Course Title: Devise camera coverage

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

Course Code: VART5925C

Course Title: Devise camera coverage

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6087 - Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media

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: Mr Mark Lane
Phone: 9925-4976
Email: mark.lane@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 50

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

In this course you will cover the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop camera coverage of scenes for a screen productions.

This course is co-delivered and assessed alongside Conceive and develop lighting designs CUFLGT501A and Direct cinematography for screen productions CUFCAM601A.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFDRT604A Devise camera coverage

Element:

1 Interpret creative Brief

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Analyse available documentation to determine creative and technical criteria for productions.
1.2 Participate in preliminary concept meetings with relevant production personnel to discuss potential production requirements.
1.3 Identify factors that may determine and affect camera plans and coverage design.
1.4 Generate a range of preliminary ideas for camera coverage that responds sympathetically to the brief and provides creative solutions to creative and technical criteria.
1.5 Discuss and refine ideas with relevant production personnel until a workable approach emerges.

Element:

2 Identify camera coverage requirements

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify and analyse source references that may enhance camera coverage decisions.
2.2 Identify basic structural camera shots for realisation of scenes and investigate their potential for achieving narrative outcomes.
2.3 Ensure camera coverage is appropriate to contextual and stylistic requirements.
2.4 Evaluate and verify ideas in collaboration with relevant production personnel to determine the viability of proposed concepts.
2.5 Prepare effective documentation for use by relevant production personnel for analysis and interpretation.

Element:

3 Develop camera coverage plans.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Develop camera coverage that addresses all visual and narrative aspects of production requirements.
3.2 Ensure camera coverage enables narrative to be controlled and carried forward throughout the production.
3.3 Organise or undertake testing and experimentation with draft camera plan to verify photographic qualities.
3.4 Produce work within the agreed timeframes together with accurate documentation.

Element:

4 Finalise camera coverage plans.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Present draft camera plan and specifications to relevant production personnel in an appropriate format.
4.2 Negotiate and agree to acceptable modifications to creative and technical criteria and amend camera plan as necessary.
4.3 Agree to final plans and produce accurate and comprehensive documentation to support implementation.
4.4 Present final plans and specifications to relevant production personnel and confirm that all production requirements have been met.

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course, you will be able to use key elements of scripts or shot plans as the basis for devising camera coverage for a screen productions.


Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will consist of
-demonstrations
-workshops
-practical exercises
-productions
-discussions
-screenings
-reading set texts
-group planning & development of camera & lighting assessments. 
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.
 

 

SEMESTER 1    
Week Class Content Competencies/Elements
1  Course Introduction.
Assessment tasks explained.
Multiple Choice Q & A (ungraded assessment).
Film Versus Video.
First scheduling round for Assessment Task 8.
Intro to camera coverage and camera plans.		  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
2  Introduction to film cameras.
Loading and handling techniques.
Camera operation and principles.
Focus pulling		  CUFCAM601A / 1, 2
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
3  Camera coverage plans (ungraded assessment).
Exposure meters.
Film Stock characteristics.
Exposure tests using digital cameras (ungraded assessment).		  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
4  Lenses, Depth of Field and Field of View.
Filters - Colour Temperature and Colour Correction.
Film labs and digital telecine.
Logging, shooting ratios and continuity.
Second scheduling round for Assessment Task 8.
Pre Production for week 6.		  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 3
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
5  Approach to lighting
Lighting plans
Contingency plans
Scheduling
Locations		  CUFCAM601A / 2
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
6  Film, lens and camera tests. (Send exposed stock to lab.)
Pre production.
Labour Day public holiday (Monday)
Group 2B Monday class will be rescheduled.		  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1,2,4
7  View rushes from camera tests (ungraded assessment).
Lighting plans.
Camera and lighting crew roles.
Communication with other departments.
Shoot protocols and slating procedures.
Final scheduling round for Assessment Task 8.		  CUFCAM601A / 1, 2
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
8  Lighting plans (ungraded assessment).
Skills and knowledge review.
Pre production for graded assessment task.		  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
9a  Production A, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
  Midsemester Break  
9b  Production B, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8 CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4 
10  Production C, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
11  Production C, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
12  Production D, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
13  Production E, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
14  Production F, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
15  Production G, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
16  Production H, Assessment Tasks 6, 7 & 8  CUFCAM601A / 1 - 4
CUFDRT604A / 1 - 4
CUFLGT501A / 1 - 4
17  Assessment Week Screenings (Date to be announced)
Combined class presentations, 2A, 2B and 2C,
including Q & A sessions (Location to be announced)		  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Burum, Stephen H., 2007, American cinematographer manual Vol. 1 and 2, ASC Press Hollywood, Calif

Lorenze, Catherine, 2004, Dream gear : cool and innovative tools for film, video, and TV professionals, Studio City, CA : Michael Wiese Productions

Viera, Dave and Maria, 2005, Lighting for film and digital cinematography, Belmont, Calif. : Wadsworth ; London : Thomson Learning

Uva, Michael, 2009, The grip book, Amsterdam ; London : Focal


References

• Camera manual for Panasonic P2
• Camera manual for 16mm Aaton LTR
• Camera manual for 16mm Aaton A-Minima
• Camera manual for 16mm Arriflex SR
• Hollywood Camera Work DVD box set (Vol. 1-6)
• www.hollywoodcamerawork.us
• Screen Production Guide
• Production docs on Screen Blackboard
All manuals are held at the schools equipment store.
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

You will require a personal hard drive as well as camera assistant / gaffer items and expendables, eg: various pens, torch, wooden pegs etc. A full ‘assistants’ kit will be described in class.

In the case of film student teams purchase their own film stock and laboratory services.
 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester and will involve practical exercises, knowledge assessment tasks and practical group projects.
This course will be delivered and assessed in conjunction with Direct Cinematography for Screen Productions - CUFCAM601A and
Conceive and develop lighting designs - CUFLGT501A.


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.

All students will be required to plan and produce ’mini’ productions (in teams of 2 or 3) to a final cut standard for presentation and graded assessment. Students are also required to crew on and support fellow student productions. Attendance is vital to the successful outcome of all productions and the completion of all assessment items.

Semester 1
ASSESSMENT TASKS (ungraded):
1. Multiple choice Q & A
2. Camera coverage plans
3. Exposure tests
4. 16mm film camera tests
5. Lighting plans
ASSESSMENT TASKS (graded):
6. Production documents (Due at start of production)
7. Workplace observation of crew roles
8. Edited and graded production (Due in Week 17, date to be announced)

Grades used in this course are as follows:

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

For further details on these assessment tasks and the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.

 


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

Feedback:
You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions and plagiarism

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

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;


 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview