General information


Subject type: Optional

Coordinator: Rafael Suarez Gómez

Trimester: Second term

Credits: 6

Teaching staff: 

Lluís De Sola Llovet
Carlota Frisón Fernández 
Rafa De Los Arcos Fernández 

Skills


Specific skills
  • E5_Design and make an audiovisual product (consisting of still or moving images), taking into account both its technical and artistic aspects, in all its components

  • E10_Apply processes, methods and techniques to develop creativity and innovation in audiovisual production, multimedia development and video game programming

Transversal competences
  • T2_That students have the ability to work as members of an interdisciplinary team either as one more member, or performing management tasks in order to contribute to developing projects with pragmatism and a sense of responsibility, making commitments taking into account the available resources

Description


The optional subject "Film Direction" is carried out throughout the second term and has 4 hours of theory and 2 theory of practices per week. However, the nature of the subject is fundamentally practical and aims to deepen the student's understanding of what film direction means as an expression of an idea based on creative choices. We work from the search for the idea to shoot to a first version of the montage, through the writing and analysis of the different technical-artistic departments (art, photography, direction of actors…).  

The aim of the course is to make short films in groups, with a clear and well-communicated idea. The subject wants to help students to become people with expressive capacity, stimulating their creativity with various activities, some of a more technical nature and others linked to theory, more reflective and conceptual, with a special emphasis on the character. intimate, honest and personal of the projects that are developed.

The course is divided into two parts, theory and practice, which will be developed in parallel. The first will deal with technical issues about the different expressive possibilities offered by the film departments and how to apply them to our projects. All this from a practical point of view and applied from activities. 

The second is, in practice, a workshop in which short film projects will be developed for groups for later realization. Students will be organized into groups that will start from day one to develop the fundamental idea of ​​the projects. The short films that will be made will emerge from this initial phase. The students will be integrated in this way in a work group, of between 4 and 5 people, in which they will assume the responsibility of a determined department (art, photography etc…) to carry out the short film, that already from the beginning will have to have a minimum format, a clear concept and concrete and realistic possibilities of performance.

This subject has methodological and digital resources to make possible its continuity in non-contact mode in the case of being necessary for reasons related to the Covid-19.
In this way, the achievement of the same knowledge and skills that are specified in this teaching plan will be ensured.

 

 

Learning outcomes


LO1-Work in a team and autonomously in the development of an audiovisual product, assuming the roles within the group.

LO2-Understand the technical and aesthetic elements needed to achieve the proposed emotional impact.

LO3-Stimulate and discover their abilities to relate to the professional world

LO4-Consolidate knowledge about audiovisual narrative and the language of fiction.

LO5-Develop the student's creativity.


COMPLEMENTARY:

RAC1 Understand the conceptual meaning of film direction.

RAC2 Position oneself in the role of director at a practical level.

RAC3 To know the narrative and aesthetic options of cinema, as well as their evolution.

RAC4 Open the creative perspective to a new individual who is more sensitive and willing to express himself. 

RAC5 Familiarize with management methodology and decision making. 

RAC6 Understand communicative language with actors. 

RAC7 Know the operation of casting processes. 

Working methodology


General of the subject

Count with two related parts: theory and practice (short film creation workshop). Both find their common goal in the realization of the final short film project. Within both parts is the area of ​​direction of actors, which has both practical and theoretical content.

Film direction is a subject organized from theoretical sessions in which teachers will present the contents and students will actively participate through activities (directed learning). The design of the subject also incorporates autonomous learning in the development of the stages of the project and realization of the short film of the practical workshop. 

All the content of the subject is organized based on activities and the teacher-student dialogue.  All the activities will start from the classroom but many of them will raise a reflection that must have continuity outside it.

The subject is structured in 4h / week of theory sessions and 2h / week of short film creation workshop sessions. Attendance at the practical sessions is 100% mandatory and in the theoretical ones it is 80%.

The calendar of the subject will be marked from the beginning, so that the contents of the subject take place at the right time so that the development of the short film is benefited. It will begin with introductions to the creative universe and then move on to more technical sections: basic rules of audiovisual narrative, the different styles by department, planning and technical script and dramatic reading of texts. All this in parallel with the development of scripts in the short film development workshop.

