KPB119 Introduction to Screen Production: Single Camera

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit introduces single camera production techniques and the skills and knowledge required to work in small, independent screen production contexts. Students will develop an understanding of single camera production workflow from pre-production, production and post-production with a focus on creating short form content in independent and collaborative contexts.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate initiative and professionalism, and apply safe work practices, including respect for social and cultural differences, in collaborative and independent production contexts.
2. Demonstrate critical and creative problem solving throughout the production workflow.
3. Apply technical proficiency and an understanding of how film language is used to create meaning in screen texts.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the roles, responsibilities and documentation associated with screen production professions.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is delivered through a series of lectures, tutorials and workshops supported by online learning materials and resources. Students will work both individually and collaboratively across the single camera screen production workflow.

Please be advised that this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matters that may be considered confronting, such as certain representations of race, class, gender and violence. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formative peer and staff feedback at key production milestones will be provided in tutorials. Students will be encouraged to seek out peer feedback throughout the production workflow. Summative feedback will be provided on rubrics and in class screenings of students' productions.

Assessment

Overview

There are three assessment tasks for this unit: 1. A case study of a production role focusing on the responsibilities and associated production resources of a specific crew or ATL role; 2. Independent Production; and 3. Collaborative Screen Production. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Production Practitioner Profile [Case Study]

Conduct research into a specific production role and create a practitioner profile that details the responsibilities of the production role including professional plans or documentation associated with the role, relationship to other production crew or above the line creatives, memberships or professional associations, and examples of leading creative practitioners in the field. Present your findings as an in-class oral presentation or recorded presentation with accompanying visual aids.

This presentation is not classified as an assignment.  

Assessment: Independent production

Apply your understanding of film language to a one minute sequence that 'cuts on continuous action'. Cultural, social and physical safe work practices must be observed.

Your final sequence must be accompanied by professional documentation including a one paragraph synopsis, shot list and storyboard.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Collaborative Production

This task requires you to collaborate in a professional manner to create a short screen text. You will be assessed on the creative work and your individual contribution via peer review and your role-specific production documentation.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 HSE requirement) 

You will be advised if you are required to complete a Tier 2 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is provided by the technician on site in the theatre, workshop or studio, or a Tier 3 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is a hands on induction on specific machinery.

Costs

In this unit, you may incur costs associated with such things as additional equipment and materials not already provided for by QUT, travel to locations and accommodation, art direction, costumes and makeup, music composition and copyright clearances, payment for actors, and catering.

Online learning mode students may require access to a basic digital camera with sound recording capability (such as a smartphone), lighting equipment, and a computer capable of running video and audio editing software.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Grigor, Axel, Sue Maslin, Scott Walton, and Faramarz K-Rahber. Jill Bilcock : the Art of Film Editing. Collingwood, Victoria: Film Art Media, 2017.

Mollison, M. (2020) Producing Videos: A Complete Guide (3rd ed). Sydney: Allen and Unwin.

Murch, Walter. In the Blink of an Eye : a Perspective on Film Editing. 2nd ed. Los Angeles: Silman-James Press, 2001.

Rabiger, M. (2014) Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics (5th ed). Burlington: Focal Press.

Safety and protective equipment

Enclosed footwear must be worn on set and on location.

Other

Link to a case study for sustainability on The Portable Door [Filmed in QLD]

https://www.sustainablescreens.au/resources/opening-a-portable-door-to-sustainability-down-under

This is a link to resources and checklists for sustainable film production work practices:

https://www.greenthebid.earth/checklists

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information. 

Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury. 

Every project is different and the risks are unique to that project. When working on film and television productions you are required to provide appropriate risk plans of your projects prior to receiving equipment. The risk plan should look at the scope of the project and document responses to possible scenarios that might be encountered. The prevention and avoidance of risk should be addressed by: ELIMINATION of the risk, SUBSTITUTION of the risk, ISOLATION of the risk, ENGINEERING to remove the risk, ADMINISTRATION of the risk and the use of PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

Note: If in your considered opinion, there is a potential for an accident to occur, the activity should be abandoned and advice sought from specialists, supervisors or lecturers. It should be noted that even if this risk plan has been done and/or advice and consultation has been sought from lecturers or other consultants, the liability for risk management still rests, in the final instance, with the students responsible for the project.

QUT takes its obligations to the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 very seriously. You as a student, must also meet your obligations under the Act. This can be done in different ways, but you are obliged to take action to manage exposure to risk.

There are Regulations, Advisory Standards and Industry Codes of Practice, to meet your obligations under the Act you must comply with these. You must take reasonable precautions and exercise proper diligence in making sure the risk is managed.

Students have an obligation to exercise care when operating equipment and to follow instructions as to the safe operation of the equipment, safe manual handling and the use of safety devices and personal protective equipment.

STUDENTS WORKING ON FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE RISK PLAN HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED FOR THAT PROJECT AND THAT IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER.

A QUT Risk Plan Form for Student Productions and an accompanying Risk Plan Guidelines should be accessed and downloaded from the unit's Canvas site.

For students working on campus and/or accessing QUT production equipment, the following applies:

RESPONSIBILITY: Equipment faults and damage must be reported to Equipment Loans Centre (ELC) staff as soon as possible.

Students are responsible for ensuring equipment is secure and at no risk of damage. Action will be taken against anyone responsible for wilful damage or theft of QUT property.

SECURITY: Z6, the hub, offers 24 hour swipe card access. Consequently, the equipment you use there, your personal possessions and your personal safety are at risk unless everyone complies with the security regulations pertaining to this facility. Admission is by your own student card only. Do not let anyone in on your card unless prior authorisation has been given by the Discipline Head. Under no circumstance should you give your student card to anyone else. These rules will be strictly enforced and anyone who breaks them will be subject to harsh disciplinary action by the university.

Course Learning Outcomes

CA01 Bachelor of Creative Arts

1. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Production Practitioner Profile [Case Study], Independent production, Collaborative Production
2. Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
   Relates to: ULO2, Independent production, Collaborative Production
3. Demonstrate technical proficiency and a knowledge of contemporary digital practices and technologies in one or more disciplines and apply these in creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO3, Independent production, Collaborative Production
4. Communicate, represent, and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
   Relates to: ULO3, Independent production, Collaborative Production
5. Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO2, Independent production, Collaborative Production
6. Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Production Practitioner Profile [Case Study], Independent production, Collaborative Production
7. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through contextual research, reflection, and by acting on the informed critique of others.
   Relates to: ULO2, Independent production, Collaborative Production
8. Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, sustainability, and work with integrity across all practice and professional settings.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Production Practitioner Profile [Case Study], Independent production, Collaborative Production
9. Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
   Relates to: ULO1, Independent production, Collaborative Production

KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries

1. Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
   Relates to: ULO3, Independent production, Collaborative Production
2. Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
   Relates to: ULO2, Independent production, Collaborative Production
3. Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Independent production, Collaborative Production
4. Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Production Practitioner Profile [Case Study], Independent production, Collaborative Production
5. Embody social and ethical responsibilities and exhibit well-developed judgement with resilience, integrity, curiosity and responsibility.
   Relates to: ULO1, Independent production, Collaborative Production
6. Practise self-management of career and learning with enterprise and an entrepreneurial outlook, including the building of personal and professional relationships and partnerships.
   Relates to: ULO4, Production Practitioner Profile [Case Study], Independent production, Collaborative Production