Media Arts (Elective)

“Thinking cannot be clear till it has had expression. We must write, or speak, or act our thoughts, or they will remain in a half torpid form. Our feelings must have expression, or they will be as clouds, which, till they descend as rain, will never bring up fruit or flower. So it is with the inward feelings; expression gives them development.” Henry Ward Beecher

Overview

In this unit, students will be analysing how films are developed and created; from the planning stages through to final production. The focus of this unit will centre around the development of the Disney Pixar group, through a study of their short films and subsequent development of animation techniques. Students will gain the ability to create media texts for a variety of audiences, presenting ideas and values in their productions. Students will be introduced to the basics of digital photography including composition and exposure and will learn to communicate story through a series of images. Students will have the opportunity to create their own media products, including short introductory video productions and will begin to develop a digital folio consisting of media products in their various forms. This unit is designed to introduce students to Media terminology and skills required for further Media studies in subsequent years.

Aims

• To understand and use appropriate arts language related to media productions
• To produce photographic work which convey appropriate ideas and values
• To develop skills in problem solving and working collaboratively to create media products
• To understand and follow the correct safety procedures for using digital photographic/video equipment
• To begin to compare, analyse, evaluate and interpret the content, meaning and qualities in media works created in different social, cultural and historical contexts
• To give students a practical experience of working with others to produce a media product from pre-production through to post-production and distribution
• To develop an ability to discuss their own and others’ use of media elements, principles and/or conventions, skills, genres, techniques, processes, equipment and technologies

Topics include

• Digital Photography
• Video Production
• Film Analysis
• The Development of Animation

Time Allocation

• 5 periods per cycle
• This unit is offered in both Semester 1 and 2

Prerequisites

• None

Requirements

• Minimum 8GB SD card
• Levy Cost

Assessment

• Film analysis / Commentary tasks
• Camera Techniques Project
• Filmmaking Exercises
• Stop Motion Animation
• Major Production

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yetno one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11