Department of Performing and Screen Arts

Bachelor in Performing and

Screen Arts
Course No. Course Name Semester Year
PASA7271 Camera 3a 1 2009
Lecturer (s) Course Co-ordinator
Dan Wagner, Alan Locke Dan Wagner
Marker(s) Moderator(s)
Dan Wagner Alan Locke
Assignment No. & Title Course grade % Due Date Return Date
1 Advanced Lighting & Lensing Concepts - Adverts 40% 29 May 26 June

Course Aim: To enable students to establish a critical understanding of advanced skills, knowledge,
technologies and practices for cinematography while developing the ability to critically evaluate their own
work and that of others.

Learning outcome(s):
2. Employ specialised technical, creative and conceptual skills in camera and lighting.
- Employ sophisticated technique in the handling and operation of specialist equipment
and technology
- Explore associated problem-solving, self-management and professional practices
Description:
Shoot a 30-second TV Commercial. In collaboration with a Director, establish a clearly
defined stylistic “look”. Utilise references (photographs, movies, paintings – or a blend of
these) as a common language with your Director to articulate the look you will be creating.
Use your skills and talents as a Director of Photography to implement this look. Keep the
overall look consistent throughout the final version.
This assessment is as much about your creative process as it is about the final product.
To this end, you will keep a regular blog where you will journal your collaboration with
the Director, detail your shooting approach & strategy and critique your own work – both
how you performed and the end result. You’re required to contribute to the blog at least 3
times a week (from the time you’re assigned an Ad to work on until the week after the
shoot ends – to allow you time to analyse your rushes), but if you wish to do so every day,
so much the better. The Camera tutors will be able to write comments to your blog
entries. These will mostly take the shape of encouraging you to delve more deeply or
other such factors which help you more fully meet the brief. You may, if you wish, interact
with these comments.

Marking Criteria:

BLOG
1. Making a minimum of 3 entries a week, create Blog content with depth,
clarity and relevance to the requirements of the brief. [Begin your postings as soon
as you receive this brief. Your final posting will be after the shoot has completed and you’ve
reviewed your footage against your plans.] 10%

2. Define the Look you and the Director intend to achieve. [From your discussions
with the Director and from the references pulled by the Director (and by you, if relevant), describe in
visual terms the look you’re going to attempt to create or emulate. You may speak in terms of the
atmospheric quality you and the Director hope to convey, or the visual feel the two of you hope to
achieve. You may bring up elements such as colour palette, predominant shapes and lines, your
compositional approach, your camera movement approach. The purpose of this is for you to
process the Director’s vision and, in your own words, articulate it back to us. Do not use text from
the Director’s design brief – use your own words!] 10%

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 PASA7271 – Cam2 – Advanced Lighting & Lensing Concepts: Adverts - p. 2

3. Upload, discuss and analyse the references you are using to inform your
Look. [The Director pulls the intial references. If you seek clarification and amplification, you may
also bring references into subsequent meetings. Soon, you will decide together on which images
you’ll be working from (of course, the Director always has final say – it’s his/her vision, after all).
Scan and upload these to your blog. Then describe what aspect of each image you and the director
discussed. Analyse each of those aspects – e.g. light quality, direction, relative tonality, etc.] 10%

4. Formulate a shooting plan to achieve the Look. [First discuss in broad strokes how
you’re going to go about it. Next, explain in detail the methods you intend to employ.] 10%

5. Write Blog entries which demonstrate a basic working knowledge of

fundamental design principles. [This relates to anything you write which involves VISUAL
DESCRIPTIONS. How are you considering such elements as line, balance, shape, size, hue, value,
etc. in your creation of the Look?] 10%

6. Describe the details of your processes working with the director. [Keep a step-
by-step journal of your conversations, focussing on the evolution of your ideas and of your working
relationship. Please be honest.] 10%

7. Critique your work. [Honestly discuss your performance as well as evaluate how closely you
feel your plan was achieved in the shot footage.] 10%

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
8. Use lighting and exposure proficiently and creatively to achieve the look
you’ve described and referenced. [Utilising them as design elements, employ light and
shadow purposefully and consistently throughout the piece.] 10%

9. Use lens choice and camera placement proficiently and creatively to

achieve the look you’ve described and referenced. [Construct dynamic, interesting
frames which demonstrate your having contributed to the thoughtful design of the entire piece and
each shot within it.] 10%

10. Professionally execute the responsibilities of Director of

Photography. 10%
• Know the theory, the responsibilities and the expectations of the job
• Lead and manage your crew effectively and respectfully
• Anticipate and avoid any technical difficulties
- Including issues such as focus, unwanted flares, improper exposure, etc.

24914555.doc / DW2008