104232 - CINEMATOGRAPHIC DIRECTION TECHNIQUES

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Rafael Suarez Gómez

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 4

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.

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.

Main:
• LO1: Identify the concepts of audiovisual language. [linked to E.5., G.5.]
• LO2: Make a small digital video production according to a pre-established script. [linked to E.5.]
• LO3: Carry out a basic video post-production to assess the understanding of the fundamental aspects of an audiovisual production with moving images. [linked to E.5.]
• LO4: Define a basic film project (literary adaptation, work team, economic study, ...) [linked to E.5., T.2., G.5.]
• LO5: Understand video camera technology and the digital environment. [linked to E.5.]
• LO6: Work professionally on video techniques based on the characteristics of the recording. [linked to E.5., T.2. , G.5.]
• LO7: Have the ability to evaluate technical and creative resources when dealing with different types of recording. [linked to E.5., T.2., G.5.]
LO8: Acquire theoretical and practical knowledge of the different technological and narrative tools when recording an audiovisual product. [linked to E.5., G.5.]
• LO9: Know how to work in a team and fulfill a specific role within the group that allows them to manage with maximum efficiency [linked to T.2.]
• LO10: Understand the different narrative elements of film editing [linked to E.5., G.5.]
• LO11: Encourage the study and analysis of the audiovisual as a narrative language with the intention that the student develops his / her critical and stylistic capacity when developing a project or valuing others. [linked to E.5., G.5.]

Complementary:

• RAC1: Understand and identify the different mechanisms of staging [linked to E.5., G.5.]
• RAC2: Assimilate notions related to the direction of actors [linked to E.5., G.5.]

The subject has 2 hours per week of theory (LARGE GROUP) and 2 hours of practice (SMALL GROUPS) also weekly.

In the sessions for large groups, the theoretical concepts will be presented in class by the teacher. In the same way, practical exercises will be solved that illustrate the theory to generate a debate in the classroom with the participation of the students.

In small group sessions, two types of sessions will be held:

On the one hand, those directed sessions that have to do with the practical activities, that will consist of contextualising each one of the activities, and where will manipulate audiovisual material. Practices are a fundamental part of the classes, as they serve to show in a tangible and direct way the theoretical concepts taught. The internships will increase their level of complexity and, consequently, the requirement in their quality and in their delivery time will be affected. Therefore, the commitment on the part of the students when delivering the audiovisual materials on time is basic.

On the other hand, also with regard to small groups, there will be sessions on case studies that can shed light on aspects related to the cinematographic field, such as the gaze of certain authors, the analysis of cinematographic techniques within the trends. current and / or film strategies low cost.

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.

Content title 1: Introduction to staging

Description: This content works:

• 1.1 Introduction to staging
• 1.2 Composition
• 1.3 Trends in contemporary cinema
• 1.4 Camera cuts, transitions and movements
• 1.5 El blocking and plant schemes
• 1.6 The technical and literary script: structure and planning
• 1.7 El Raccord, space and time
• 1.8 The field and the off-field.
• 1.9 Staging mechanisms: gender and morality
• 1.10 The breaking of rules

Related activities: 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 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
• 4.4 Staging in cinema low cost

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.

1. Practical classes:

The activities will take place on the set, although, whenever possible, we will try to take advantage of the spaces of the faculty and its surroundings. You will be duly informed of how to carry out each of the activities. It is necessary to be punctual (lack of punctuality can penalize the student). Audiovisual projects will be delivered through the virtual classroom or via e-mail with a Vimeo link (or similar) on the day marked by the teacher. The emails will always have the title of the internship in addition to the components that make up the working group sorted alphabetically by their last name and the project report. Any Activity that does not comply with these rules or that is delivered outside the marked date will obtain a 0 regardless of the reason for not presenting it.

Spelling will be taken into account in the written activities. A serious or several minor absences will mean not being able to obtain more than a 5 of maximum mark in the exercise or even to suspend the activity. In the works, a fault will discount 0,5 points, while in the exam it will discount 0,25. In no case will an exercise be accepted outside the delivery date set by the teacher, regardless of the student's justification. The individual activities will be delivered in paper format, or through the Moodle platform. Activities without a name or without following the established presentation delivery format will not be evaluated, and the numerical grade will be 0.

• Activity title: 0. Introduction to the subject

General description
As a group, a silent dialogue based on seduction will be filmed, echoing ideas learned in “Camera Techniques” and adding extreme care in staging, camera distances, and art direction / production design. 1 to 2 minutes.

Support material
Video camera, tripod, set, cards, microphones, monitor, lighting equipment, etc ... 

