Studio Practice (Visual Effects) courses are built around individually negotiated semester-long projects using the tools and techniques of digital visual effects. The course is based on the practice-led pedagogy employed by the School of Art. This 12 unit course allows students to carry out a focussed, creative,  research project which will develop and demonstrate professional level conceptual and technical skills of relevance to the visual effects industry.

At the completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Plan and manage a small scale studio based investigation in visual effects

2. develop an experimental and analytical methodology relevant to the special effects profession

3. advance initial ideas using studio and allied research methods

4. reflect critically on their own work

5. articulate an investigation's key concerns and reference points

6. deomstrate a professioanal level of control of skills and techniques used in the visual effects industry

Visual Effects Studio Practice Plan: 10% (800 - 1200wds) [LO 1,2]

Studio Practice Project: 70% [LO1,2,3,6]

Studio Journal and critical reflection: 20% (reflection: 2000wds) [LO 3,4,5]

In order to complete the Course you need to pass in the Studio Practice Course Project. The Critical Reflection analyses and evaluates the project and relates it to its contextual framework. It should provide the viewers/assessors with a detailed account of what has informed the Studio Practice work and its technical, professional, historical, and theoretical frame of reference.

Studio Practice (Visual Effects) courses are conducted at the School of Art. Students are expected to spend up to 8 hours per week undertaking the approved Studio Practice project and attend relevant seminars and critiques as specified. Students are also expected to spend up to 12 hours per week on reading and research,  or on other visual and theoretical research.

None

Students are expected to have competence in the processes and techniques of the digital environement, and a familiarity with digital cameras and recording equipment.

Brinkmann, R. The Art and Science of Digital Compositing, Morgan Kaufmann, 1999

Watkinson, John, The Art of Digital Video, Oxford: Focal Press, Third edition 2000.

Youngblood, Gene. Expanded Cinema, New York: Dutton; (1st ed.) edition, 1970

Hall, Doug  & Fifer, Sally Jo (eds.), Illuminating Video : An Essential Guide to Video Art, San Francisco: Aperture 1991

Shaw, Jeffrey  & Weibel, Peter  (eds.), Future Cinema: The Cinematic Imaginary after Film, Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press, 2003

Students need access to a computer and the internet, as well as an external hard drive.  Students working off campus need broadband connection, a digital camera and access to Skype.