Digital Storytelling Exercise

Due Week 3


Weight: 20%


 Assessable Items:

1.Screen work

2.One-page commentary 

Description: A narrative or non-narrative, fictional or non-fictional digital story that contains between 30-60 still images and at least one sound component (voice-over narration, music and sound effects)
and is between 1 and 3 minutes in length. 

Task: Using a digital stills camera each person will take a series of still images that will be arranged into a coherent screen work on Apple’s IMovie (or another non-linear editing system of your choice).

Only copyright-free sound effects and music can be used. 

One-page commentary (500 words)

In the commentary include:

1.Your objectives;

2.Details of the research conducted;

3.The challenges you faced and how you handled them.

Storyboards, shot lists, design plans or voice-over scripts may be attached to this one-page. These are not compulsory elements of the assignment but you are encouraged to include them as they are important aspects of planning a media production. 

Assessment Criteria


1. Originality of concept

2. Visual and aural strength of sequence

3. Shape, structure and unity of sequence

4. Strength and clarity of objectives and depth of research as evidenced in supporting commentary

All submissions are to be made online on ILearn.

Major Production Pitch Presentation


Due Week 4 Online (Ilearn)

Weight: 10%


Based on research, students will develop a 3 - 4 minute pitch that describes their project in screen terms. This means that students will need to describe if the production will be a work of fiction or non-fiction, and if it will be a narrative or non-narrative work. 
Students may also describe the locations, characters, dramatic scenarios, and the general style of the work.

Additionally students can describe the shooting style (hand-held/tripod), colour-palette (or use of black and white), and  specific image and sound ideas they have.

Students will be required to reference at least TWO screen works and or other media. These might be screen works that have informed their visual style, or they might be works on a similar subject, or they could have sound or camera elements that have inspired them.

Students will make a digital presentation of their pitches (video and/or audio recording supported by graphics and/or music/sfx).  No fine cutting is required

Log-line & Treatment

Students must also submit a document comprising of a log-line and a treatment of around 200-300 words.

Assessment Criteria


1. Strength, clarity and originality of idea


2. Potential for innovative use of screen sound and image.


3. Evidence of research and development of idea as a screen work.


4. Capacity to clearly communicate the screen work within the digital pitch


5. Feasibility of proposal as a 3 to 5 mins screen production


6. Demonstrated understanding of the assignment as evidenced in written document.

All submissions are to be made online on ILearn.

Successful pitches will be selected for production.

Journal

Due 1st Day of Intensive


Weight: 20%


Journal

You are to maintain an online or hardcopy journal that documents your learning experience throughout this unit.

The purpose of the journal is to engage in reflective learning and to assist in developing and documenting critical skills.

You will need to submit entries that demonstrate your engagement with student-led learning activities, weekly learning tasks, production activities and readings.

The journal must also demonstrate initiative in your engagement with researching screen culture and with your development as a filmmaker.

All submissions are to be made online on ILearn.  Hard copies can be submitted before the first session of the Intensive. 

Assessment Criteria


1. Demonstrated engagement with student-led learning activities, weekly learning tasks, production activities and readings.
2. Demonstrated an ability to critically analyse and reflect on issues presented in the above tasks and activities.
3. Demonstrated research in screen culture.

Write, Shoot & Edit a Short in 1 day

Due End of Easter Intensive

Weight: 10%


In small groups, students will write, plan, shoot and edit a short film of any genre, fiction or documentary of any subject matter and of up to 3 minutes in length.

Students will start their production at 5 pm, Wed 16^th April and submit their completed films on Thurs 17^th April at 5 pm.

All submissions are to be made online on ILearn.

Assessment Criteria:


1. Effective exploration and realization of concept.

2. Overall shape and structure.

3. Effective use of the different elements of preproduction, production and post-production.

4. Demonstrated technical competence.

Major Production – Completed Work

Due Week 12

Weight: 40%

From the 'pitch' presentations completed in Week 5, a number of these will be selected to go into production. These will be announced at the week 6 Practical.

Those students whose week 5 pitch was selected will be designated as ‘director’.

Students will then choose from the following crew roles: Producer, Director of Photography, Sound Recordist/Designer, Editor, and Production Designer.

Once teams have been selected, students will collaborate on the development of their screen works during the pre-production phase in readiness for going in to production.


Teams will be expected to pre-plan the visual and sound elements of their screen production through story-boarding and other planning exercises.

Teams will also be expected to familiarize themselves with their production equipment, hold regular production meetings, and perform camera and sound
tests.

The final projects will be between 3 to 5 mins in duration will be delivered at the end of Week 12.
 The film must be placed within a transmedia context (e.g. on its own website).

While there will be a number of areas in the assessment where members of the group may receive the same mark,  each group member will have different production responsibilities and will awarded marks based on their role and responsibilities.

All submissions are to be made online on ILearn and on chosen transmedia site.


Assessment Criteria:


1. Effective exploration and realization of concept.

2. Overall shape and structure.

3. Effective use of the different elements of preproduction, production and post-production.

4. Demonstrated technical competence.
5. Effective use of transmedia elements.