The Basis for Television Production (20388)
Degree/study: Degree in Audiovisual Communication
Year: 2nd
Term: 1st
Number of ECTS credits: 6 credits
Hours of studi dedication: 150 hours
Teaching language or languages: catalan/spanish
Teaching Staff: Maria Almagro and Montse Martí
1. Presentation of the subject
This subject is aimed to provide students with the theoretical and practical basis in television production.
It's mainly based in the development of different assignments that require filming fiction in a television studio and with a multi-camera system. There are two types of classes: the classes in the studio are totally practical so that at the end of the trimester, after ten weeks of class, student s understand the functioning of team dynamic in a television studio as well as working in a team of people. On the other hand, students must be able to schedule and reflect on the process of fiction in television; the classes in the classroom are a space to reflect on all that happens in the studio, mixing theoretical concepts with the direct application of these concepts.
During the second half of the trimester, the last five weeks, each couple of students (producer and assistant) will direct a live 4 minute fiction sequence and with a multi-camera system (3 cameras)
2. Competences to be attained
General and transversal skills:
1- Capacity to apply knowledge and understanding in a professional way in order to carry out the job or profession, and to have competences that are usually proved through the elaboration and uphold of arguments and solving problems in the field of study itself.
2- Learning skills that allow continuing the studies in a widely self-guided or autonomous way.
specific skills:
3 - Capacity and skills to manage the processes of direction and production of television media.
4 - Skills in using techniques and procedures of television staging.
5 - Capacity and skills for creativity and innovation.
3. Contents
I. THEORY BASIS
Unit 1. Basic aspects of production.
Planning. Type of shots. Camera movements. The main core of action.
Unit 2.Multicamera logistic
Crossed lines. Camera angles. The controlled production.
Unit 3. Teamwork.
In the multi camera logistic and with an only camera.
Unit 4. Pre-production.
The script planning: from the literary script to the technical script. Work guidelines.
Unit 5. Production
Specificities of filming with an only camera. Specificities of the filming with multi-camera. Scenic game, staging and cameras position.
Unit 6. Post-production
Editing fiction sequences.
II. ASSIGNMENTS
1. First improvisations in studio and outside.
2. Outside shorts: 1 edited minute. Filming without sound. Soundtrack in the editing room.
3. Live filming of a 4 minute fiction sequence.
4. Assessment
In order to pass the subject, students must carry out all the activities that will be proposed during the course.
The capacity to link the theoretical competences with the student's proposals and film creations based on a theoretical individual work will be specially assessed, after having carried out all exercises and assignments.
Participation and the relationship between the team will be assessed as an important educational part.
5. Bibliography and teaching resources
5.1. Basic bibliography
Plano a plano. De la idea a la pantalla. (Dirección 1) Steven Katz. Plot Ediciones
Rodando. Planificación de secuencias. (Dirección 2) Steven Katz. Plot Ediciones
Técnicas de realización y producción en televisión. Gerald Millerson. IORTV
Cómo crear una serie de televisión. Gonzalo Toledano y Nuria Verde. T&B Editores.
5.2. Complementary bibliography
This subject provides students with a series of resources that can be found in the virtual space of the subject in the Global Campus:
1- Program and session calendar
2- Distribution by groups and task assignments
3- Instructions for assignments
4- Work guidelines: studio map
6. Metodology
The subject has two types of classes: in the studio and in the classroom. However the contents are complementary and are directly linked. The initial complexity of team dynamic in the studio creates the first sessions in a learning experience in order to attain the capacity to develop a real simulation of a studio filming. Groups are distributed by clearly different tasks. Each group is assigned with tasks with specific functions that students will carry out rotary, so that at the end of the trimester, all groups have taken part in the practices developing the different necessary tasks in filming a multi-camera sequence in the studio.
Simultaneously, students will carry out another assignment with a parallel but different dynamic in outdoor filming. Each student will direct a minute filming, that will be filmed outside the studio and will be edited in the Avid rooms.
The fiction sequence filming in the studio requires the implication of the entire group regarding the work behind camera and the participation in front of the camera.
Monitoring the assignments by the teachers is carried out in the set, therefore indications, possible corrections and essays are included within the subject's framework.
Two assignments are proposed in a way that students collect information from this parallel work. On the one hand the work in pairs and with an only camera and on the other hand the teamwork in larger groups in the set.
This collective experience similar to a professional shooting (for the short in set), allows embracing a larger educational methodology and demanding, that contributes in creating a more complete, transversal and pluridisciplinary vision to the complex experience of a television production in any audiovisual creation.
7. Planning of activities
Week 1
Set:
Viewing of fiction sequences
Explanation on how to use exterior camera
Explanation of the basic operation of the set: set and control + property room
Explanation of the basic equipment operation: tasks and hierarchies
Classroom:
Explanation of the subject's structure.
Assessment criteria.
Basic concepts of the audiovisual grammar review
Week 2
Set:
Outlines of multi-camera direction: positions 1 and 2
First improvised assignments.
Classroom:
Work guidelines: technical guide and plant.
Sequence planning. Examples and methods.
Week 3
Set:
Outlines of multi-camera direction: positions 3 and 4
First planned assignments.
Classroom:
Team tasks.
Example assignments viewing.
Week 4
Set:
Outlines of multi-camera direction: positions 5 and 6
First planned assignments.
Classroom:
Television production in other television genres
Week 5
Set:
Group planned assignments
Classroom:
Editing a fiction sequence.
Week 6
Set:
Planned assignments by groups. The assigned director and assistant are responsible.
Classroom:
Viewing and discussion of the works carried out in the set. Argumentation and defence.
Exteriors:
Practice in pairs in exterior shooting.
Week 7
Set:
Planned assignments by groups. The assigned director and assistant are responsible.
Classroom:
Viewing and discussion of the works carried out in the set. Argumentation and defence.
Exteriors:
Practice in pairs in exterior shooting.
Week 8
Set:
Planned assignments by groups. The assigned director and assistant are responsible.
Classroom:
Viewing and discussion of the works carried out in the set. Argumentation and defence.
Exteriors:
Practice in pairs in exterior shooting.
Week 9
Set:
Planned assignments by groups. The assigned director and assistant are responsible.
Classroom:
Viewing and discussion of the works carried out in the set. Argumentation and defence.
Exteriors:
Practice in pairs in exterior shooting.
Week 10
Set:
Planned assignments by groups. The assigned director and assistant are responsible.
Classroom:
Viewing and discussion of the works carried out in the set. Argumentation and defence.
Exteriors:
Practice in pairs in exterior shooting.
During the exams week: Theory exam in the classroom.