnel where applicable and respond to directions as required.
3.5 Coordinate inputs from other crew members as required to achieve the desired images.
3.6 Ensure safe work practices are applied at all times.
3.7 Record audio using appropriate microphones or coordinate sound operations as required.

Element:

4. Wrap up shoots

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Pack and store equipment using safe lifting practices.
4.2 Ensure recorded content is identified, labelled and available for post-production.
4.3 Ensure locations are left in original state.
4.4 Brief editors and producers on post-production issues as required.
4.5 Complete necessary documentation.
4.6 Review and reflect on own performance and note areas for improvement.


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to .
• Set up and operate a professional video camera
• Compose shots/address lighting conditions
• Select and use corrective filters and lens
• Coordinate crew to position and operate camera
• Monitor the quality of the moving image
• Set up and operate a professional field mixer
• Operate as a ‘News’ style crew to record short interviews
• Operate as a crew to produce a television segment


Details of Learning Activities

In class activities will include a range of
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• independent project based work
• online research
• group discussion
Out-of-class activities include completion of individual design and pre-production work, preparation for class presentations and location excursions.

Productions in second semester are shot from August to September in Electronic Film Production (EFP) style typical of television soap/serial or drama.


Teaching Schedule

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 Elements
Week 1  Introduction to small crew eng style production and post production. SD/HD formats and aspect ratios Maintain Battery Supply
Analyze the ‘News’ project, The ‘Location Interview’ brief and also discuss second semester concepts
Intro to FCP and View last year projects
Shoot.
1 Prepare for shoots.

Edit.
See separate course Guide
Week 2  Camera / Exercises and FCP tutorial exercise Shoot.
1 &
2 Set up shoots.
Week 3  Sound / Exercises and FCP tutorial exercise Shoot.
1 & 2 
 
Week 4  ‘News’ exercise field rotations Channel 1 News Shoot.
1, 2
3. Shoot content.
4. Wrap up shoots.
Week 5  ‘News’ exercise field rotations Channel 2 News Scripting/ Selection of current affairs/AV Tech? Topics in relation to The ‘Location Interview’.  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 6  ‘News’ exercise field rotations Channel 3 News / Development of concepts for semester 2  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 7  ‘News’ exercise field rotations Channel 4 News Presentation of Draft Concepts /Scheduling ENG shoot  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 8  Shooting ‘Location Interview’  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 9  Shooting ‘Location Interview’  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 10  Shooting ‘Location Interview’/log and load Submission of Final Concepts(EFP), Storyboards and Scripts  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 11  Offline all footage for the ‘Location Interview’ using production report to log ‘go takes’ & cutaways.  Shoot.
4.
Week 12  Editing & Final adoption of second semester projects & crews AAA Camera reports due  Shoot.
4.
Week 13  Editing  Shoot.
4.
Week 14  Editing  Shoot.
4.
Week 15  Editing and Shoot Music Video 6/7/8 June with dates to be confirmed.  Shoot.
4.
Week 16  Final Edits/ copying to DVD/ Reviews  Shoot.
4.
   Mid Year Break  

Sem2
Week 1

 Pre-production week one planning EFP
General planning of camera department
 Shoot.
1.
Week 2  Pre-production week two planning EFP
Specific camera workshop
 Shoot.
1.
Week 3  Pre-production week three planning EFP
Specific Audio workshop
 Shoot.
1.
Week 4  Pre-production week four planning EFP
Final planning around location issues for camera
 Shoot.
1.
Week 5  Pre-production week five planning EFP
Camera department reports for each film.
 Shoot.
1.
Week 6  Principle photography/Shooting EFP  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 7  Principle photography/Shooting EFP  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 8  Principle photography/Shooting EFP  Shoot.
1, 2, 3, 4.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Mollison, M., 2010, Producing Videos, ‘A Complete Guide’ 3rd Ed, Allen and Unwin, Sydney


References

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


Other Resources

You may require a USB memory stick and /or a suitable Hardisk drive to store media as well as blank DVD media to complete productions.


Overview of Assessment

Demonstration of crew roles and technical camera, lighting and sound recording skills in a range of settings.


Assessment Tasks

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

For further information on the assessments and grading criteria, please refer to the course Blackboard site.

To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessments and a grade for the summative assessment.

You will be assessed using the following methods:

Formative Assessment
1. Carry out crew roles of camera, sound and direction in ‘News rounds’. Due week 7 of semester 1.
2. Direct, shoot and sound record a series of interviews for ‘ENG’. Due week 12 of semester 1.

Summative Assessment
3. Direct, shoot, light or sound record a series of short films for ‘EFP’, ‘MAVIS’ and/or ‘Splendour’. Due week 9 of semester 2.

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

Grades used in this course are as follows:

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

Other Information

Students are expected to be able to take notes in class, access information from Blackboard and internet sites and use skills learnt in Implement Lighting designs. Students are assumed to have a working knowledge of Colour Temperature, apertures and f.stops, three point lighting techniques and basic operation of a video camera.

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;

 

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