University of Technology Sydney

52655 Media Arts Specialist Modules

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Communication: MAP and Sound and Music Design
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): (52652 Drama Production OR 54032 Fictions) AND (52654 Experimental Media OR 54033 Aesthetics)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 54034 Media Arts Specialist Modules AND 58213 Research and Practice

Description

This subject develops students’ skill sets in media arts in screen development, production and post-production. Students elect to specialise in a single discipline chosen from a suite of modules which may include producing, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, production design and post-production, Students acquire high-level specialist skill sets in an environment in which they can immediately translate their new knowledge into practice. Students create short media arts prototypes which provide a foundation for subsequent subjects in the major and set up future career pathways, all whilst gaining insight into standard industry forms and practices, alongside new and emerging models.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a. Develop specialist skills in focused media arts disciplines
b. Create short media arts prototypes applying industry-based standards
c. Differentiate established and emerging models of media arts practice

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:

  • Act in a professional manner appropriate to communication industries (1.1)
  • Apply theoretically informed understandings of communication industries to independent and collaborative projects across a range of media (1.2)
  • Employ appropriate research and inquiry skills to independently gather, organise and analyse information across diverse platforms (2.1)
  • Act as reflexive critical thinkers and innovative creative practitioners who evaluate their own and others' work (2.2)

Content (topics)

Students enrol in one of up to six modules. Each module offers different specialist content, learning opportunities and assessment tasks.

Directing: students work with performance and camera toward creating dramatic scenes for the screen.
Producing: students engage in exercises related to screen development, production, and distribution.
Screenwriting: students develop short screenplays suitable for production and career advancement.
Cinematography: students light and shoot with high-end professional cinema camera builds moving from stills exercises to the moving image.
Production Design: students create environments for screen worlds.
Post-production: students extend their abilities in editing and media compositing.

The subject contributes to capstone project and broader career planning, providing exposure to standard industry forms and practices, and emerging models.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Media Arts Specialist Module Assessment 1

Objective(s):

a and b

Weight: 40%
Length:

Directing: 1000 words plus images

Producing: 3-minute live pitch plus presentation slides

Cinematography: Portfolio of Cinematography exercises

Production Design: 500 words plus images

Post Production: 1-2 minute editing sequence plus 250 word statement

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Degree of creativity of media arts project work 40 a, b 2.2
Level of technical proficiency with media arts forms and tools 40 a 1.1
Depth of integration of industry-based practices 20 b 2.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Media Arts Specialist Module Assessment 2

Objective(s):

a, b and c

Weight: 60%
Length:

Directing: 3-4 minute scene plus 500 word statement and shooting plan

Producing: 2000 words plus images

Cinematography: 1-2 minute moving image sequence plus 250 word reflection

Production Design: 1-2 minute moving image piece plus 250 word reflection

Post Production: 1-2 minute compositing sequence plus 250 word statement

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Degree of creativity of media arts project work 40 a, b 1.1
Level of technical proficiency with media arts forms and tools 40 a 1.2
Depth of integration of industry-based practices 20 b, c 1.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

Attendance at classes is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor to build capacities towards meeting the subject learning objectives. A roll will be taken at each class (whether on campus or online). Students who have more than one absence from a block delivered class will be refused marking of their final assessment (see Rule 3.8)

Student must pass the Lighting Safety Test in order to operate equipment associated with lens based production work. This requirement is for safety reasons. If students haven’t passed the test they will not be allowed to handle lights or any electrical equipment.

Students are required to submit documentation to the MPAS online approvals system for Media Arts & Production student projects in which they confirm they have acquired the appropriate approvals (locations, crew, and cast) necessary to undertake the work that they propose. In addition, students must also identify any and all safety risks that the production of their student project reasonably presents and provide evidence of how they will mitigate those risks while adhering to industry-standard safe work practices. These tasks address the various legal, safety and ethical requirements of screen production. Failure to provide tutors with the required paperwork before published deadlines will result in the student crew not being authorised to collect the equipment required to complete their projects from FASS MediaLab.