Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Maree Delofski
Contact via maree.delofski@mq.edu.au
Y3A 153
TBA
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
MAS213 and MMCS260 and (admission to BA-Media or BA-MediaLLB or BA in Media or BMktgMedia)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides students with an opportunity to develop their research, creative, conceptual and technical skills in non-fiction digital production as they address the range of aesthetic and rhetorical choices available in representing the 'real'. While non-fiction as a category of screen production may include news, current affairs, reality television and corporate video, the special focus of this unit is documentary and the historical and theoretical context of its production. The unit places particular emphasis on the creative process and its relationship to the development of specific technical capabilities.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Documentary Outline | 15% | Week 3 workshop |
Workshop Research Presentation | 10% | Weekly |
Research Report | 15% | Week 7 Workshop |
Short Documentary Production | 30% | Week 13 workshp |
Crew Role Assessment | 20% | Week 13 |
Workshop Participation | 10% | Every week |
Due: Week 3 workshop
Weighting: 15%
Documentary Outline
Due Date: Week 3 workshop
Weight: 15%
Please deliver your proposal to your assigned workshop.
Any assignment delivered beyond the due date will not be considered for production.
You are asked to write an outline/proposal for a documentary of up to 5 minutes in length. This is a creative document, not an essay. Choose an idea from the world around you that you think is achievable and that has the potential for strong sounds and images, interesting characters, story or argument.
The documentary outline needs to be well structured. Describe the idea and themes that you are hoping to explore, any argument you may wish to make, the potential for an engaging story. Indicate any stylistic ideas you may be considering at this early stage of development, the people (social actors/characters) you may be including in the project, the research you have conducted so far and further research you will need to conduct.
Please also discuss the logistical challenges offered by the project and how you will meet them. For example, if the documentary is a portrait of someone, what kind of access do you have to this person, where do they live/work? If they live out of Sydney how will you deal with this?
The outline should be approximately 3 pages long and you are encouraged to include other material such as photographs, text, archival material or other references that help to describe the idea.
Outlines will be assessed and short-listed for production based on the following criteria:
Originality and strength of central idea
What is the central idea you are exploring? How original, interesting or imaginative is it? Does it offer potential for a short documentary or could it be more easily explored via another medium? Does it have the potential to reveal something fresh about the world we live in? What themes does the idea suggest?
Story/Argument
Potential for engaging story and/or powerful argument about the world around us.
Evidence of preliminary research
Successful documentaries are based on solid research. Research includes the factual, aesthetic and technical. Please reference at least one screen work that is informing your viual style or perhaps works with a similar subject. You must provide evidence that you have researched your idea to the degree that you know it can be made. For example, does your research demonstrate that the idea has depth, have the people you wish to participate in the documentary agreed to do so? You must also indicate further research you intend to pursue.
Visual and aural potential
Research also includes considerations about style, approach. How does your idea lend itself to an exploration through sounds and images? Remember that digital video, as a time-based medium, is very different from a written text. Your proposal should demonstrate that your documentary concept contains the potential for an imaginative use of sounds and images.
Awareness of documentary form
What kind of short documentary are you proposing? Please note that "current affairs" style projects are not acceptable. Documentary has a long history of conceptually and aesthetically innovative works. It is important that you begin to familiarise yourself with the range of possibilities available to you and consider the relationship between style and content.
Feasibility: in terms of facilities, skills base, locations, length
Your idea must be feasible. You have only a certain number of days for both your shoot and post-production.
Assessment criteria
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
Assignment 2
Workshop Research Presentation
Due Date: Weekly
Weight: 10%
You will give a class presentation on a documentary of your choice, giving its production details, analysing how it operates - the ways in which it communicates its ideas, commenting on the creative and technical strategies evident in the work and arguing how these may (or may not) contribute towards the film's meaning(s). This presentation will be approximately 10-15 minutes including one film extract and will also involve a 5 minute Q&A in the workshop.
Assessment criteria
Due: Week 7 Workshop
Weighting: 15%
You are asked to write a research report of 750 words discussing:
a) the research you have conducted into specific films, ideas, other texts that have influenced, inspired or resonated with you in relation to your class project and your crew role on the project (500 words)
b) the specific research you have undertaken in relation to technical or other production aspects of your crew role. (250 words)
For example, in section (a) you might discuss the kinds of creative ideas that have inspired you in a particular documentary or piece of writing on documentary or perhaps a painting or photograph or indeed a combination of several elements that have influenced you. Perhaps you are considering using a particular technique? How has this been achieved in other films you have viewed. What have you been reading or looking at that has impressed you? If you are a producer maybe you have also been reading about organisation challenges and how to solve them, or conflict resolution. Managing a collaboration is a creative task too.
