Languages of the Screen 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

145 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Languages of the Screen 1 introduces students to critical motion picture and television industry practices and concepts. Lectures, workshops and seminars cover the practical grammar of the screen and the direction of performance for screen specific practice. Local and visiting industry practitioners discuss current industry practice in a series of guest lectures and Q & As. Students’ Screen Practice 1A work is critically reviewed in this subject, with particular focus on their screen grammar choices and representation of performance.

This subject includes an embedded program in academic literacy skills of analysis, discussion, essay writing, research and information retrieval.

On completing this subject students will be able to:
• demonstrate an awareness of performance techniques for the screen;
• verbally communicate precise directorial intentions to performers;
• develop skills to direct actors;
• demonstrate an awareness of screen grammar;
• critically analyse and discuss the mis-en-scene construction of scenes for the screen;
• critically and constructively review their own and peers’ screen direction work.

Assessment is continuous and based on the following:

Screen Grammar: (oral presentation 15 minutes) Due: week 4 ( 20%)
Direction and performance exercise/s (written: 500 words, & practical) Due: week 12 ( 35%)
Critical Reflection Blog (1500 words) Due: end of semester (20%)
Industry Perspectives assignment (1500 words) Due: end of semester (20%)
Workshop Participation* Due: assessed ongoing (5%)
*Participation assessed on criteria of engagement, ability to discuss & give/receive feedback and teamwork skills.

Late submission
* Unless an extension has been granted, for essays/assignments submitted after the due date, the mark a student is awarded for their work will be reduced by 10% for each day the work is late. Using electronic submission means work may be submitted on any day.
* Unless an extension has been granted, assignments submitted later than 5 working days (or 1 week if due on a weekend) after the due date will not be marked, and will receive no marks.

Hurdle requirements
Students must attend 80% of all scheduled classes and attempt all elements of assessment to be eligible for a pass in this subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completing this subject students will be able to:
• plan and organise their work and solve problems;
• lead a team and work collaboratively;
• apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems;
• develop positive self-critical and peer review skills;
• begin to develop a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment.
• understand research practices as a result of preparing materials for online discussion and essays;
• present opinions and analysis in classroom discussion;
• argue lucidly and logically as a result of the planning and writing of essays;
• utilise effective library research skills, including the development of search strategies to find information from a variety of quality information resources, including online databases, books, journals, internet, and a variety of multimedia-rich resources;
• demonstrate effective time-management skills.