THE ART OF VISUAL STORY TELLING - 2023/4

Module Overview

Behind every great advertisement, computer game, film, television programme, web episode, is a great story. As humans, we love stories – listening, reading, telling – we absorb them every day to learn about ourselves and to understand the world around us. What makes visual media so compelling is its ability to communicate this efficiently and effectively - sometimes one camera shot is all you need.

During this module, we will explore storytelling and how to create enjoyable stories. We will discuss how this can be visually expressed using filmmaking grammar and basic film/television terminology. We will look at visual communications tools and how they can be used to help create a great story. This module will give you a strong foundation in visual narratives and will underpin many creative projects you undertake during your degree.

 

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

PRATT Susan (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Introduction to screenwriting and story structure for moving image media


• Characters and archetypes


• Visual narrative


• Genres – creating moods with lighting, colour, music, locations, tempo/pacing etc.


• Camera shots/angles/lenses


• Frame composition


• Storyboards and animatics


• Intro to editing and postproduction using Adobe Premiere and other tools

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to give students the opportunity to show their understanding of moving image narrative, using their knowledge of camera composition and it effects, the lighting and sound and the pace of the production. Feedback on initial scripts and coursework offers opportunities for refinement and improvement on the brief in readiness for the later submission.

The assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework  – Screen Play (25%)


• Coursework  – storayboard (25%)


• Coursework- Animatic ( 50%)

• The module includes class assignments covering the production skills required for each of the briefs.


• Continuous formative assessment is given through timetabled group critiques and individual tutorials. Work-in-progress presented will be given direct feedback regarding its quality and standard at these times.


• During the seminar sessions held the week prior to submission of assessed works, students are given individualised technical support and immediate feedback on their works in progress.

Module aims

• To provide a framework for developing an idea into a short narrative scene.
• To understand issues that arise out of the creation of fictional scenarios.
• Develop skills to produce a narrative framework.
• Introduce camera language and terms; their use and narrative meaning.
• Introduce pre-production techniques to visualise the final media structure.
• Introduce tempo, continuity grammar and pace.
• To gain an understanding of the importance of organisation and time management.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The assessment strategy is designed to give students the opportunity to show their understanding of moving image narrative, and how camera composition, effects, lighting, sound and pace have on overall tone and mood of a filmed sequence. The initial coursework will cumulatively build the student’s experience and knowledge, applying lessons learnt in each iteration. The final piece of coursework will develop these skills further in the form of an edited and timed animatic.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures


• Hands-on instruction 


• Workshops


• Critiques and individual tutorials


• Class assignments

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: DMA1009

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.