Delivery and links to the evaluation:    
- It must be delivered after 13 days already edited. The teacher will indicate a date.
- Students must submit a report in which, among other things, there will be a technical script, and the floor plan depending on the option chosen (Exteriors or set)
- The practice carried out will be observed and analyzed by the teacher, providing solutions to possible errors in the achievement of the practice.
- The ability demonstrated by the students at the time of demonstrating their acquired knowledge as well as the originality of the product will be evaluated. 
- The mark will mean 10% of the final mark of the subject. 

Specific objectives:
At the end of the activity the student must be able to:
- Understand the composition of the plan and the harmony between the stage and the characters.
- As it is a practice carried out on the first day of class, test the knowledge acquired in previous subjects.
- Demonstrate the ability to organize a work plan and a technical script.
- Demonstrate continuity between actions and dialogue between plans.
- Take care of the choice of location on an expressive and / or aesthetic level
- Create emotion through the elements that make up the staging. 
- Demonstrate creativity and professionalism when creating audiovisual content and technical excellence in its recording. 
- Learn to work in a team.

Learning outcomes
RA1, RA3, RA4, RA5, RA6, RA7, RA8, RA9, RA10, RA11, RAC1, RAC2

Related skills
E.5., E.10., T.2., G.5.

• Activity title: 1. Record a dialogue between two characters.

General description
In groups, a dialogue between two characters will be recorded by choosing a fiction format and selecting the camera work accordingly. From 1 to 3 minutes.

Support material    
Video camera, tripod, set, cards, microphones, monitor, lighting equipment, etc ... 

Delivery and links to the evaluation    
- It must be delivered after 13 days already edited. The teacher will indicate a date.
- Students must submit a report in which, among other things, there will be a technical script, and the floor plan depending on the option chosen (Exteriors or set)
- The practice will be observed and analyzed by the teacher, providing solutions to possible errors in achieving the practice.
- The ability demonstrated by the students at the time of demonstrating their acquired knowledge as well as the originality of the product will be evaluated. The grade will mean 10% of the final grade of the subject. 

Specific objectives    
At the end of the activity the student must be able to:
- To test the knowledge acquired in the theory and in the previous exercise.
- Demonstrate competence when choosing and working with a single camera.
- Demonstrate a technical knowledge of the camera as well as the placement of the characters according to a previous recording scheme (principle of the triangle and its variations).
- Demonstrate creativity and professionalism in their technical and artistic quality during the production process of the audiovisual product. 

Learning outcomes    
RA1, RA3, RA4, RA5, RA6, RA7, RA8, RA9, RA10, RA11, RAC1, RAC2

Related skills    
E.5., E.10., T.2., G.5.

• Activity title: 2. Record a dialogue between 3 characters.

General description    
In groups, a dialogue will be recorded between three characters where some type of visual action takes place. From 1 to 3 minutes. 

Support material    
Camcorder, tripod, traveling, cards, batteries, microphones, lighting equipment, etc ... 

Delivery and links to the evaluation    
- It must be delivered after 13 days already edited. The teacher will indicate a date.
- Students must submit a report in which, among other things, will be the technical script.
- The activity will be observed and analyzed by the teacher and solutions will be offered to possible errors detected.
- The ability demonstrated by students to demonstrate their acquired knowledge as well as the originality of the product will be evaluated. The grade will mean 10% of the final grade of the subject. 

Specific objectives    
At the end of the activity the student must be able to:
- To test the knowledge acquired in the theory and in the previous exercise.
- Demonstrate competence in working with a single camera to make plans work Raccord of looks and movement and the center of interest is worked on correctly.
- Demonstrate technical knowledge of the camera as well as the placement of the characters according to a pre-recording scheme for the recording of three characters.
- Demonstrate creativity and professionalism based on artistic and technical quality when recording an audiovisual product. 

Learning outcomes    
RA1, RA3, RA4, RA5, RA6, RA7, RA8, RA9, RA10, RA11, RAC1, RAC2

Related skills    
E.5., E.10., T.2., G.5.

• Activity title: 3. Record a chase.

General description    
As a group, an idea will be decided to carry out a chase where the arrangement and movements of the camera, the continuity between shots, the editing and the links of movement between the characters will have to be worked in such a way that we manage to transmit. the action to the viewer. 2 to 4 minutes.

Support material    
Camcorder, tripod, fig rig, traveling, cards, batteries, microphones, lighting equipment, etc ... 

Delivery and links to the evaluation    
- The teacher will indicate a delivery date for the product already published. 
- Students must submit a report in which, among other things, it includes the technical script, the work plan of the Activity and a small reasoned essay on the staging of the piece that includes references. 
- The activity will be observed and analyzed by the teacher, offering solutions to possible problems. 
-The grade means 20% of the total of the subject. 

