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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Undergraduate Course: Film and TV 1A: Introduction to Film-making (DESI08127)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThrough a succession of seminars and technical workshops, students are introduced to the essential concepts and aspects of film language and technique. The course encompasses a series of short video assignments in which students experiment with specific aspects of film language and thus develop their technical skills. The latter are evaluated and discussed in group tutorials during the course.
Course description Learning a range of professional filmmaking skills, techniques and practices, students explore cinematic language. The course consists of several short filmmaking assignments. Students work on these assignments both individually and collectively in small groups. Throughout the course students exercise a combination of reflective, analytical and practical skills whilst developing their ability to communicate ideas verbally and cinematically. Students are encouraged to use a storytelling approach driven by images rather than words to communicate layers of meaning and intention. In addition, students are taught how contributing to a collaborative production process will form an essential component in their future professional practice. These activities and skills are supported by practical technical workshops in camera, sound, editing. Course content and learning is also supported through reflective teaching forums such as crits, seminars and screenings.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is only available to students on the Film and Television Degree Programme in the School of Design.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  18
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 15, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Formative Assessment Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 160 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) There are three summatively assessed submissions for this course. They are as follows:

1) Video Portfolio 70%
This will consist of several short films made in small teams of usually 3-4 students, with clearly defined roles (director, cinematographer, editor). Each will contain a particular challenge, such as telling a story without words, or all in one shot.

2) Presentation 10 %
The students will talk about their work on these projects and elucidate the lessons learned using visual and analysis of how they spent their time.

3) Short written report (500 words) 20 %
A summary of the activities and the lessons learned, involving technical knowledge, teamwork, and critical judgement.

Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes:
All learning outcomes are assessed, and are equally weighted, in all three summative submission elements.
Feedback Formative feedback will be provided on an ongoing basis through tutorials, workshops and seminars. Students present their initial ideas and first video edits in group tutorials. A designated formative assessment will take place in week six based on the three video assignments that students produced as part of the course, resulting an indicative grade and feedback as to progress being issued in written form the following week.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an inquisitive initial exploration of a relevant range of approaches to film-making.
  2. Evaluate a range of film-making methods and select appropriate techniques for film production.
  3. Communicate: Students will develop inter-personal and communication skills through group work and presentation.
Reading List
Mackendrick, A. (2006). On Film-Making. Faber & Faber
Katz, S. (1991). Film Directing: Shot by Shot. Michael Wiese Productions
Truffaut, F. (1986). Hitchcock: A Definitive Study of Alfred Hitchcock. Simon and Schuster
Lumet, S. (1996). Making Movies. Vintage Books
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Communication; collaboration; peer assessment; self-reflection; cinematic literary; technical competencies.
KeywordsFilm,Cinema,Film Production
Contacts
Course organiserMr David Cairns
Tel:
Email: dcairns3@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Sophie O'Shea
Tel: (0131 6)51 5448
Email: soshea@ed.ac.uk
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