COMPULSORY PAPERS
- DDF101 Video and Audio Craft
- DDF104 Short Film Screenwriting
- DDF105 Video Editing
ELECTIVES – Select 5
- DDF102 Music for film
- DDF109 DVD Authoring (Prerequisite 108)
- DDF110 Media Culture
- DDF131 Short film Project (Prerequisites 101+104+105)
- DDF201 Digital Cinematography (Prerequisite 101)
- DDF204 Feature Film Screenwriting (Prerequisite 104)
- DDF205 Advanced video editing (Prerequisite 105)
- DDF231 Short film Project II (Prerequisite 131)
- DDP103 Practical Photography
- DDP106 Photoshop for Photography
- DDP108 Graphic Design
- DDP206 Advanced Photoshop (Prerequisite 106)
Students need to complete 8 papers to achieve the Diploma. All students need to complete the three core papers and then choose five papers according to their own interests and the equipment available to them. Students can undertake more than eight papers if they wish.
Students intending to study further with degree level courses at SIT should ensure that the papers they are taking will work with the cross-crediting arrangements in place.
Students wanting to complete both Diploma in Digital Film and Diploma in Digital Photography can “cross-credit” three papers from one diploma to the other (i.e. a student who has completed the DDF programme can also complete the DDP programme by completing a further five DDP papers.)
Equipment requirements stated below are the minimum you will need.
PAPER DESCRIPTIONS
DDF101 Video and Audio Craft
Low cost digital cameras have revolutionised film, television and multimedia production, just as low cost computer editing and recording equipment has had a huge impact on audio production. This paper aims to give students fundamental skills and confidence in using digital video cameras, fundamental audio skills, and the principles that underpin digital video and audio.
In the video section, students will learn fundamental skills of camera operation such as to expose, focus, and white-balance. They will be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of camera continuity and be able to compose shots in a professional manner.
Students will also learn to choose and place microphones and record sound. They will be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the basic principles of sound, and the principles of analogue and digital sound recording.
Requirements: You will need a computer with basic editing software (iMovie will do) and a digital video camera with a firewire (IEEE1394 or iLink) connection. While a professional style camera with a shotgun mic is ideal, you can complete the course with a cheap consumer model - but see the note on unsuitable cameras below).
DDF104 Screenwriting
The understanding of the craft of telling a story is essential to many areas of creative endeavour. Apart from screenwriting per se, the material covered in this paper and its follow-up paper DDF 204 are essential to gaining insights into all the other papers in this course, since it is not only the technical skills a student must develop, but the story-telling skills to know where to use those technical skills.
In this paper students will develop an understanding of short film structures and through weekly exercises will develop their creative writing skills. The course is structured around sixteen short exercises that will involve students writing short screenplays to a given brief. The students’ skills will be encapsulated in their major project: original short film screenplay.
Requirements: Microsoft Word (or equivalent open source software such as Open Office or Neo Office).
DDF105 Video Editing
This paper deals with the aesthetics and practicalities of combining moving images.
Students are introduced to editing continuity and methods of editing to accentuate the narrative, and through the study of established works gain insights into the main approaches to editing. Editing aesthetics is seen as the choice of which image follows which, and as such is not dependent on any particular technology.
The practical side of the paper focuses on the use of the nonlinear video editing packages Apple Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro, but the material presented is easily transferable to any comparable system. Students will learn to capture and combine material and perform basic manipulations.
This paper is a pre-requisite for DDF205 Advanced Video Editing.
Requirements - you must have a computer with Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express or Premiere Pro CS3 or later.
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DDF102 Music for Film
Music can be one of the most important aspects in filmmaking, and the ability to choose and describe music is an essential skill. Further to this, it is becoming increasingly possible for filmmakers, even those with little or no musical skill, to make their own music using software such as Apple’s Soundtrack or GarageBand.
For non-musicians this paper is intended to give the student the ability to describe music and to communicate with musicians, to have a greater understanding of the musical requirements of drama, and to create music with Soundtrack or GarageBand.
For students with musical skill and ability this paper will develop the students understanding of the special requirements of writing music for film.
Requirements: Software for creating or recording music. Soundtrack Pro is strongly recommended, but the course can be completed using ProTools or GarageBand. If you have musical skill you can use any other software you are familiar with.
DDF109 DVD Authoring
The DVD is fast becoming the preferred mode of delivery for video footage. Fortunately the equipment and media needed to author DVDs for video has decreased in cost to the point where it is within the reach of all filmmakers. However it can readily be observed that even in high budget professionally authored DVDs many titles are authored with poor aesthetic sense and obscure, non-intuitive interactive menus.