At the same time the subject will go into directing actors. In a first approach, the different theatrical techniques and their application in the audiovisual world will be presented. The relationship between the directors and the actors will be explained: the student will be taught to become familiar with the treatment of the performers, to clearly convey the concepts to them and to make them a fundamental tool for film direction. Students will learn how to approach casting, rehearsals and filming alongside actors.

We will finally move on to the filming phase and overseeing a first version of the montage.

Specific to the short film creation workshop

In a first phase, the student will be introduced to the concepts of empathy, conflict and sincerity individually.

Later students will be divided into working groups to develop short film projects from well-defined coordinates.

Each week, progress will be made in the content and form of the project in order to comply with the creation phases. A closed calendar will mark the closing moments of the synopsis, the literary script, the creation of characters, the casting, the relationship between the director and the actors and the technical script with the ultimate goal of reaching the date of shooting stipulated with minimum guarantees. Subsequently, there will be a margin of time to be able to follow the edition until a first version of the assembly.

The student will also learn, from practical exercises in the classroom with an actor / actress, the appropriate language to relate to the performers and will be able to do a simulation of what the character of his project will mean before filming ( appearance subject to guest request). 

Each student will have a marked role in the project and will have to defend their department in the short film project. The roles to be developed will be at least: director, assistant director, director of photography, art direction, production, editing and sound.

Specific to the theoretical area

There will be classes in which to delve into the concept of leadership. From viewings and exercises in the classroom (with continuity outside it) will shape the role of the director as a transmitter, as a communicator of ideas. What elements does the director have at his disposal to convey his ideas? Through viewings, activities and teacher-student dialogue, we will clarify this issue. All of them concepts that will help the student to make the right decisions for the shooting of his project.
 

This course, due to the situation generated by COVID, some of the large group sessions will be held in hybrid format: face-to-face and online (via streaming). This will allow students to rotate to face-to-face classes, respecting the maximum number of students per classroom imposed by the distance measures. When they are not in contact, they will be able to follow the class online from home.
 
With regard to internship sessions in smaller spaces (such as laboratories, studios or sets), where appropriate, work will be carried out simultaneously in several spaces in order to ensure that the conditions established by the safety protocols are met.

Contents


THEORY

Luis de Sola
(direction) and Carlota Frisón (direction of actors)


Theoretical and technical introduction to the concept of management

  1. The profession of film director based on an etymological and historical reading.
  2. Cinema and spectator. The principle of empathy. The point of view.
  3. The nature of the film and the basic elements that make it up. The image and the sound.
  4. Theatrical techniques applied to the audiovisual.
  5. Definition of characters and their construction. 
  6. Time and space in choreography.
  7. Staging and / or staging.
  8. The laws of cinematic language: axis, angles, Raccord, steps...
  9. From the script to the performance
  10. Photography: lights, shadows and colors.
  11. The shooting. Structure and operating criteria.
  12. The relationship between the director and the actors.
  13. Editing, the true invention of cinema.
  14. Assembly theory and technique.


WORK EXPERIENCE

Luis de Sola
(direction) and Carlota Frisón (direction of actors)

 

Short film development workshop

  1. The idea, tools to find and develop it.
  2. Honesty.
  3. Script principles and writing processes. The conflict.
  4. Elaboration of characters.
  5. Process and preparation of the casting.
  6. storyline, synopsis, schedule and treatment.
  7. The narrative style.
  8. From the literary script to the technical script: cutting or scene and sequence planning.
  9. Reading and understanding scripts: definition of characters.
  10. Description and tasks of the different departments.
  11. Rehearsal processes with the actors.
  12. The shooting plan.
  13. Filming with the actors.
  14. The editing plan and supervision of the first version of the assembly.

Learning activities


THEORY ACTIVITIES (35%)

Activity 1: Individual theoretical exam (25%).

The level of penetration of the contents is evaluated from questions already posed from the beginning of the subject and that have relation with the own nature of the cinematographic direction. The result of the test will have a weighting of 30% on the individual final grade of the student. It is not considered that the student has to dedicate extra time outside the classroom to prepare the test but it will be difficult to pass it if he does not attend and participate in the subject. All the contents of the subject are included.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY.

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: all. 

Through this activity the competencies are worked: all. 

 

Activity 2: Exercises and participation (10%). 

