Video Production Diploma Program

Welcome to the world of video production. Familiarize yourself with the terminology, roles, camera equipment, lighting, and shooting techniques of video production, along with directing techniques for scripted and unscripted work. You will also be introduced to the principles of lensing, lighting techniques, audio basics and tips on how to get started in the industry.

In this course, you will come to understand what it takes to put a story together using today’s industry best practices. Learning the art of character and story structure, you will be introduced to various production concepts so you can begin your journey as a professional storyteller. 

Editing is your key to becoming a master storyteller. Equip yourself with the basic concepts of editing through visual storytelling, technical skills and artistry. Explore theoretical concepts and become familiar with professional workflows using Adobe Premiere Pro software and its various tools.

You will produce and shoot two films, one of them being a “Meaningful Things” project, as well as work with supplied footage to create a story from a pre-shot film.

Dive deeper into the screenwriting genre as you explore genres relevant to film production. From viewing, reading, and writing, you will learn to create genre films. You will also learn to classify, analyze and identify genre conventions, and then apply these new skills through scene writing exercises.  

You will also be tasked with creating a beat sheet for a short film. You will be guided through the process of writing first drafts, as well as how to give and receive notes. The final assignment: write a script that focuses on the techniques unique to your genre of choice. 

Take the next step to becoming the ultimate storyteller. Advance your editing techniques with a focus on storytelling, style, gloss and presentation. Uncover the interplay between music and image while learning to produce the desired pacing and rhythm to marry the two disciplines. This course will have you edit scripted scenes, a film trailer, and a music video.

Get into the technical and creative aspects of audio recording, editing and mixing sound in cinema, video, and other multimedia production using Pro Tools or Adobe Audition. Topics include psychoacoustics, basic techniques of sound recording, and artistic applications of sound design in film. You will learn about specific narrative demands and structure, and sound mixing techniques.

This is your introduction to producing and production management. Learn how to take a written script and translate it for the screen by understanding the fundamentals of copyright clearances, script breakdowns, budgeting, scheduling, casting and hiring crew. You will practice using the scriptwriting software Celtx and ultimately gain the confidence to produce and distribute an independent film.

Auteurs like David Fincher, Quentin Tarantino, and Spike Lee each have their own style. Study these masters and others, then apply their methods to your own assignments. You will also practice camera movement, lensing, lighting, sound design, and directing as you learn the advanced principles of scripted production with a focus on directing and cinematography.

Create a short-form digital series from conception to release. Learn to develop high-impact stories and compelling characters, create a series treatment/bible document, craft a verbal pitch, and examine the application process for public funding. Using practical case studies from short-form series, you will come away equipped with the tools necessary to experience low-budget production success.

Enter the magical world of Adobe After Effects and discover the concepts and design techniques surrounding motion graphics and visual effects. Topics include: animated graphic design, compositing, title sequences, adding environmental effects (such as snow and lightning) with computer-generated imagery, navigating the Adobe After Effects interface, creating compositions, applying layers, executing masks, green screen applications, colour grading and sound.

An introduction to the art of remote filmmaking and on-location shooting. Study the ins and outs of producing documentaries, as well as pre-production and post-production workflows. Explore the history of the documentary, as well as how to properly establish story and characters. Having grasped the mechanics behind documentary theory, you will learn practical tips on lean filmmaking and remote production. You will also cover post-production workflows, as well as distribution. Finally, you will produce and shoot your own documentary short film.

How you market yourself in the industry can be as important as developing your filmmaking skills. Here you will learn to create an effective online presence while building your brand and developing your online “voice”. To promote and demonstrate your video production skills to prospective employers, you will also create social media profiles that can be translated into an effective marketing tool.

Tell short stories via commercial brands and learn about the effectiveness of branded content versus traditional advertising. You will develop an understanding of the marketing techniques employed by creative artists using content as a tool, the different genres of branded content, the ins and outs of sharable content and the human psychology behind viral videos. For your final project, you will create your own branded short film.

You can’t film until you have your screenplay. So it’s time to create loglines and a beat sheet for your short film. Work out the story behind your story, develop a draft screenplay and a final production-ready draft (which you will use as a shooting script for your final practicum project in Term 8). Lectures and activities will give you the skills needed to design character arcs, themes, structure, dialogue, exposition, and action as you learn how to transform a short film to a feature length concept.

Your final project: utilizing your cumulative knowledge, you will use the screenplay written in VPOL 702 and produce, shoot, and edit your own short film. You are strongly encouraged to seek out actors and volunteers in advance to aid in your production and, through instructor feedback, the director’s statement, rough cut, and final cut, your film will come to life.

Take the next steps to becoming a working writer, director or producer. Skills taught include: applying for jobs by shaping a reel and CV, packaging a feature film or TV show, pitching potential projects for various markets, and creating lookbooks and sizzle reels. Learn to work with various film departments to write a synopsis, outline and treatment in industry-approved formats.

You will also come to understand how to leverage film markets and film festivals to jumpstart your career.