Specific objectives    
At the end of the activity the student must be able to:
- To test the knowledge acquired in the theoretical classes and in the previous exercise. 
- Demonstrate the ability to organize a work plan and a technical script.
- Test the editing capabilities with a camera with moving sequences and then compare the result between the camera gross and the final edit.
- Demonstrate continuity between actions and in moving sequences.
- Demonstrate creativity when creating audiovisual content and technical excellence in its recording. 

Learning outcomes    
RA1, RA3, RA4, RA5, RA6, RA7, RA8, RA9, RA10, RA11, RAC1, RAC2

Related skills    
E.5., E.10., T.2., G.5.

2. Theoretical classes: 

The theoretical concepts will be presented in class by the teacher. In the same way, practical exercises will be solved that illustrate the theory to generate a debate in the classroom with the participation of the students. Attendance at the theoretical classes is not compulsory but everything that is said in them is likely to enter the final exam. The teacher will not upload summary notes in the virtual classroom. 

• Title of the activities: Activity 4

    
Date: 
In one of the theoretical classes (no prior notice of the day).

General description    
This exercise aims to test the knowledge acquired in the theoretical classes. It will be a work of a theoretical and practical nature. The work will be related to issues of staging and narrative language and will take place during one of the theoretical sessions.

Support material    
Test statement and video visualizations

Deliverable and links to the evaluation    
- Solved test.
- 10% of the final mark of the subject. 

Specific objectives    
The aim of this activity is evaluative, to find out if the student has correctly assimilated the knowledge of the subject. 

Linked learning outcomes    
RA1, RA4, RA7, RA8, RA9, RA10, RA11, RAC1

Related skills    
E.5., E.10., T.2., G.5.

• Title of the activities: Activity 5. Final exam.    

Data
When marked by the teaching calendar (June 2020)

General description    
This exercise aims to test the knowledge acquired in theoretical teaching.

Support material    
Statement of the test. 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation    
- Solved exam.
- 40% of the final mark of the subject. 

Specific objectives    
The aim of this activity is evaluative, to find out if the student has correctly assimilated the knowledge of the subject. 

Linked learning outcomes    
RA1, RA4, RA8, RA10, RA11, RAC1

Related skills    
E.5., G.5.

In case of confinement, changes and adaptations will be applied in the practical activities so that the student, in the domestic field, can put into practice and develop the knowledge acquired in the theoretical sessions.

• Activity 0 will be canceled, and its grade percentage will affect activity 3.

Important Note: All written exercises will take into account spelling and the fact that they are written impersonally. You need to number the pages (the cover, no). Each foul will deduct 0,5 points. In no case will an exercise be accepted outside the delivery date set by the teacher, whatever the justification of the student or group. Activities without a name or without following the established presentation delivery format will not be evaluated and the numerical mark will be zero.

In case of confinement, the following changes and adaptations will be applied in the theoretical activities:

• Activity 4: It will become a written exercise, to be done individually or in groups and subject to the instructions administered by the teachers.

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 0 will be worth 10% of the final grade; activity 1 will be worth 10% of the final grade; Activity 2 will be worth another 10% of the final grade of the subject; and finally the 3 by 20%. An undelivered Activity will be equivalent to a 0 of numerical mark. 

To be able to average, the mark of the theoretical exam must be at least a 5. 
In order to be able to average, the mark of the set of the 4 practices will have to be at least of 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 0 (Scenario): 10% 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: 10%+10%+10%+20%+10%+40%=100%

Regarding possible modifications in the evaluation system for the Covid-19, and specifically in case of confinement:

-Activity 0 will be canceled and Activity 3 will be worth 30% of the final grade. 

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ARIJON, Daniel. Grammar of audiovisual language. Andoain: Film and Video School, 2003.

FERNANDEZ DIEZ, Federico; MARTINEZ ABADIA, José. Basic manual of language and audiovisual narrative. Barcelona: Paidos, 2005.

AUMONT, Jacques; BERGALA, Alain; MARIE, Michel & VERNET, Marc. Aesthetics of cinema: film space, editing, narration, language. Paidós, 1985.

MARTIN, Marcel. The language of cinema. Gedisa, 2009

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THOMPSON, Roy. Assembly manual. Plot editions, 2001

REA, Peter; IRVING, David. Production and direction of short films in film and video. Andoain: Film and Video School, 2001.

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CASTILLO, José María. Television and audiovisual language. Madrid: IORTV, 2005

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KATTZ, Steven. Plane to plane: From idea to screen. Madrid: Plot ediciones, 2000.