Undergraduate Course: Film and TV 2B: Visual Aesthetics in Cinema (DESI08152)
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 | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | This course delivers a range of core technical skills and approaches to visual aesthetics which enable students to engage effectively with consideration to story, subject matter, and authorship in the work they produce, through their degree studies. This specialist practice-based knowledge enables students to collaborate across the fields of cinematography, directing and post-production processes in documentary, fiction, or experimental films, using conceptually informed and technically competent approaches to visual storytelling. It also enables students to develop their own unique filmmaking approaches through critical evaluation, independent research, and the application of a range of creative techniques. |
| Course description |
This course explores the following key areas:
- The role of cinematography in a filmmaking process. Specifically, the creative use of image elements such as colour, movement, texture, framing and lighting and how they inform wider decisions during production.
- Understanding the range of different responsibilities in camera, lighting, and production departments of a film and how to collaborate efficiently and safely in these positions during a project.
- How to effectively communicate visual ideas from the preparation of a project treatment for a film, through to the practical application of techniques during production, editing and colour grading.
These learning activities (and the knowledge gained through participating in them) will support students in developing their own visual language and introduce relevant technical skills that enable creative work in a range of production contexts. Students will become familiar with the logistics of the camera and lighting departments and understand the different responsibilities and processes involved in a professional filmmaking environment. In conjunction with this, collaborative and communication skills will be developed throughout the course.
The course will be delivered through a series of practical workshops, seminars, lectures, and tutorials. 4 practical workshops will run in the first half of the course in weeks 1-4. 7 lectures will take place across the semester in weeks 1-8. Regular tutorials and seminars will support the core teaching in weeks 1-6, after which students will concentrate on the creation of their film.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 17 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 21,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 12,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 12,
Fieldwork Hours 40,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 8,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
295 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course has 3 assessment components:
1. Verbal presentation (10-12 mins) Week 9-10 (30%)
2. ¿Visual narrative¿ film (3-5mins) Dec exam diet (40%)
3. Written commentary (700-750 words) Dec exam diet (30%)
Component 1 will require the student to give a professionally communicated verbal presentation and upload a PDF of their presentation material to Learn. The presentation should describe how visual aesthetics such as framing, composition, camera movement, lighting, colour and texture can serve a creative vision in contemporary cinema. This assessment will be assessed equally against LO3 and LO4.
Component 2 will require the student to submit a short ¿visual narrative¿ film which conveys a story through your aesthetic choices such as composition, movement, texture, light and colour while adopting an original approach to filmmaking. This assessment will be assessed equally against LO1, LO2 and LO4.
Component 3 will require students to submit a written commentary that reflects critically on their film, focusing on a specific aspect of creative practice you encountered this semester. This assessment will be assessed equally against LO1, LO3 and LO4. |
| Feedback |
Formative Feedback:
Feedback is regularly communicated through the course. This takes several forms, including verbally through group sessions and crits where work and ideas are discussed with both peers and tutor. Initial formative feedback will be given in response to draft coursework, submitted via Learn in week 5-6. This will be delivered verbally during tutorial meetings with the course tutors. Further formative feedback will be given during a work-in-progress screening of the student's film, which will be delivered verbally in person in week 11. There will also be an opportunity for peer feedback during the work-in-progress screening.
Summative Feedback:
The summative feedback for component 1 will feed directly into component 2 and 3 as students receive guidance on their identification and analysis of film techniques that can be applied to enhance the final stages of their practical work and reflective writing.
Students will receive individual written feedback and grades on their summative submissions, which will be provided via Learn as per university regulations. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a theoretical understanding and creative application of professional cinematography approaches
- Employ a range of specialist technical skills and knowledge in the service of visual storytelling within a wider film production process.
- Communicate creative concepts and practical ideas through written reflection and verbal presentation.
- Identify specific techniques and undertake critical analysis of appropriate practical approaches to achieve a desired visual style in film.
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Reading List
Alton, John. (1995). Painting with Light. Berkely: University of California Press.
Bellantoni, Patti. (2005). If It's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die. Burlington, MA, USA: Elsevier/Focal Press.
Bresson, Robert. (1997). Notes on the Cinematographer. Los Angeles: Green Integer.
Hoser, Tania (2018) Introduction to Cinematography: Learning Through Practice. Abingdon: Routledge.
Keating, Patrick. (2014) Cinematography. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Thompson, Lara. (2015) Film Light: Meaning and Emotion. Manchester: Manchester University Press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students on the course possess and/or wish to develop a number of key attributes and skills, both on a personal and a professional level.
Communication:
Throughout the course students will explore new interpersonal skills that allow them to work within a highly collaborative environment in taught workshops, seminars and during the creation of their practical projects. Their ability to communicate complex ideas and effectively articulate thoughts will be enhanced through the verbal presentation assignment.
Research and enquiry:
Students will engage in creative problem solving as part of their practical filmmaking process. In the lead up to their project and while preparing their verbal presentation, students will conduct independent research and engage in critical thinking around the visual aesthetics of cinema alongside analysis of storytelling more generally.
Personal effectiveness:
While working toward the portfolio assessment and specifically, during the creating a short film, students will build organisation and time management skills. Students will learn to prioritise tasks, effectively manage resources, and adapt to work through constant change in the midst of their live production environment. |
| Keywords | film practice |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Nevill
Tel:
Email: anevill@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Aidan Cole
Tel: (0131 6)50 2306
Email: acole33@ed.ac.uk |
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