Audiovisual techniques: preproduction, filming and post-production

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Fanny Pluymers, Dick Tomasovic

Coordinator

Fanny Pluymers

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

If a student fails an examination during the first term:

• They may only resit the assessed subject during the third term (August-September).

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The Audiovisual Techniques course provides a general introduction to the various techniques that make up the contemporary audiovisual landscape, covering the stages between the point at which a project already exists (screenplay, journalistic investigation, etc.) and its preparation for distribution.

The following topics will be covered:

• Pre-production techniques: script breakdown, shot listing, casting direction, location scouting;
• Image acquisition techniques: different types of video sensors, recording formats, frame rates, exposure, lenses, and shooting aids;
• Lighting techniques: basic properties of light, functions and positions of light sources, and different lighting technologies;
• Sound techniques: audio sampling, recording formats, different microphone technologies, and synchronization;
• Editing techniques: non-linear editing and basic proficiency in DaVinci Resolve editing tools;
• Mixing techniques: basic proficiency in DaVinci Resolve audio mixing tools;
• Color grading techniques: basic proficiency in DaVinci Resolve color grading tools.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The aim of the course is to grasp the fundamental notions of sound and video image techniques in today's digital and IT environment in order to build foundational skills with the audiovisual tools. This will enable students to successfully complete the audiovisual projects proposed in the Masters and to quickly become operational during internships.

At the end of this course, students will be able to :

• organise a fiction or non-fiction shoot;
• evaluate the technical needs of an audiovisual project;
• make relevant technical choices relating to the specific features of an audiovisual project;
• use professional audiovisual equipment: cameras used in manual mode, lenses, tripods, lamps of different technologies, sound recorders, microphones and post-production software.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The Audiovisual Techniques course builds on certain basic concepts covered in the Forms and Languages of Cinema course, such as shot sizes, camera angles, the 180-degree rule, and point of audition.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

• Ex cathedra theory sessions. The theoretical material is introduced shortly before it is applied in the practical work. Students are therefore strongly advised to attend classes in order to avoid falling behind in the progress of their practical work.
• Practical sessions introducing students to the use of audiovisual equipment. Attendance at these sessions is mandatory; students who do not attend are not permitted to borrow LICAM equipment. Video tutorials available online allow students to continue familiarizing themselves with the equipment provided.

• PRE-PRODUCTION / Shot breakdown: each group produces two versions of the shot breakdown for the sequence. The first aims to reconstruct the shot breakdown of the original sequence. The second aims to prepare the shooting of the remake by adapting these choices to the group's own production conditions. This work allows students to apply the theoretical concepts covered in class and forms an integral part of the assessment of the remake.
• PRE-PRODUCTION / Casting: each group organizes a casting session in order to meet actors for the main roles in their remake. Group members may not perform roles in their own remake, and people they already know may not be used for the main roles outside the casting process.
• SHOOTING: filming is carried out independently, at locations scouted in advance.
• POST-PRODUCTION: each group completes the various stages of post-production at LICAM. Individual pedagogical supervision introduces students to editing, audio mixing, color grading, and titling. If a group wishes to carry out part of the post-production work at home, it must inform the course instructor before beginning this work so that regular check-ins can be organized throughout the different stages of the process.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face-to-face course

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus

Other site(s) used for course materials
- OneDrive (www.onedrive.live.com)


Further information:

eCampus

• Course slides (PDF);
• Videos shown during class (links);
• Video tutorials (links);
• Audiovisual Techniques Course Guide (PDF);
• Regulations and procedures of the University of Liège audiovisual laboratories (PDF);
• Student peer-support forum.

• A private working folder for each production group, accessible to all group members and to the course instructor.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Further information:

The course assessment consists of two parts: theory and practical work.

The theoretical component consists of a written examination comprising open-ended questions (June examination period). It assesses students' understanding of the technical concepts and terminology covered in the course, as well as their ability to apply what they have learned independently. Students must be able to identify the technical issues involved in an audiovisual situation, draw on the appropriate tools and concepts, and justify their choices.

The practical component consists of the production, in groups of three or four students, of a 3- to 5-minute remake of a film sequence, using professional technical equipment approved by the course instructor. This work is accompanied by a shot breakdown (DT), produced in two versions.

The grade for the practical component is a group grade. It is therefore essential that the workload be distributed fairly. Each student must actively participate in the three main stages: pre-production, shooting, and post-production. If this requirement is not met, the grade for the remake may be assigned individually.

• Version 1 of the shot breakdown accounts for 5% of the practical grade.
• Version 2 of the shot breakdown accounts for 5% of the practical grade. Together, the two versions account for 10% of the practical grade and are assessed as part of the January examination period. In the event of a failing grade, this assessment cannot be retaken during the June examination period. It may, however, be retaken during the August examination period.
• The remake must be submitted via OneDrive no later than 2 April at 6:00 p.m. The assessment criteria for the remake include framing, exposure, lighting, sound recording, audio mixing, editing, color grading, and the overall effect of the sequence. This component accounts for 80% of the practical grade.
• The course also aims to teach students how to interact professionally with audiovisual laboratories. Compliance with the procedures and regulations of the audiovisual laboratories is assessed and accounts for 10% of the practical grade.

Work placement(s)

n/a

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The practical work for the Audiovisual Techniques course requires the use of audiovisual equipment that allows manual control of the main technical parameters and meets professional quality standards.

The University's audiovisual laboratories (LICAM and the Grand Poste Media Campus) provide students with the necessary audiovisual resources.

To access these resources, students must follow the registration procedure for users of the audiovisual laboratories and comply with the audiovisual laboratories' regulations. In the event of non-compliance with these regulations, the laboratory managers reserve the right to suspend or revoke the user's access to the resources.

Further information is available on eCampus.

Contacts

Audiovisual Techniques Course

Course instructor: Fanny Pluymers / fanny.pluymers@uliege.be

Student teaching assistant: Félicien Gaspard / felicien.gaspard@student.uliege.be

 

LICAM

Head of LICAM: Fanny Pluymers / fanny.pluymers@uliege.be / 04 366 53 11

Teaching supervisor, audio mixing specialist: Alexandre Boulet / a.boulet@uliege.be

Teaching supervisor, video editing specialist: Giacomo Boucart / gboucart@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs