104232 - CINEMATOGRAPHIC DIRECTION TECHNIQUES

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Jorge Oter Gonzalez

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 4

• Catalan
• Spanish

Some subject materials (especially videos) may be in English.

The subject belongs to the field of image, technique and content creation.

The various topics covered in the course are designed to train students to learn and deepen the audiovisual narrative with a fixed camera or with movement either in dialogues with various characters or with follow-up.

The subject enables them to work in groups, solve problems with initiative, create their own content according to an audiovisual narrative and know how to work with a professional video camera.

Content title 1: Introduction to staging

Description: This content works:

• 1.1 Introduction to staging
• 1.2 Composition
• 1.3 Cuts, transitions and camera movements
• 1.4 The blocking and plant schemes
• 1.5 The technical script and the literary one: structure and planning
• 1.6 The Raccord, space and time
• 1.7 The field and off the field.
• 1.8 Staging mechanisms; The breaking of rules

Related activities: OA and OB activity, Activity 1, Activity 2, Activity 3, Activity 4 and Activist 5

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA4, RA7, RA8, RA10, RA11, RAC1
Related competences: E.5., E.10, T.2., G.5.

Title content 2: Dialogue between two characters.
Description: This content works:

• 2.1 The principle of the triangle and its variants.
• 2.2 The axis of action and the axis jump with two or more static characters.
• 2.3 Camera positions in front of two actors.
• 2.4 Work with one or more cameras and the set

Related activities: Activity 1, Activity 4, Activity 5

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA4, RA7, RA8, RA10, RA11, RAC1
Related competences: E.5., E.10, T.2., G.5.

Title content 3: Conversation between three or more characters.

Description: This content works:

• 3.1 Locations of the camera in dialogues of three characters.
• 3.2 Pivoting the camera.
• 3.3 Predominance of the center of interest.
• 3.4 Camera locations in four-character dialogues.

Related activities: Activity 2, Activity 4, Activity 5

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA4, RA7, RA8, RA10, RA11, RAC1
Related competences: E.5., E.10, T.2., G.5.

Title content 4: Camera positions and continuity with moving characters.

Description: This content works:

• 4.1 Links during and after the movement: Waiting plane and sustained plane.
• 4.2. Axis jumping with moving characters.
• 4.3 Ways to visualize the action

Related activities: Activity 3, Activity 4, Activity 5

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA4, RA7, RA8, RA10, RA11, RAC1
Related competences: E.5., E.10, T.2., G.5.

The evaluation of the subject is separated between theoretical content, taught in class, and practices.

The theoretical content will be evaluated in a test (Final Exam) that will suppose 40% of the final note of the asignatura. There will also be practical theoretical work. The work will be related to issues of staging and narrative language and will take place during one of the theoretical sessions. The sum of the grade for this work will be 10% of the final grade.

The practices will be scored as follows: Activity 0A and OB will be worth 10% of the final grade; activity 1 will be worth 10% of the final mark; Activity 2 will be worth another 10% of the subject's final grade; and finally the 3 a 20%. An activity not delivered will be equivalent to a 0 numerical grade. 

To be able to average, the mark of the theoretical exam must be at least a 5. 
To be able to make an average, the grade for all 5 practices must be at least a 5. 

In case of failing the theoretical exam, the recovery will consist of a theoretical exam of all the content of the subject that will average with the average mark of the practices (if these are approved) and with the marks of the rest of activities. Only those students who have taken the final exam can apply for recovery (all those students "not presented" in the first call do not have the option to take the recovery). The minimum mark to pass this exam will also be a 5, otherwise the subject will be suspended.

In case of suspending the practical part of the subject, the student will have to realize an individual activity of recovery that will equivalent to 40% of the practical percentage of the subject. The minimum grade to pass this test will also be a 5, otherwise the subject will be suspended.
Those students who have not presented themselves in the internship throughout the term, or who do not show interest and availability to work in groups, will not be able to access this recovery practice and their grade will include a Not Presented.

The practice or theory note will not be saved from one course to another.

Summing up:

Activity 0A (Scenario): 5% of the grade.

Activity 0B (Scenario): 5% of the grade.
Activity 1 (Dialogue 2 characters): 10% of the grade.
Activity 2 (Dialogue 3 characters): 10% of the grade.
Activity 3 (Pursuit): 20% of the grade.
Activity 4 (Work in the theoretical class): 10% of the mark. 
Activity 5 (Final Exam): 40% of the mark.

Total: 5%+5%+10%+10%+20%+10%+40%=100%

Català, JM (2019). Putting it into images. Concepts of cinematographic direction. Asociación Shangrila Textos Aparte.

Arijon D. (2003). Grammar of audiovisual language. Film and video school.

Fernández Díez, F. and Martínez Abadía, J. (2005). Basic handbook of language and audiovisual narrative. paid

Amount; J., Bergala, A., Marie, M. and Vernet, M. (1985). Cinema aesthetics: filmic space, montage, narration, language. paid

Martín, M. (2009). The language of cinema. Gedisa

Strauss, F. and Huet, A. (2007). make a movie paid

Thompson, R. (2001). Assembly manual. Plot editions.

Rea, P. and Irving, D. (2001). Production and direction of short films in film and video. Film and video school.

Ross, E. (2015). Filmish. A graphic journey through the cinema. Reservoir books.

Castillo, JM (2005). Television, realization and audiovisual language. IORTV.

Alonso García, L. (2010) Cinema language, film practice: an introduction to the cinematographer. Plaza and Valdés.

Katz, S. (2000). Plano a plano: From the idea to the screen. Plot editions.