Students

MMCC2013 – Screen Production: Fiction Filmmaking

2024 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Karen Pearlman
karen.pearlman@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above including (MAS 212 or MMCC2012)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to fundamentals of fiction film-making. It offers students the opportunity to develop capacities to: produce, direct, design, shoot, edit, or sound design fictional narratives. As part of a film crew students begin to develop a sense of their own creative affinities. The unit aims to activate their aesthetic judgment and contribute to the cohesive collaborative production of screen stories and ideas.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: research and plan for the realisation of a short media production.
  • ULO2: identify, articulate or develop screen ideas and contribute to conveying them effectively in a short media production.
  • ULO3: apply practical, technical, creative and theoretical skills in screen production through execution of a role such as producing, directing, development, production management, first assistant directing, cinematography, production design, sound design or editing.
  • ULO4: collaborate effectively in the realisation of a short fiction film and work to production deadlines.
  • ULO5: synthesize and evaluate theoretical concepts in screen media to reflect on one's own and others' work in screen media.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quizzes 15% No Mondays 11:55pm Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11
Creative work 1 35% No 11:55pm final day of intensive (date depends on ernrolment)
Creative work 2 50% No 08/11/2024-11:55pm (Friday of week 14)

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: Mondays 11:55pm Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11
Weighting: 15%

 

Multiple choice quizzes designed to consolidate learning from readings, lectures and equipment demonstrations (live, on video or through handouts). These quizzes support student knowledge acquisition and skills development in media practice and production.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • research and plan for the realisation of a short media production.
  • synthesize and evaluate theoretical concepts in screen media to reflect on one's own and others' work in screen media.

Creative work 1

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 11:55pm final day of intensive (date depends on ernrolment)
Weighting: 35%

 

Working in small groups, students respond creatively to a given script, and collaboratively produce a fiction scene or short film during the intensive period. Each student fulfils the responsibilities of one or more professional crew roles in this process. Through this task, students develop and demonstrate understanding of the continuity style of coverage, mise-en-scene, editing, and sound as creative tools for conveying stories and ideas.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • research and plan for the realisation of a short media production.
  • identify, articulate or develop screen ideas and contribute to conveying them effectively in a short media production.
  • apply practical, technical, creative and theoretical skills in screen production through execution of a role such as producing, directing, development, production management, first assistant directing, cinematography, production design, sound design or editing.
  • synthesize and evaluate theoretical concepts in screen media to reflect on one's own and others' work in screen media.

Creative work 2

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 65 hours
Due: 08/11/2024-11:55pm (Friday of week 14)
Weighting: 50%

 

Working in a designated role in production crews (or individually if participating remotely), students script, produce, direct, design, shoot, edit, and sound design a short (approximately 5 minute) fiction film to create a work suitable for their portfolios. Through this task students develop and demonstrate capacities for coherent and compelling onscreen storytelling. Students develop their projects through successive stages of pre-production, production, and post-production, and also demonstrate ability to critically assess their own and others work. Final submission includes a 250 word reflection.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • research and plan for the realisation of a short media production.
  • identify, articulate or develop screen ideas and contribute to conveying them effectively in a short media production.
  • apply practical, technical, creative and theoretical skills in screen production through execution of a role such as producing, directing, development, production management, first assistant directing, cinematography, production design, sound design or editing.
  • collaborate effectively in the realisation of a short fiction film and work to production deadlines.
  • synthesize and evaluate theoretical concepts in screen media to reflect on one's own and others' work in screen media.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

The unit includes practical classes, a three day intensive workshop, and weekly readings/quizzes for building of skills in creative development, pre-production, production, and post production of short fiction films.

Students are expected to gain some faimiliarity with all roles on the crew, develop their knowledge of story design, continuity coverage and editing, and take responsibility for a particular area of film produciton.

Avid editing software licenses will be provided to all enroled students at the start of the unit.  Access to camera, lighting and sound gear will be contingent on active and responsible particpation in the intensive workshop, and correct use of the booking system and required forms. 

 

Unit Schedule

MMCC2013 Schedule

 

Weeks 1- 3

  • Project development, pitching & crewing

 

Weeks 4 – 8

  • Weekly pre-production meetings

 

Week 1 mid semester break – on Campus

  • Intensive & creative task 1 (35%)  - onscreen draft

 

Week 2 mid-sem break and weeks 9 & 10

  • shoots

 

Weeks 11, 12, 13 live on campus

  • In class viewings & discussion: rough cuts, fine cuts, sound designs

 

Week 14

  • Final Submission – productions & reflections (50%)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
19/08/2024 Production period is 2nd week of mid-semester break, week 9 and week 10 Editing and Sound post-production is in weeks 11, 12, and 13. Practical classes will be held in those weeks to review editing progress and give feedback. Final Productions are due on Friday in week 14.

Unit information based on version 2024.04 of the Handbook