MEDA221 - Screen Production

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

MEDA100 - Making Digital Movies OR MEDA103 Introduction to Screen and Sound Production

Incompatible

MEDA201 - Online Video Production

Unit rationale, description and aim

Video production is an essential communication tool for organisations, businesses and individuals in the online and social media sphere where visual storytelling techniques are fundamental to creating meaningful and professional video production outcomes.

Increasingly video production is taking on a range of forms appropriate to platforms such as YouTube, Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram. In response to this ever changing landscape, this unit will encourage students to analyse existing production modes and platforms and apply this research to create new video content that will have resonance with the wider community.

In this unit, students will build on their basic knowledge of video production from MEDA103 and use this knowledge to explore video as suitable for a range of contemporary forms and genres with a particular emphasis on online applications. Students will research a variety of video production styles and platforms and create productions suitable for such platforms.

This unit aims to encourage students to become familiar with video production genres used on a wide range of platforms and to apply this knowledge to the production of videos for such online platforms. It prioritizes the attainment and production of industry-based practical outcomes which are evidenced in the assessment tasks.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Describe in detail the production processes associated with a variety of online video forms (GA1, GA4, GA5, GA7, GA9, GA10)

LO2 - Develop a concept/script that can be translated into production (GA3, GA4, GA5, GA6, GA7, GA8, GA9)

LO3 - Produce scripted video productions for a range of target audiences within an online environment (GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA6, GA7, GA8, GA9, GA10)

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

The unit builds on basic skills learned in MEDA103 to further develop skills and knowledge of the video production medium. Through a series of structured exercises, students will have the opportunity to use a range of video production equipment to produce a series of short video pieces suitable for broadcasting online. Students will evaluate and critically analyse the latest production modes to inform their practice.

Topics will include:

• Pitching techniques
• Scriptwriting and research
• Interview techniques
• Video production conventions
• Video production
• Editing

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The unit is delivered as a 3-hour workshop and encourages students to use theory to underpin production concepts. Many classes will be practical in nature. These are sequenced in accordance with constructivist principles to guide you with formative tasks completed mainly in workshops, to a more complex summative task that allows the students to apply their skills to a video project. These workshops will enable students to articulate and critique ideas with their peers and apply theory in a range of practical exercises.

The unit builds on the skills attained in MEDA103. The unit aims to introduce students to cutting edge genres and platforms for video production. Many ACU Media graduates have gone on to find employment within the media industries in content production and with this in mind, students need to be aware of new and emerging video platforms and production techniques. This unit prioritises the attainment and production of industry based practical outcomes which are evidenced in the assessment tasks.

This unit will explore the trends and production values of a selection of these platforms to help inform the students productions in this course. Students will be asked to research, script and produce video for specific platforms.

Assessment strategy and rationale

In this unit, students will be asked to demonstrate an engagement with online video production, technology and cultural forms, at an advanced level. A range of assessment procedures will be used that combine to meet the learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit, consistent with University assessment requirements. They will allow students to apply their research and skills to authentic outcomes directly relatable to their study and possible future careers. Such procedures may include, scriptwriting for an online video production, analytic and/or descriptive writing tasks related to the practical work undertaken and the production of online videos.

To meet the learning outcomes of this unit students must pass assessment three, which is an evaluation of and report on the outcomes of audience research.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Cultural Protocols

Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Cultural Protocols for Indigenous Reporting in the Medihttps://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/tk/en/databases/creative_heritage/docs/abc_cultural_protocol.pdf

Australia Council, Protocols for Using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts, https://australiacouncil.gov.au/investment-and-development/protocols-and-resources/protocols-for-using-first-nations-cultural-and-intellectual-property-in-the-arts/

Terri Janke, Pathways and Protocols: A Filmmaker’s guide to Working With Indigenous People, Culture and Concepts, Screen Australia, https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/16e5ade3-bbca-4db2-a433-94bcd4c45434/Pathways-and-Protocols.pdf

REPRESENTATIVE TEXTS AND REFERENCES

Braverman, B 2014, Video Shooter: Mastering Storytelling Techniques, 3rd edn., Focal Press, Burlington.

Brown. 2020. The Basics of Filmmaking : Screenwriting, Producing, Directing, Cinematography, Audio & Editing. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Grove, E 2014, Raindance Producers' Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking, 2nd edn., Focal Press, Burlington.

Millerson, G & Owens, J 2012, Video Production Handbook, 5th edn., Focal Press, London.

Musburger, R 2014, Single Camera Video Production, 6th edn., Focal Press, Burlington.

Schenck,S & Ben.L 2019. The Digital Filmmaking Handbook 6th Edition

Schleser, & Berry, M. (2018). Mobile Story Making in an Age of Smartphones (1st ed. 2018.). Springer International Publishing.

Stanton, Hall, B., & DeCrane, V. W. (2020). “Keep it Sacred!”: Indigenous Youth-Led Filmmaking to Advance Critical Race Media Literacy. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 22(2), 46–65. 

Stewart, P & Alexander, R 2008, Broadcast Journalism, Techniques of Radio and Television News, 6th edn., Focal Press, London.

Zettl, H, 2015 Television Production Handbook, 12th edn., CENGAGE, Stamford.

Video links as appropriate