Students

MMCC2013 – Screen Production: Fiction Filmmaking

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff unit convenor & lecturer
Karen Pearlman
karen.pearlman@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
10HA-147
by appointment
technical director (cameras, lights, mics, etc.)
Alex Ryan
alex.ryan@mq.edu.au
10HA
by appointment
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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Online Tasks 15% No weekly Individual No Open
Creative work 1 35% No 11/09/2026 Individual No Open
Creative work 2 50% No 04/11/2026 Individual and Group No Open

Online Tasks

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: weekly
Weighting: 15%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Weekly online activities to consolidate learning from readings, lectures and equipment demonstrations (live, on video or through handouts). These activities 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: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 11/09/2026
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Each student will research and present a portfolio of items which include the following:

  1. Video Essay investigating and reporting on the creative and practical responsibilities of a crew role
  2. Production Plan including notes on production meetings, notes on references shared (visual, moving picture or other), additional documents as designated for roles (eg marked up scripts with director’s notes, shot lists,) see ilearn for more details.
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 task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 65 hours
Due: 04/11/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Working in a designated role in production crews, 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 an approximately 300 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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

The unit includes 10 x 2 hour practical classes (in weeks 1-7 and 10-12 inclusive), a one day

intensive workshop during the second week of mid-semester break, and weekly readings/assessable

online activities.

After week 3, students will also particpate in weekly self-organised production meetings, and a

self scheduled production shooting period In weeks 8, 9, and mid-semester break).

These activites all cumulatively build 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

Weeks 1- 3

• Project development, pitching & crewing in practical classes

• Weekly online tasks begin in week 1 and are due ever week through week 12 (15%)

Weeks 4 – 7

• Weekly pre-production meetings and reporting on these meetings within online activities platform. Preparation and finalising of scripts, designs, shotlists, casting and schedules. 

CREATIVE TASK 1 DUE 11 SEPTEMBER (35%)

Weeks 8, Mid Semester Break & week 9

• production period  - shoots

Week 2 mid semester break – on Campus

• 1 day Intensive workshop

Weeks 10, 11, & 12 live on campus

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

Week 13, Wednesday 04/11

• 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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

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.

CREWING & INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS

By the end of week three you will have a designated crew role on a production being prepared for submission as Creative Task 2.

Your entire production crew must attend the practical classes each week and the one-day intensive workshop during the second week of mid-semester break TOGETHER.  During these classes and workshops we will develop your production and crew to the highest possible standard. 

Once you have a designated crew role, begin indepedent research on that role using the weekly ilearn resources and your lecturer/tutor's advice so that you can produce Creative Task 1 - your video essay and planning documents, from the perspective of that role's creative and procedural responsibilities.

 

 

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook