VCE MEDIA
Unit 3: Narrative and media production design
Overview of study design
"In this unit students develop an understanding of film, television or radio drama production and story elements, and learn to recognise the role and significance of narrative organisation in fictional film, television or radio drama texts. Students examine how production and story elements work together to structure meaning in narratives to engage audiences. Students also develop practical skills through undertaking exercises related to aspects of the design and production process. They complete a media production design plan for a specific media form and audience. They present the relevant specifications as a written planning document, with visual representations that employ media planning conventions appropriate to the media form in which the student chooses to work." (VCAA, 2012)
Hayley Duyn, Unit 3 Pie chart, 2015
Assessment for Media includes a School-assessed Task. In which, the student’s level of performance in achieving Outcomes 2 and 3 within Unit 3, and also Outcome 1 in Unit 4 will be assessed through a School-assessed Task." (VCAA 2012)
Area of Study 1
Narrative
VCE Study Design
Description
Narrative In this area of study students analyse the narrative organisation of fictional film, television or radio drama texts. They undertake the study of at least two texts in the same media form.
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse the nature and function of production
and story elements in narrative media texts, and discuss the impact of these elements on audience
engagement.
Key knowledge
• the relationships between a text, its audiences, its consumption and reception, including how audiences read and are engaged by fictional narratives
• the nature and function of and relationship between production elements in fictional media narrative, including: – camera techniques, technologies and qualities for film and television or technologies and qualities for radio – lighting – mise-en-scene – acting – sound – editing of vision and sound for film and television or editing of sound for radio
• the nature and function of and relationships between story elements in fictional media narrative, including: – the opening, development and resolution of the narrative – cause and effect – establishment and development of and relationships between characters – point/s of view from which the narrative is presented – the function of setting in the narrative – the relationship between multiple storylines – the structuring of time and its impact on narrative progression
• the relationship between texts and the genre/s, styles and techniques they may reference
• the interrelationship between production and story elements in the narrative organisation of fictional narratives to structure and communicate ideas
• appropriate media language and terminology.
Key skills
• identify and discuss the nature and function of production and story elements
• compare and contrast the function of and interrelationship between production and story elements across different fictional media texts
• analyse how production and story elements are read by audiences and contribute to narrative organisation and meaning
• use appropriate media language and terminology.
Area of study 2
Media production skills
VCE Study Design
Description
This area of study focuses on the development of specific media production skills and technical competencies using media technologies and processes in one or more media forms. Students plan, undertake and evaluate two production exercises to develop skills appropriate to the technical equipment, applications and media processes available to them. Each media production exercise is accompanied by a statement of intention and an evaluation specific to the exercise. Through the completion of production exercises, students develop an understanding of the possibilities and limitations of production equipment, processes and applications; acquire skills to enable the use of specific media technologies; and explore aesthetic and structural qualities and characteristics of media products in media forms. Students’ production skills inform the development of their media production design plan and the subsequent media production developed in Unit 4. Students document their planning and evaluation processes, and use this information to support the development of their media production design plan in Outcome 3.
Key knowledge
• media production design techniques and practices appropriate to a media product and/or forms
• the possibilities and limitations of a range of technical equipment, applications and media processes
• aesthetic and structural qualities and characteristics of media products
• methods for research and planning to support media production skills
• methods for evaluation and presentation of information
• appropriate media language and terminology.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the student should be able to use a range of technical equipment, applications and media processes and evaluate the capacity of these to present ideas, achieve effects and explore aesthetic qualities in media forms.
Key skills
• explore how media design and production techniques present ideas and achieve particular effects
• investigate capacities of technical equipment, applications and media processes to present ideas and achieve particular effects
• explore aesthetic and structural qualities and characteristics of a media product
• operate technical equipment, use applications and apply media processes to develop skills
• evaluate the function of technical equipment, applications and media processes in the presentation of ideas and achievement of particular effects
• document processes using appropriate media language and terminology
Area of Study 3
Media production design
VCE Study Design
Description
In this area of study students focus on the preparation of a production design plan for a media product designed for a specific audience in a selected media form. The design of a media production is an essential creative and organisational stage of the production process. Students develop and record concepts and ideas for production, documenting the intention of the proposed production, the audience/s for which the production is planned, how and where the production is designed to be consumed, and the intended effects on the specified audience. Media production design planning also details written and visual representations of the proposed production, including technical specifications appropriate to the selected media form, style and intention of the production. The design planning process varies from medium to medium, with each employing planning conventions specific to the proposed production and form and with consideration of the specified audience.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to prepare and document a media production design plan in a selected media form for a specified audience.
Key knowledge
• media preproduction processes, including: – methods of research to support the selected media form, style and/or genre, codes and conventions – methods for concept development for an individual or a distinctive media product
– strategies to identify the function and purpose of the proposed product
– ways an audience may consume and be engaged by a media product and strategies to identify audience characteristics
• media preproduction design processes, practices and techniques, including: – conventions of written planning documentation and visual representations appropriate to the intended product form, audience and purpose
– codes and conventions specific to the media form, product, style and/or genre, audience and purpose
– production and postproduction processes, techniques and practices appropriate to the proposed production.
Key Skills
• research and evaluate possibilities for an individual or a distinctive media production
• apply media preproduction processes, techniques and practices
• use media preproduction conventions specific to the media form, product, style and/or genre, audience and purpose of the proposed production
• produce a media production design plan in a selected media form for a specific audience and purpose.