These are a series of activities and exercises in class and also outside school hours, both individually and in groups, which aim to put into practice the theoretical concepts, such as: Frame analysis (INDIVIDUAL) , Analysis of the work of interpretation (INDIVIDUAL), Transcription of sequences (GROUP), Reading and interpretation of scripts (GROUP), From the character on paper to the actor (GROUP), The laws of audiovisual “calligraphy” (GROUP)

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: RA1, RA2, RA4, RA3, RA5, RAC1, RAC2, RAC3, RAC4, RAC5. 

Through this activity the competencies are worked on: G2, G4, G5, E5, E10, T2.
 


ACTIVITIES PRACTICAL PART (65%)

Activity 3: Storyline and individual pitching (5%)

Emotional opening exercise-generating gaze. Observation of reality and inner observation.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY. 

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: RA4, RA5, RAC1, RAC2, RAC4. 

Through this activity the competencies are worked on: G4, E5, E10. 

 

Activity 4: Creative and technical development of the short film based on the synopsis phases, literary script, location dossier (staging), technical script, etc. (30%)

Distribution of roles within the group.

GROUP ACTIVITY

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: all.

Through this activity the competencies are worked: all.


Activity 5: Interpretation practice (5%)

There will be practical exercises on how to prepare the actor / actress. All students will receive acting classes on different creative processes used by the actors. Through a practical participation, the creation paths that the actors exercise in the training that they carry out will be known and recognized in situ.

GROUP ACTIVITY

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: RA3, RA5, RAC6.

Through this activity the competencies are worked on: G4, G2, G5, E5, T2.

 

Activity 6: Individual memory by role (5%)

Each person must submit a work in video or audio recording format about their role and tasks within the short film process.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY. 

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: RA1, RA2, RA5, RAC1, RAC2, RAC3, RAC4, RAC5, RAC6, RAC7. 

Through this activity the competencies are worked on: G2, E5, E10.

 

Activity 7: Video of the minute (10%)

From a topic proposed in class the student will have to make a free technique video.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: all.

Through this activity the competencies are worked: all.

 

Activity 8: Elaboration and development of the casting (10%)

Each group made up of the short film will show and argue the work done on the preparation and development of the casting (video recording).

GROUP ACTIVITY

Through this activity the acquisition of the results is guaranteed: RA3, RA5, RAC6.

Through this activity the competencies are worked on: G4, G2, G5, E5, T2.

 

Depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses and in the event of total confinement, all the activities provided for will be adapted to the corresponding situation, always with the aim of ensuring that they are carried out and that the competencies of the subject.

Evaluation system


Theory (35%):

Activity 1: Individual theoretical exam (25%). Includes questions on theory, practice and direction of actors (INDIVIDUAL NOTE).

Activity 2. Exercises and participation (10%). (INDIVIDUAL NOTE).
 

Internships (65%):

Activity 3: Storyline and individual pitching (5%). (INDIVIDUAL NOTE).

Activity 4: Creative and technical development of the short film (30%). (GROUP NOTE). 

Activity 5: Interpretation practice (5%). (INDIVIDUAL NOTE). 

Activity 6: Individual memory by role (5%). (INDIVIDUAL NOTE).

Activity 7: Video of the minute (10%). (INDIVIDUAL NOTE).

Activity 8: Elaboration and development of the casting (10%). (GROUP NOTE). 

 

-It is necessary to have presented the short film in order to take the final exam.

-The recovery will take the form of a short film exercise between the students involved and an individual written exam. It will never be able to surpass the 6 like final note when considering only the notes of "Final result of the short film" and "Exam". 

 


REFERENCES


Basic

VAN DER KEUKEN, Johan, The Filmmaker's Vacation, 1974

DOUGLAS, Bill, Trilogy, 1972-1978

Giménez, Nuria. My mexican Bretzel. Spain. 2019

Tusell, Emma. Blues video. Spain. 2019

McKee, Robert. The Script. Alba Editorial. 2002.

STANISLAVSKI, Constantin. The construction of the personage, Madrid: Publishing Alliance, 1999.

Carver, Raymond. 3 yellow roses. Anagram. 1988

Lumet, Sidney. This is how movies are made. Editorial Rialp 1999.