It is the aim of this paper to develop the students’ awareness of the aesthetic of DVD authoring and practicalities of navigation. In addition to this the technical aspects of DVD authoring will also be studied.
Requirements: The course is written in such a way as it can be completed on a variety of software packages, including iDVD, Encore, and DVD Studio Pro. This paper assumes a working knowledge of Photoshop. If you are unfamiliar with Photoshop you are strongly advised to do DDP108 either before or at the same time as you do this paper.
DDF110 Media Culture
We live in a culture rich in images, from advertising graphics to Art-haus cinema. Many of these images, especially those associated with postmodernism and advertising, are referential. The aim of this paper is to broaden the students’ knowledge of the culture in which we live, where our culture has come from, and where it might go next. Students will gain from this paper a greater ability to contextualise the images that daily bombard us, and to create new forms borrowing from, rather than repeating, the past.
Requirements: Microsoft Word (or equivalent open source software such as Open Office or Neo Office).
DDF131 Short Film Project
In this paper students apply the knowledge gained from other papers in the programme by completing their own short digital video project. In addition to sharpening skills already acquired, students will learn to manage the resources needed for the project and will develop qualities of leadership and teamwork.
Requirements: Digital video camera and computer with editing software, including the ability to burn a DVD (using iDVD or similar), and all other requirements for shooting your film. You must have completed DDF101, DDF104, and DDF105 before commencing this paper.
DDF201 Digital Cinematography
This paper builds upon the skills acquired in DDF101, and extends these further using the problem based approach. Students will learn to master the operation of professional level cameras to record both audio and video to get optimal results suitable for broadcast. The course will conclude with a major project that allows the student to demonstrate all their skills. You must have completed DDF101 and DDF105 before commencing this paper.
Requirements: Professional quality digital video camera (such as Sony HVR-A1 or similar) or video capable DSLR camera (such as Pentax K7, Canon 550D or similar) and sound recording equipment (such as the on-camera mic with the Sony HVR-A1 or the Zoom H4).
DDF204 Feature Film Screenwriting (Level 6)
Building on the skills developed in DDF104 Screenwriting, this paper is concerned with the writing of a full scale feature length script in the Hollywood three act structure. Students will also look develop an understanding of genre in screenwriting. This paper is intended as a follow-on to DDF104, and it is assumed that students entering this paper will be able to write in the standard format and be aware of screenwriting conventions.
Requirements: A computer with Microsoft Word (or equivalent open source software such as Open Office or Neo Office).
DDF205 Advanced Video Editing (Level 6)
This paper embodies a practical approach to video editing and builds upon the work completed in DDF105. The focus of the paper is mostly technical, and the work assumes a basic knowledge of non-linear editing.
The paper is based on a series of short assignments of increasing difficulty that promote not only technical skill, but a creative approach and the ability to self critique the student's own work.
Requirements: Final Cut Pro or Express and Photoshop, or, Adobe Production Premium CS3 or later. You must have passed DDF105 before commencing this paper.
DDF231 Short Film Project II
In this paper students build on the experience acquired in DDF131 to complete a short digital video project to professional standards. Whereas in DDF131 students work to a level appropriate for Level 5 students, in DDF231 the final deliverables are expected to be close to professional standard. Students will need to either have access to professional cameras or to write a script that can be achieved by using the equipment available (e.g. The Blair Witch Project).
Requirements: Digital video camera and editing software, including the ability to burn a DVD (using iDVD or similar).
DDP103 Practical Photography
Digital cameras have revolutionised photographic practice, both in terms of consumer-level point-and-shoot cameras as well as for high-end professional applications. This paper aims to give students fundamental skills and confidence in using still (as opposed to video) digital cameras and the principles that underpin digital photography.
Given that technology is constantly improving an important aspect of the course is a focus on skills that do not date – composition, lens focal lengths, use of bokeh and so forth. Students may find that a few years after completing the course that much of the technology existing when they did the course is becoming obsolete, but fundamental photographic skills do not change, and a student well versed in fundamental skills will easily adapt to changes in technology.
Requirements - a digital still camera, computer with basic image editing software such as Photoshop or iPhoto.
DDP106 Photoshop for Photography
Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard still image processing application, and is in wide use not only among photographers but also with multimedia and video editing professionals. This paper deals with the use of Photoshop in relation to digital still photography.
The paper is based around a series of weekly assignments that students will undertake.
This paper is and especially useful counterpart to DDF103 in that Photoshop functions as a 'digital darkroom' for the digital camera. Also this paper relates to DDF108 which uses Photoshop as a tool for graphic design.
Requirements: Digital camera, computer, and Photoshop CS, preferably CS3, CS4 or more recent.
