[This is a 3-credit Common Core Microcredentials course focused on transdisciplinary project-based learning in a highly compressed format.]

• CCMCs are optional, i.e. whether or not you take CCMCs (in place of one standard 6-credit CC course) for fulfilling the UG5(c) Common Core requirements, is at your discretion. However, if you opt to take CCMCs, you must take TWO of them, not more or less.
• Students who have been granted Advanced Standing / Credit Transfer / Course Exemption / Internal Transfer for Common Core courses in their current programme are NOT eligible.
• For students who have successfully completed two 3-credit CCMCs in place of one 6-credit Comon Core course, the average grade point of the two CCMCs will be treated as the grade point of a 6-credit Common Core course for calculation of Graduation GPA under the Common Core Special Proviso.

Course Description

Short films are here to stay. From music videos to social media trends, reels to simple GIFs – ultimately, short films have successfully altered our daily life. This course investigates how short films are fun, yet fruitful visual tools to challenge our thoughts. Based on our matured film production processes; students will work in groups of 2-5 to produce a motion picture project between 1-3-minute length (depending on their chosen technique). Relevant tricks and tips will be discussed in class, all groups will be guided by customised consultation sessions called Cinema Intensive Care Units (CICUs) to further enhance students’ visual communication skills and to provide a comfortable learning environment for experiments with visual ideas. Students will thereby test avant-garde film techniques and learn about interesting ways to make a rememberable short film. Encouragement is laid on techniques such as stop-motion, collage, or short essay films with the newest software’s and available tools such as Photogrammetry and CGI animation. In our closing session, students act as film critics in a film screening setting with an online peer review form followed Q&A to reflect, but especially interact with learned and explored film skills. Prior film making skills are beneficial but not required.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Analyze the dynamics behind short film productions to appreciate their visual communicative abilities
2. Extract and examine different visual techniques in order to communicate their own visual story.
3. Apply new techniques and experiment with different visual tools.
4. Produce a short film on a previously discussed topic.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

Summer semester
Lecture
10:30 am – 6:20 pm on Jun 30, Jul 2, 3, 4, 5
Tutorial
10:30 am – 6:20 pm on Jul 4