SERNA, Assumpta. The work of the film actor, Madrid: Chair, 1999

Lowenstein, Stephen. My first film: Take 2. Alba Editorial, 2009.

Savater, Fernando. Ethics for Amador. Ariel, 1991.

SUBIRÓS, Pau. The accidental producer. Anagram. Barcelona, ​​2015.

AUMONT, Jacques, Cinema and staging, Ediciones Colihue, 2012

Hanneke, Michael. Funny Games. Austria 1997

Nemes, László. Son of saul. Hungary. 2015.

Iñárritu, Alejandro. Loves Dogs. Mexico. 2000.

Lanthimos, Yorgos. Lobster. Greece, 2015.

Kazan, Elijah. A Streetcar Named Desire. USA. 1951.

Kubrick, Stanley. Full metal jacket. USA 1987

Truffaut, Françoise. The American Night. France. 1973.

De Sica, Vittorio. Bicycle thieves. Italy. 1948.

Payne, Alexander. Sideways. USA 2004

Östlund, Ruben. Force Majeure. Sweden. 2014.

BRESSON, Robert, Notes on the cinematograph, Ardora Ediciones, 1997

TARKOVSKY, Andrei, Sculpting in Time, Rialp, 2016

Aronovsky, Darren. The Wrestler. USA. 2008

Gray, James. Two Lovers. USA. 2008
 

Van Sant, Gus. Elephant. USA, 2003.

Benton, Robert. Kramer vs. Kramer. USA 1979

Reitman, Jason. Up in the air. USA 2009

Dardenne. Two days, one night. Belgium. 2014.

CATALÀ, Josep Maria, La puesta en imágenes, Shangrila, 2019

TRUFFAUT, François, Cinema according to Hitchcock, Alliance, 2016

Dear, Marc. Jeunet, Jean Pierre. Delicatessen. France. 1991.

ROSALES, Jaime, The pencil and the camera, La Huerta Grande, 2018

Leilo, Sebastian. glory Chile. 2013

Bresson, Robert. Pickpocket. France. 1959.

Gondry, Michel. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. USA 2004

Wilder, Billy. The apartment. USA 1960

Pawlikowski, Pawel. Ida. Poland. 2013.

FELDMAN, Simon, The Film Director, Gedisa, 2004

Siminiani, Elijah. Map. Spain. 2012

RAY, Nicholas, We Can't Go Home Again, 1973

TARKOVSKY, Andrei, Caught in Life, Errata Naturae, 2014

EUSTACHE, Jean, The Mom and the Whore, 1973

COSTA, Pedro, In the room of Vanda, 2000

ANDERSON, Paul Thomas, Boogie Nights, 1997

ALLEN, Woody. Annie Hall. 1997

TRUEBA, Jonas, Los ilusos, 2013

DARDENNE, Luc and Jean-Pierre, Rosetta, 1999

ROSALES, Jaime, The hours of the day, 2003

KORINE, Harmony, Julien Donkey-Boy, 1999

WENDERS, Wim. Alice in the cities. RFA, 1974

MARKER, Chris, The Pier, 1962

Donellan, Declan. The actor and the target. Editorial Fundamentos, 2002

Complementary

DORSKY, Nathaniel, The cinema of devotion, Lumière Association, 2016

HANOUN, Marcel, Who, filmmaker, Shangrila, 2014

TRIER, Joachim. Oslo, 31 August. Norway. 2011

ALMONDS, Nestor. Days of a camera. Seix Barral. 1993

DARDENNE, Luc and Jean-Pierre, Behind Our Images, Plot, 2016

CARNEY, Ray, Cassavetes by Cassavetes, Anagram, 2004

GODARD, Jean-Luc, Thinking between images, Intermediate, 2010

HERZOG, Werner, The Conquest of the Useless, Blackie Books, 2018

LANTHIMOS, Yorgos, Alps, 2011

CARAX, Leos, Bad Blood, 1986

GREEN, Eugene, Poetics of the Cinema, Shangrila, 2020

LYNCH, David, Catch the Goldfish, Reservoir Books, 2016

Baumbach, Noah, Frances Ha, 2012

RECHA, Marc, The empty hands, 2003

DE ORBE, José María, The straight line, 2006

DUMONT, Bruno, Flanders, 2006