Undergraduate Course: Film and TV 2A: Exploring Film Language (DESI08132)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This is a practice based course in which film students experiment with different film techniques and cinematic language through weekly assignments and briefs. The course explores the different stages of filmmaking and production, from idea development to final edit through lectures, assignments and tutorials. |
| Course description |
Students respond to different briefs and assignments by making short videos, taking pictures or writing reflections on specific film aspects. These are discussed in weekly seminars and group tutorials. The assignments support the students in exploring cinematic language while honing their filmmaking skills. Examples of possible assignments are:
- Film and Edit a Documentary Statement without the use of spoken or written text.
- Conduct research and film an observational video for a documentary or fictional project you would like to develop.
- Take pictures which you can use to express a specific color palette
- Capture the atmosphere of a place through sound and images.
- Film and edit a simple dialogue scene.
Students work is discussed in weekly seminars. Within the course student practice different aspects of filmmaking and train their skills in order to develop and make a high quality short film in subsequent years.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | If this course is core to your programme you will be automatically enrolled. For all other students, including Design students, the course is open on a first come first served basis until the course is full. Where a course depends on some technical proficiency, PTs are encouraged to help students check with the appropriate Course Organiser regarding suitability, e.g. if student has previous external practical experience. The course will be open to enrolments from Wednesday 11th September at 11.00 am. Please sign up for the course through your own School (they will advise if this is done via your PT, SSO or Teaching Office). We do not currently keep a waiting list. |
| Additional Costs | Students can expect to make travel costs and costs related to filming such as buying USB sticks and Compact Flash Cards. Total costs should not exceed £ 30.00. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 20 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 12,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 6,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
154 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
There are two summatively assessed submissions for this course. They are as follows:
1) Video Portfolio consisting of different short video assignments: 50 %
Throughout the course students work on a video portfolio. In each short video they experiment with certain aspects of film language. Assignments are both documentary, fiction and experimental, giving students the opportunity to get acquainted with these different film forms. Each video assignment has a length of between 30 seconds and 1 minute. Students film for example a short dialogue scene in which they find the best way to make the audience identify with one of the characters. Students also film a documentary portrait in which they try to convey their story more through images than through interviews. Students receive written feedback and have the possibility to improve their portfolio prior to final submission.
2) Final written Reflection (1500 words): 50 %
Students reflect on their video portfolio and the ways in which they employed different aspects of film language. Students explain why they chose certain shots or decided to edit a sequence in a specific way.
Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes
All learning outcomes are assessed, and are equally weighted, in both summative submission elements
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| Feedback |
Throughout the course students work on a video portfolio which is discussed in the weekly seminars. Students receive verbal feedback on each assignment submitted throughout the course. Written formative feedback will be given in week 6 to the collection of submitted video assignments up to this point. Written feedback will also be given after the submission of the final Video Portfolio and Reflection. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Use a variety of professional, technical and creative skills involved in the production of a short film.
- Analyze and evaluate the complex creative and technical choices involved in the making of a short film.
- Communicate ideas effectively to a variety of audiences.
- Respond to creative challenges in the making of a short film.
- Conduct independent research guided by individual interests which support the development of a short film project.
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Reading List
Katz, S. Film (1998). Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen. Michael Wiese Productions.
Murch, W. (2004). In the Blink of an Eye: A perspective on Film Editing. Silman-James Press.
Van Sijll, J. (2005). Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker must know. Michael Wiese Productions
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Understanding Cinematic Language
Technical Filmmaking skills
Independent Research
Responding creatively to assignments and briefs
Communication skills
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| Keywords | Cinema,Film Production,Film Studies,Film Language |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Itandehui Jansen
Tel: (0131 6)51 5852
Email: I.Jansen@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Georgia Dodsworth
Tel: (0131 6)51 5712
Email: georgia.dodsworth@ed.ac.uk |
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