Elements of Film Production
- Social Sciences
- 100 level
- 2 credit units
- 94 pages
- 9 units
This course, Elements of Film Production, is designed for students studying to acquire a B.Sc. in Film Production. It is divided into 3 Modules and 10 Study Units. It aims to give students a strong professional background on the principles, materials, techniques, and technologies for visual design in film productions. The course simplifies and explains the elements of design, colours and space, and makes it possible for students to understand the processes for simple set design, prop-making, special effects, costume, makeup and graphics in film production.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Study hours
- 150 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, practical
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of FMC116, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
FMC116 · UNIT 2: UNDERSTANDING COLOURS
Line is an element of art used to draw or define shape, contours, and outlines and to also suggest mass and volume. A line may be a continuous mark made on a surface with a pointed tool or implied by the edges of shapes and forms of an object.
What you should be able to do
- Understand the principles of visual design.
- Apply colour theory in film production.
- Design simple sets and props.
- Explain the roles of special effects, costumes, and makeup in film production.
- Differentiate between animation and graphics.
- Apply the elements of design to create visual elements in film production
What it prepares you for
- Production Designer
- Art Director
- Set Designer
- Costume Designer
- Makeup Artist
- Special Effects Artist
- Animator
- Graphic Designer
- Film Industry
- Television Industry
- Theatre
- Advertising
- Video Game Design
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Types and Uses of Special Effects.
Unit 2: Making And Using Your Own Blood Squib For Special Effects
Requires practical skills in creating a realistic blood effect, including mixing colours and rigging the squib.
- Module 3: Introduction to Costume and Makeup.
Unit 2: The Nature Of Makeup For Performance
Requires understanding of human anatomy and artistic skills to effectively alter facial features.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 89 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Introduction to Principles of Visual Design
Unit 1: Elements of Design · 5 hours
Read the introduction to design.. Understand the elements of design.. Understand how the elements are used together to produce pleasing designs..
- Week 2Module 1: Introduction to Principles of Visual Design
Unit 2: Understanding colours · 7 hours
Understand the colour wheel.. Learn about primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.. Mix different colours.. Understand colour symbolism..
- Week 3Module 1: Introduction to Principles of Visual Design
Unit 2: Understanding colours · 7 hours
Continue mixing colours.. Experiment with colour application on different surfaces.. Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment on colour application..
- Week 4Module 1: Introduction to Principles of Visual Design
Unit 3: Understanding Set Design · 7 hours
Understand the concept of a film production set.. Learn about set construction materials like plywood flats.. Study safety and security measures in set construction..
- Week 5Module 1: Introduction to Principles of Visual Design
Unit 3: Understanding Set Design · 7 hours
Continue studying set construction techniques.. Plan a set.. Draft a budget for set design.. Apply colour to the constructed set..
- Week 6Module 2: Types and Uses of Special Effects.
Unit 1: What Are Special Effects In Film Production? · 7 hours
Understand what special effects are.. Learn about the use of special effects in film production.. Study mechanical and optical effects.. Learn about green screen technology..
- Week 7Module 2: Types and Uses of Special Effects.
Unit 2: Making And Using Your Own Blood Squib For Special Effects · 7 hours
Learn how to make a simple blood squib.. Understand how a basic blood squib works.. Use a prop gun, blood squib, and costume to achieve a gunshot special effect..
- Week 8Module 2: Types and Uses of Special Effects.
Unit 3: Introduction To Animation · 7 hours
Understand what animation is.. Know the types of animation.. Understand how animation is done..
- Week 9Module 2: Types and Uses of Special Effects.
Unit 4: Understanding Graphic Design · 7 hours
What is Graphic Design?. The Computer as Tool for Graphic Design. The Graphic Design Layout. Arranging Typography, Images and Space in Graphic Design.
- Week 10Module 3: Introduction to Costume and Makeup.
Unit 1: Understanding Costume In Productions · 7 hours
Costumes in Filmmaking. The Costume Designer. The Role of a Costume Designer. Skills Required of a Costume Designer. Designing Costumes for Film Production.
- Week 11Module 3: Introduction to Costume and Makeup.
Unit 2: The Nature Of Makeup For Performance · 7 hours
Makeup in Filmmaking. Makeup in Character Establishment. Special Effects Make-up (FX Makeup). Skills Required of a Makeup Designer.
- Week 12Module 3: Introduction to Costume and Makeup.
Unit 3: Understanding Props In Productions · 7 hours
What is a Prop in Filmmaking?. Common Types of Props. The Importance of Props in Film Production. How to Construct a Movie Prop.
- Week 13Module 1: Introduction to Principles of Visual Design
Final Revision · 7 hours
Revise all TMAs. Prepare for final examinations.
Preparing for the exam
- Review the elements of design (Unit 1) and create visual examples for each.
- Practice colour mixing techniques from Unit 2 and understand the emotional impact of different colour palettes.
- Study set design principles (Unit 3) and sketch potential set layouts for various film genres.
- Understand the differences between mechanical and optical special effects (Module 3, Unit 1).
- Master the steps for creating a blood squib (Module 3, Unit 2) and understand safety precautions.
- Compare and contrast different animation techniques (Module 3, Unit 3) and their applications.
- Review the principles of graphic design (Module 3, Unit 4) and analyze effective film posters.
- Understand the role of costume in character development (Module 4, Unit 1) and analyze costume choices in famous films.
- Study makeup techniques for different character types (Module 4, Unit 2) and practice basic makeup application.
- Review the different types of props (Module 5, Unit 1) and their significance in storytelling.
Questions students ask about this course
What is FMC116 about?
This course, Elements of Film Production, is designed for students studying to acquire a B.Sc. in Film Production. It is divided into 3 Modules and 10 Study Units. It aims to give students a strong professional background on the principles, materials, techniques, and technologies for visual design in film productions. The course simplifies and explains the elements of design, colours and space, and makes it possible for students to understand the processes for simple set design, prop-making, special effects, costume, makeup and graphics in film production.
How many units does FMC116 have?
FMC116, Elements of Film Production, has 9 units across 3 modules, over 94 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is FMC116?
FMC116 carries 2 credit units, at 100 level in Social Sciences.
Is FMC116 hard?
FMC116 is rated beginner level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and practical work, and it has a practical component.
How long does FMC116 take to study?
About 150 hours of study, spread across its 9 units.
How is FMC116 assessed?
FMC116 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with FMC116?
Production Designer, Art Director, Set Designer, Costume Designer, Makeup Artist, Special Effects Artist, Animator and Graphic Designer.