In section (b) you need to be specific about the research you have done in relation to the technical and/or other production aspects of your role. For example, if you are DOP have you attended additional camera workshops or practised with the camera outside class? If you are a producer have you researched how to schedule the production? What preparation have you taken as sound recordist or sound designer?
If you require more clarification about this assignment, please confer with your workshop lecturer.
Assessment criteria
Due: Week 13 workshp
Weighting: 30%
Short Documentary
Due Date: Workshops Week 13
Weight: 30%
In this collaborative assignment each student will participate in a crew role contributing towards the development and production of a short screen documentary of up to 5 minutes duration. Each student collaborating on the production will be expected to undertake adequate creative, technical and organisational preparation to support the performance of their role.
The production parameters for the documentary are:
1. Up to 5 shooting days
2. Edit plan completed prior to commencement of editing
3. 5 days picture edit per project
4. 2 days sound edit per project
5. All crew members are to make themselves available to attend all the planned testing and shooting period and to view and comment on edits as required.
Assessment criteria:
PLEASE NOTE: Each member of a production team will be awarded the same grade for the completed production. However if a student has not participated in all stages of the process where required eg pre-production, production and post-production - they will not receive a mark. For example, a sound recordist who does not take part in the shoots will not be given a mark for this assignment.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 20%
You are assessed on your crew role performance as evidenced in the final production and supported by the following documentation:
· Production portfolio of documents demonstrating your technical and creative research, preparation and process undertaken in your crew role and any other involvement you have in the production.
· 500 word critical reflection discussing at least two major learning challenges you faced in your crew role during the process and how you resolved them. You could address technical and/or creative issues together with interpersonal skills eg conflict resolution etc. For example how was the collaboration managed in your team? Was everyone up to the technical standard required by the project? If not, how was this resolved?
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Due: Every week
Weighting: 10%
Active workshop participation is more than simply being in attendance (which is compulsory). In order to receive high marks for workshop participation, students must be punctual and well-prepared, complete any required in or out of class work including attendance at relevant technical demonstration sessions and production meetings (which will be logged), prepare for workshop presentations, engage actively by asking and answering questions and participating constructively in pair or group work as required. The marks allocated for participation in this unit reflect the importance of student participation in a production course, particularly one such as MAS312 that focuses on communication and the production of a short collaborative digital video work.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
iLearn
The unit schedule is published on iLearn. Additional documentation required during production such as crew role descriptions, location agreements, permissions, insurance details etc will be uploaded during the semester on iLearn.
Technology & Software
This is a screen production unit. Students may be required to work with a range of the department's digital and mechanical technologies and editing software including still and moving image recorders (eg Sony HD FS700 cameras), sound recorders, digital editing software (eg AVID),image stabilising equipment, tripods, dollies, various portable lighting equipment etc
Health and Safety
Students must wear suitable shoes in the screen production studio as a health and safety requirement. This means flat-heeled closed shoes such a runners. Students wearing open toed footware such as sandals or thongs, or high heeled shoes, will not be permitted to work in the studio.
Timetable
For details of the unit timetable please go to: www.timetables.mq.edu.au
Please note that lectures run Monday 10am-12pm until mid semester break; there are no lectures following the mid semester break during production.
Please also note that workshops are three hours in duration until mid semester break and two hours in duration following the mid semester break.
Changes since the last offering of unt
Production proposals are short listed by convenor and/or workshop tutor. Final proposals are selected by workshop participants.
Assessment
All assignments must be attempted in order to be considered for a Pass in this unit.
Extensions for assignments are only granted on the grounds of illness or misadventure and appropriate documentation such as a medical certificate must be presented as part of an application for extension. If you are having problems please speak to your workshop lecturer or the unit convenor as soon as possible. Late delivery of assignments without the agreement of the lecturer may incur a penalty of 2% per day.
Attendance
It is a compulsory requirement to attend all production workshops and lectures.
Any absence from a workshop must be supported by documentation such as a medical certificate and discussed with workshop lecturer.
Failure to attend two or more workshops may result in a Fail.
Unit Readings
Students are expected to undertake independent research into the creative and technical aspects of screen production. Unit readings are available in e-reserve and are intended as a supplement to the core screen production work, as well as enhancing your understanding of theoretical and production concepts discussed during the unit. Although readings will not be assessed from week to week, it is strongly advised that you broaden your understanding of concepts and practices relating to screen production by completing them, as well as independently researching your specific crew role areas of interest as you will be assessed on your knowledge and application of these in unit assignments.
Please see iLearn for unit schedule.
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Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
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