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Unit outline_

MFDI9313: Digital Editing for Film and Video

Semester 2, 2023 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aims to equip you with a conceptual understanding and technical expertise in the use of digital editing for film and video projects. You will be introduced to the use of software programs such as Adobe Creative Suite to explain how edit moving images in to a project and how moving images can be transformed over time in combination with text, masks, filters, effects and sound. You will learn how to edit and master in Adobe Premiere Pro through an intensive series of tutorials film/video screenings and practical studio workshops. This will culminate in the production of a studio project. The project is to be developed in consultation with an academic adviser.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Sydney College of the Arts
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jane Gavan, jane.gavan@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Andrew Robards, andrew.robards@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration hurdle task Digital editing video project
Short edited Video
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 13 Nov 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 20 Nov 2023
2-3min (2700wd equiv)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Presentation hurdle task Student seminar presentations
edited output presentation and documentation to be uploaded to Canvas
15% Week 04
Due date: 21 Aug 2023 at 23:59
3-4min edited presentation (700wd equiv)
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4 LO3
Small continuous assessment hurdle task Porject proposal and supporting documentation
Project proposal and supporting documentation
25% Week 08
Due date: 18 Sep 2023 at 08:00

Closing date: 04 Oct 2023
2-4 page written project synopsis
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5 LO4 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Assessment grading  

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard. 

This unit uses standards-based assessment for award of assessment marks. Your assessments will be evaluated solely on the basis of your individual performance You need to satisfy requirements as determined by academic staff, including attendance, communicated to you through the Sydney College of the Arts Handbook, unit of study outlines, other written notifications and/or verbally through tutorials or seminars. All requirements must be met in order to be eligible for an assessment.

Your work will be assessed according to the following criteria, based on: attendance; participation and responsiveness to the unit of study and academic direction; written work; studio work and other unit of study work; tutorial and seminar team discussion. These criteria apply to studio-based learning and to theory units of study.

1. Competence
Demonstration of the development and application of practical and intellectual competency and skills appropriate to the unit of study.

2. Development
Demonstration of the ability to initiate and realise your own objectives for studio practice and theory work within the requirements of the unit of study and of your developing knowledge of the historical and theoretical context of your practice. You are expected to improve your abilities, competency and understanding over the course of a semester, and over successive semesters.

3. Critical Awareness
Demonstration of developing a critical awareness and knowledge of the unit of study and the ability to objectively evaluate your own work, select appropriate methods and materials and to formulate and evaluate ideas/methods.

4. Commitment
Demonstration of commitment and self-motivation in respect of the unit of study. The level of commitment to study in the academic program is reflected in; the development of self-motivation applied to individual, group or assignment-based work; the degree of participation in all units of study including group work, project submissions, essays and discussions; the development of a consistent work pattern; and the regularity and punctuality of attendance and submissions.

5. Innovation
Demonstration of innovative and imaginative thinking, appropriate to the unit of study, evidencing the quality of ideas underlying your work and development in your studies.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Wk1: Orientation & overview of Program Editing Workflow (Ingesting, logging, Edits from Assemble-Lock-Off, Sound, Colour, Effects, Titles, Export and Delivery). Understanding Your Final Project Options - Project Viewings and Discussion Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 02 WK 2: Mash Ups and Found Footage: Previous Student Project Examples. Premiere Pro CC Presets and Scratch Disks File Management and basic editing tools Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Wk 3: Continuity Filmmaking and Editing (includes Walter Murch’s Rules of Editing) Basic Editing Techniques in Adobe Premiere Pro CC. The tool palette and Keyboard Shortcuts. Continuity Editing Exercise Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Wk 4: Montage Editing Clip Effect Controls and Montage Editing Exercise Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 05 Wk 5: In-class presentations Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Wk 6: In-class presentations + Editing as Storytelling: Structure, Rhythm, Pace and Understanding the Moving Camera Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Wk 7: Editing as Storytelling: Working with Sync Sound to Tell a Story. Audio and Picture media management, syncing, audio controls and dialogue editing exercise. Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 Wk 8: Editing Audio and Mise-en-scene 1. Editing Audio in Premiere: Track-laying and Sound Design Exercise Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 09 Wk 9: Editing Audio and Mise-en-scene 2. Using Sound Effects, Clip Track, Sub-mixing and Mixing Premier Exercise Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 10 Wk 10: Contemporary aesthetics and Editing Techniques. Colour Balancing and Colour Grading Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 11 Wk 11: Breaking the Rules: MTV Aesthetics. Visual Effects, Keying and Masking In Class Final Project Editing, Screening and Feedback Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Wk 12: In Class Final Project Editing Session 1, Screening and Feedback Title, Credits and Exporting Media Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Wk 13: In Class Final Project Editing Session 2, Screening and Feedback Title, Credits and Exporting Media Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Additional requirements from Sydney College of the Arts

  • Students must attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for this unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Unit Coordinator.
  • All assignments are compulsory and must be attempted. 
  • You must attend scheduled assessments to be eligible to pass. Non-attendance at assessment on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Optional Readings

Dancyger, Ken. The Technique of Film and Video Editing : History, Theory, and Practice. Fifth edition. New York ;: Focal Press, 2013. Web.

Available online

Hullfish, Steve. Art of the Cut : Conversations with Film and TV Editors. New York: Routledge, 2017. Print.

Available online

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

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. conceive, plan and realise a 2-3 minute work that demonstrates competency in the use of Adobe Premiere Pro
  • LO2. critically analyse and problem solve through the production process of video editing
  • LO3. demonstrate appropriate and proficient use of Adobe Premiere Pro
  • LO4. critically evaluate aesthetics, information & narratives in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner
  • LO5. critically understand a range of different approaches to moving image practice and engage with related theoretical and cultural debates.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assessment tasks have been slightly modified in response to student feedback.

Please note this unit uses Adobe Creative suite as the primary editing software, not Final Cut pro.

In this class, you will use Adobe Software called Creative Cloud Suite (CC suite). You will be able to access this software at a reduced price through the university. The software we use as part of this suite is called Premier Pro. The suite also gives you access to Photoshop, After Effects, Audition, and a whole host of other animation, desktop publishing, design, and web design applications.

We recommend that you use your own external hard drive to work with during the semester, where you will store your media and editing work

Additional costs

It is recommended that you purchase the Adobe Creative Cloud through the university at a reduced cost compared to Adobe Student. (more information on Canvas).

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.