104232 - CINEMATOGRAPHIC DIRECTION TECHNIQUES

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Maddalena Fedele

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 4

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.

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 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 the practical activities the manipulation of the audiovisual material will be carried out. Practices are a fundamental part of the classes, as they serve to show in a tangible and direct way the theoretical concepts taught in class. 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.

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 Cuts, transitions and camera movements
• 1.5 Blocking and plant schemes
• 1.6 The technical and literary script: structure and planning
• 1.7 The connection, 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, Activity 6

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, Activity 6

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 ,, Activity 6

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 low cost cinema

Related activities: Activity 3, Activity 4, Activity 5, Activity 6

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

1. Practical classes:

Activities will take place on both sets. The TCM as well as the M1TV. You will be informed of the rules to follow and the terms to carry them out. It is necessary to be punctual during the Practices in set. Lack of punctuality will not be allowed. Audiovisual projects will be delivered via e-mail with a Vimeo link on the day of delivery 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.

The activities written individually will take into account the spelling. A serious misconduct or several minor ones will mean not being able to get more than a 5 of maximum mark in the exercise or even to suspend it. In the works a fault will discount 0,5 points, whereas in the examination will discount 0,25. Under no circumstances will an exercise outside the delivery date set by the teacher be accepted, 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
In group, a silent dialogue based on seduction will be filmed, taking up 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 ... 

Deliverable 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 5% of the final mark of the subject. 

Specific objectives:
At the end of the activity the student must be able to:
- Pay attention to 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 ... 

Deliverable 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 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 three 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 ... 

Deliverable 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 carried out will be observed, it will be analyzed by the teacher and solutions will be offered to the possible errors detected in it.
- 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 their competence when working with a single camera to ensure that the plans have a combination of views and movement and that 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, figrig, traveling, cards, batteries, microphones, lighting equipment, etc ... 

Deliverable 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, will be 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 carried out will be observed and analyzed by the teacher, offering solutions to the possible problems encountered in it.
- This activity will be evaluated both by the teacher of the practical classes and by the theoretical ones. The ability demonstrated by students to demonstrate their acquired knowledge as well as the originality of the product will be evaluated. The mark would mean 25% of the total of the subject. 15% will come from the internship teacher and 10% from the theory teacher. 

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 notes-summary the virtual classroom. 

Planning of the theoretical activities of the subject:

NOTE: As explained in the previous section, practical activity 3 will also have a percentage of evaluation that will belong to the theoretical block.

• 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.

The evaluation of the subject is separated between theoretical content, taught in class, and practice in the laboratory (set).

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 5% 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 25%. An undelivered Activity will be equivalent to a 0 of numerical mark. In the latter case, 15% will be evaluated by the internship teacher and 10% by the theory teacher (the theoretical part could consist of the piece + a presentation of the students explaining its characteristics with respect to the staging).

Apart from the activities mentioned, there will be a voluntary option that will consist of presenting a project at the Calella Film Festival. Those who participate in the contest will receive an extra 5% on their grade. There may also be several voluntary activities in the theoretical classes that will mean an extra 1% in the final grade. 

To be able to average, the mark of the theoretical exam must be at least a 5. 
To be able to average, the mark of the set of the three 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 internships during the term will not be able to access this recovery practice and their grade will include a Not Presented. The internship grade will not be saved from one course to another.

Summing up:

Activity 0 (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): 25% of the grade (= 15% practice + 10% theory)
Activity 4 (Work in the theoretical class): 10% of the mark. 
Activity 5 (Final Exam): 40% of the mark.
Activity 6 (Calella Film Festival): + 5% extra

Total: 5%+10%+10%+25%+10%+40%=100% (+5%)

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