CUFDRT604A - Devise camera coverage

CUFDRT604A
Devise camera coverage

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop camera coverage of scenes for a screen production for film, television and interactive media.The unit describes the skills and knowledge required by directors to interpret and use key elements of scripts or shot plans as the basis for devising camera coverage for relatively large-scale productions. These could include feature films, short films or television dramas.A high level of creativity and innovative thinking is required, since a director's role is to establish the big picture view for productions and to create a sense of overall unity within productions. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application

To arrive at a final camera plan, directors need to work closely with other creative and production personnel such as directors of photography, designers, and camera and lighting operators. In the final analysis, directors may be answerable to a producer, but they often perform both roles.

Devising camera coverage is an important pre-production activity that relies on strong creative skills in visual story-telling and a sound knowledge of the technical aspects of productions.

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Interpret creative brief.	1.1. Analyse available documentation to determine creative and technical criteria for productions. 1.2. Participate in preliminary concept meetings with relevant production personnel to discuss potential production requirements. 1.3. Identify factors that may determine and affect camera plans and coverage design. 1.4. Generate a range of preliminary ideas for camera coverage that responds sympathetically to the brief and provides creative solutions to creative and technical criteria. 1.5. Discuss and refine ideas with relevant production personnel until a workable approach emerges.
2. Identify camera coverage requirements.	2.1. Identify and analyse source references that may enhance camera coverage decisions. 2.2. Identify basic structural camera shots for realisation of scenes and investigate their potential for achieving narrative outcomes. 2.3. Ensure camera coverage is appropriate to contextual and stylistic requirements. 2.4. Evaluate and verify ideas in collaboration with relevant production personnel to determine the viability of proposed concepts. 2.5. Prepare effective documentation for use by relevant production personnel for analysis and interpretation.
3. Develop camera coverage plans.	3.1. Develop camera coverage that addresses all visual and narrative aspects of production requirements. 3.2. Ensure camera coverage enables narrative to be controlled and carried forward throughout the production. 3.3. Organise or undertake testing and experimentation with draft camera plan to verify photographic qualities. 3.4. Produce work within the agreed timeframes together with accurate documentation.
4. Finalise camera coverage plans.	4.1. Present draft camera plan and specifications to relevant production personnel in an appropriate format. 4.2. Negotiate and agree to acceptable modifications to creative and technical criteria and amend camera plan as necessary. 4.3. Agree to final plans and produce accurate and comprehensive documentation to support implementation. 4.4. Present final plans and specifications to relevant production personnel and confirm that all production requirements have been met.

Required Skills

Required skills

well-developed communication and teamwork skills in the context of:

liaising with a wide range of production staff

communicating effectively as a team member, including demonstrating leadership qualities

seeking and responding to creative ideas and suggestions from others

negotiating solutions to problems and conflicts that arise during the process of devising camera coverage

high level of initiative, enterprise and creativity in the context of:

demonstrating original and innovative approaches to using and organising cinematographic elements

interpreting creative objectives of a range of screen productions

demonstrating originality and innovative approaches to creative processes

being open to a wide range of ideas and approaches to devising camera coverage

balancing creative and technical requirements

experimenting with accepted narrative conventions and elements

determining how the story can be carried forward from one scene to the next and throughout the entire production

planning, organising and literacy skills in the context of:

analysing complex outlines and scripts to inform decision making and planning

undertaking background research to enhance understanding and appreciation of production contexts

documenting camera plans and other work requirements

self-management and learning skills sufficient to:

locate and use resources to broaden own creative experience

work under pressure to tight deadlines

evaluate own contribution to creative solutions

technical skills sufficient to use standard word processing and spreadsheet applications in preparing documentation in relation to devising camera coverage

numeracy skills sufficient to make decisions that take account of budgetary constraints and production timings.

Required knowledge

typical ways of documenting camera plans

OHS standards as they apply to directing screen productions

sound understanding of key elements relevant in devising camera coverage, including:

features of a range of cameras and accessories

lighting techniques and lighting equipment

cinematic and editing conventions, including framing techniques and shot composition

cinematography

set design

industry knowledge, including:

roles and responsibilities of personnel in the screen and media production industry

impact of technology on production and post-production operations

issues and challenges that arise in devising camera coverage

conventions and practices of directing for the screen

broad historical and cultural context for types of productions relevant to area of work

techniques used to realise visual narrative from written narrative

visual story-telling techniques.

Evidence Required


The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Evidence of the following is essential: preparation of camera plans that demonstrate a knowledge of: techniques used to realise visual narratives from written narratives camera properties and functions lighting techniques collaborative approach to work effective communication techniques in the context of involving creative and production personnel in the development of camera plans.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment must ensure: practical demonstration of skills through the preparation of at least two camera plans for different types of screen productions access to production documentation from which to develop camera plans and coverage access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required the use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
Method of assessment	The following assessment method is appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance evaluation of a selection of camera plans and coverage prepared to determine candidate's understanding of the process used to devise camera coverage written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit.
Guidance information for assessment	Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUFDRT601A Establish the creative vision for screen productions CUFDRT603A Direct screen production crews CUFDRT605A Collaborate with editors during post-production.

Range Statement


The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Documentation may include:	computer-assisted design (CAD) programs design plans, including sets and costumes desktop video photoboards production management software production plans, including lighting and sound scripts shot plans storyboard and animation software video.
Creative and technical criteria may include:	artistic camera angles climate compositional elements depth of frame dialogue staging information management systems interior or exterior line of action live or prerecorded location period seasons size of shots, including various framing heights staging action sequences style time of day.
Productions may include:	advertisements/commercials animations documentaries feature films interactive multimedia promotional presentations short films television series and serials training videos.
Production personnel may include:	assistant directors cinematographers designers, including: lighting sound sets costume directors directors of photography editors floor managers performers producers production managers script writers other technical/specialist staff.
Production requirements may include:	budget codes of practice confidentiality content contractual copyright deadlines duration genre of production intellectual property location purpose schedule style, including: method approach fashion mode way of presenting things a manner of exhibiting characteristics
Factors may include:	availability of personnel availability of resources available budget delivery platform genre intellectual property production schedule production values target audience timelines type of production.
Camera plan may include:	action descriptions blocking camera angle camera movement camera position choice of lens costume and props detail dialogue and notes lighting details location detail mise en scene size of shot sketches staging of shot sub-text.
Source references may include:	adapted or original scripts collages digital images film and video internet models musical scores paintings and illustrations photographs reference books, journals and texts sketches technical production drawings writings of the period.
Camera shots may include:	camera movement - tilting, panning, dollying, zooming in and out, and tracking in and out close-up, extreme close-up crab crane rigs cutaway shot establishing or master shot eye level shot high angle low angle mid shot, long shot overhead shot physical relocations and movement point of view shot wide shot.
Photographic qualities of the mise en scene may include:	action actors costumes dialogue lighting location narrative function of shot props set time of day.

Sectors

Unit sector

Media and entertainment production - directing

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.

Licensing Information

Not applicable.