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DDP108 Graphic Design
This paper deals with the presentation and manipulation of still images and type. This paper gives students the confidence to use Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to manipulate images and type, to gain an understanding of design principles, and the ability to apply those principles in a practical context.
The opening sections of the course deal with the basic operation of the software and the fundamentals of design theory. The second section of the course presents the students with a series of design problems of increasing difficulty. This approach allows students to implement the material presented in the opening section in a creative and motivating manner.
The companion paper DDP106 focuses on the use of Photoshop in the preparation of photographic images. All though there is some necessary duplication, the main focus of this paper is on design choice rather than image manipulation.
Requirements: Computer with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
DDP206 Advanced Photoshop
This paper embodies a practical approach to image editing in Photoshop and builds upon the work completed in DDP106. The paper assumes a basic knowledge of Photoshop.
The paper is modelled on the ‘problem solving’ approach, and is based on a series of short assignments of increasing difficulty that promote not only technical skill, but a creative approach and the ability to self critique the student's own work.
Requirements: Computer with Photoshop CS5 or later.
What order should you do the papers in?
For most papers it does not matter, however for some papers there are prerequisites, and for some others there are suggestions…
Prerequisite papers:
- DDF109 DVD Authoring - Requires a knowledge of graphic design. Students must take 108 before starting this paper unless they can satisfy the head of school that they have sufficient skill with Photoshop.
- DDF131 Short Film Project - Students must have completed 101, 104, and 105 before starting this paper
- DDF201 Digital Cinematography - Students must have completed 101 and 105 before starting this paper
- DDF204 Feature Film Screenwriting - Students must have completed 104 before starting this paper
- DDF205 Advanced Video Editing - Students must have completed 105 before starting this paper
- DDF231 Short Film Project II - Students must have completed 131 before starting this paper
- DDP206 Advanced Photoshop - Students must have completed 106 before starting this paper
Suggestions
- Because of the prerequisites on some papers it is usually a good idea to do the three core papers before the others.
- It can be advantageous to have a knowledge of editing before starting 101, therefore 105 is usually best done either concurrently or before 101
- It can be advantageous to have a knowledge of Photoshop before starting 103, therefore 106 is usually best done either concurrently or before 103
What equipment is needed?
The short answer to the equipment question is that the entire course can be completed with either:
- Final Cut Studio (or Final Cut Express and iLife)
- Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements if not taking 106)
- Microsoft Word or NeoOffice
- A digital video camera
- A suitable computer to run the software
- An internet connection
- Students taking 103 will also need a digital still camera
- Students taking 109 will need DVD Studio Pro or Encore (these come as part of Adobe CS3 (or later) Production Premium or Final Cut Studio packages.
OR:
- Adobe CS3 or later Production Premium
- A digital video camera
- Microsoft Word or NeoOffice, Open Office or similar
- A suitable computer to run the software
- An internet connection
- Students taking 103 will also need a digital still camera
- Students taking 102 will need some form of music creation software such as GarageBand, Logic Express or Soundtrack. (Adobe Soundbooth is not suitable for 102)
Note: if you enrol as a full time student you may be able to purchase some of the gear you need with a student loan (contact Studylink directly about what you're entitled to - 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz).
Adobe or Final Cut Studio?
Both packages are professional level software, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses, however from a learning perspective the Apple Final Cut Pro or Express packages seem to be a lot more intuitive to master, and students using these have far fewer technical problems.
There are also other options, but any further enquiries should be addressed to the facilitator.
Windows or Mac?
If you are computer literate, and know what you are doing, you could do the course on a Windows PC – however due to the wide number of PC systems no technical support is offered to students doing the course on Windows. Doing the course on Mac is strongly recommended if you have limited computer skills. In addition to that, students using Windows tend to strike a lot more technical problems than those using Macs, and this is another reason for recommending students use Mac computers for this course if possible.
What level computer skills does the student need?
If using a Mac, students need basic computer literacy – they should be able to open, save and search for files, add attachments to emails, and similar basic tasks. If using a PC students must know any PC specific software well, understand the operating system they are using well, and be able to troubleshoot their own problems.
Unsuitable cameras
Many cameras today record to DVD or hard disc. Unfortunately, due to the proprietary compression used, some of these cameras do not integrate with professional style software, and are really only useful for home movies. Despite what salesmen may tell you, these cameras are not suitable for this course. It is essential that whatever camera you have can be used with your editing software.
If there are any questions refer to the facilitator, Phil Davison - phil.davison@xtra.co.nz. For more comprehensive details regarding this programme go to the following website: http://www.rozamedia.com/DDF.html