Sheridan Course Outlines

ANIM53382
Visual Effects and Pre-Production

I: Administrative Information II: Course Details III: Topical Outline(s) Printable Version Public

Section I: Administrative Information

Credit Value: 6.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Fall 2008
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents: N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Course Name (short): Vis Effects & Pre-Production
School: All Sheridan Schools
Program(s): Comp Animation-Dig Vis Eff
Program Coordinator(s): Mark Simon
Course Leader or Contact: Richard Cohen
Originator: Paulette Geffros
Designate: Paulette Geffros
Version: 2.02
Status: Approved (APPR)

Calendar Description
Pre-production is the foundation on which successful visual effects projects are built. Students gain knowledge of the progression from pre digital practical special effects to digital visual effects.

Typical Instructional Format

Lecture	28.0
Seminar	56.0
Total hours:	84.0

Courses may be offered in other formats.

Section I Notes: N/A

Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
Pre-production is the foundation on which successful visual effects projects are built. Students gain knowledge of the progression from pre digital practical special effects to digital visual effects. Students develop the knowledge and skills required to create pre- production materials. This includes shot breakdowns, storyboarding, scheduling, budgeting, animatic and producing background plates. Through in class exercises, mentoring, projects, and guest lecturers students reinforce these concepts.

Program Context

Comp Animation-Dig Vis Eff

Program Coordinator: Mark Simon

This is a required course in the Computer Animation- Digital Visual Effects Program. The knowledge and skills gained in this course allow students to organize the foundational material for completing the capstone project on time and budget.

Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

 Critical Performance

By the end of this course, students will have demonstrated the 
ability to create the pre-production materials for effects in film 
and video. 

Learning Outcomes

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to:
       
1. Discuss the evolution from historical practical to current digital
   visual effects. 
2. Identify landmarks of digital visual effects in film.
3. Discuss the preproduction pipeline.
4. Complete shot breakdown.
5. Produce storyboard.
6. Produce visual effects schedule and budget.
7. Produce an animatic.
8. Produce the plates for the capstone project
9. Work independently and collaboratively to complete the 
   pre-production materials in the allotted time.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Shot breakdown and critique                15%  (week 5)
Schedule and budget and critique           15%  (week 7)
Storyboard and critique                    20% (week 9)
Plates                                     15% (week 10)
Animatic and critique                      15% (week 12)
2 quizzes @ 10% each                       20% (week 3 and 13)
Total:                                    100%

Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requirements:

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

X	Communication	X	Critical Thinking & Problem Solving		Interpersonal
	Numeracy	X	Information Management		Personal

Notes: N/A

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact: Mark Simon
Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous life and work experiences. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam	Portfolio	Interview	Other	Not Eligible for PLAR
	X	X		X

Notes: N/A

Section III: Topical Outline

Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Effective term: Fall 2008
Professor: Richard Cohen
Textbook(s):

N/A

Applicable student group(s): Students of Computer Animation - Digital Visual Effects
Course Details:

Module 1:  
Historical practical effects and digital visual effects (Week 1 - 3)

Targeted learning outcomes: 1 and 2

Topics:
Practical effects
Hybrid effects
Digital visual effects

Assignment:
Quiz 1		10% (week 3)


Module 2:  Pre-production (Week 4 - 14)

Targeted learning outcomes: 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, 8 and 9

Topics:
Pre-production pipeline overview
Shot breakdown
Storyboard
Schedule and budget
Animatic
Workshop on camera and lighting fundamentals
Weekly review and critique

Assignment:  
Shot breakdown and critique        15%  (week 5)
Schedule and budget and critique   15%  (week 7)
Storyboard and critique            20% (week 9)
Plates                             15% (week 10)
Animatic and critique              15% (week 12)
2 quizzes @ 10% each               20% (week 3 and 13)
Total:                             100%

Academic Honesty
The principle of academic honesty requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original, unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the faculty member, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Instances of academic dishonesty, including assisting another student to cheat, will be penalized as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic honesty are advised to discuss them with the faculty member prior to submitting the assignment in question.

Discrimination and Harassment
Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that respects the dignity, self esteem and fair treatment of every person engaged in the learning process. Behaviour which is inconsistent with this principle will not be tolerated. Details of Sheridan's policy on Harassment and Discrimination are available in the Student Handbook.

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