57120 Media Arts and Production Project Part A

Handbook description

In this subject, students are provided with supervision to undertake an original short piece of production work informed by theoretical study, based on independent research and showing evidence of their professional skills and creative expertise. The project can be in any of the following media: radio, sound, film, music, new media or web-based work, video, performances, CD-ROM and telecommunications projects.

The production project is required to demonstrate work of a high standard with the possibility of being publicly exhibited. It must show evidence that students have engaged in a lively dialogue between theoretical ideas and production practices. The project work is to be initiated in the context of the Master of Media Arts and Production so although it may be related back to institutions and workplaces, it cannot be determined by schedules, deadlines and influences of a work-based project only. The proposed project must be feasible to be produced within the resources available both through UTS and those provided by the filmmaker themselves from outside UTS. It must be of a length that can be reasonably completed within the time frame. Feasibility is determined by the supervisor.

In Part A students work with their supervisor to negotiate the feasibility and length of their proposed project and their production schedule. They are expected to take their project through research and script revisions to shooting script and storyboard; from pre-production to shooting. The subject is conducted by individual supervision and weekly seminars.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At successful completion of this subject, students are able to:

1. demonstrate their professional skills and creative expertise through the completed work to date on their media production project
2. demonstrate their understanding of the theoretical ideas and professional practices as relevant to their media production work
3. by taking their projects through pre-production into production, show evidence of their capacities as program makers
4. demonstrate their capacity to undertake collaborative production work.

Contribution to graduate profile

Students completing this subject:

• are able to demonstrate their advanced skills in either sound, multimedia, radio, music, performance or film and video
• have enhanced their knowledge of media cultures and industries
• are able independently to take an innovative and creative project from idea into production
• have sharpened their critical thinking and conceptual skills in relationship to their specialised area of media production
• have been responsible for the creative and technological development of a significant media production
• have enhanced their professional skills through undertaking an advanced production work.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is completed through individual supervision.

Content

Students are appointed a MAP academic academic as supervisor. They must submit a project proposal for approval by their supervisor at the beginning of the semester. This is the basis for beginning work on their MA project.

Students are expected to meet the production planning requirements of their project proposal or script, budget, schedule, design notes and provide details of crew or team collaboration at the beginning of semester. At that stage a schedule for the production will be negotiated along with meetings and work-in-progress screenings with the academic supervisor.

In addition students attend a weekly seminar. Seminars offer students the opportunity to present their program ideas, project development and work-in-progress for critical examination. There will also be presentation of research work relevant to the student's own production.

Project seminar

Project seminar is a key component of the MAMP project subjects. The seminar offers students the opportunity to present their program ideas, project development and work-in-progress for critical examination. There will be screenings of short media work and presentation of production case studies relevant to the student's own production work. Group work in the seminar offers a chance to present and debate central elements of each project and provides a means of becoming familiar with the wider media production constructs involved in their proposed work.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Progress report and portfolio for short media production project

Assessment item 2: Seminar presentations

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Attendance is particularly important in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students who attend fewer than ten classes are advised that their final work will not be assessed and that they are likely to fail the subject.

Indicative references

These will be advised by the supervisor according to the nature of the project and needs of the individual student.