3AMFX

NCEA Level 3 Motion Special Effects

Course Description

Head of Faculty - Kaihautuu: Ms L. Purda.



Welcome to the world of Storytelling!

Level 3 Students have the option of taking on a personal interest project of their choosing. They can negotiate their ideas and create their own project plan with Mrs Purda to ensure they have a great year engaged in a project that both challenges them and inspires them! If you don't wish to create your own project or need a framework and or a brief Mrs Purda has a few different options for you to choose from:

  • World Building - Aotearoa, The Future State....? 
  • TV Show or Movie Opening Title Sequence or Trailer (real or imagined)
  • Medical Animation for educational purposes eg. How does a heart work? 
  • Character Development - Augmented Reality Children's Reading Book Project
  • Interactive Tour - Augmented Reality Guided Tour Experience

This course follows on from Level 2MFX. It will develop sophisticated skills and advanced knowledge in the field of Motion Special Effects and is an ideal foundation for students interested any creative field such as the Movie Industry, Digital Special Effects, Storytelling, Creative World building, Game Design, Animation, Virtual Reality, Interactive Moving Image, MetaHumans, Gaming and Film editing using up to date industry standard software such as Adobe Creative Cloud (Film, Motion Graphics and Mixed Media), Procreate (2D Animation) and Blender (3D Animation). 

The course is a perfect pathway for moving onto study creative tertiary pathways both in Wellington (Massey University's Screen Arts Degree) and in Auckland (AUT and Media Design School). Through further trips to Weta Workshop and experience through working industry artists and filmmakers, students will gain a practical understanding of the possibilities of Special Effects for both film and gaming industries   

We have an emphasis on Design thinking and follow a design focused conceptual development process for the generation of original and authentic work. 

Students should have an eagerness to develop skills in moving image, animation, interactive and creative outcomes using industry standard digital applications (such as motion capture, green screen technology and virtual reality), some traditional animation techniques, conceptual design for moving image and gaming, editing and special effects, imaginative story telling. You will see your work realised in a real- world, spatial context. 

What knowledge will I develop? Students will develop knowledge of the Digital Special Effects genre, incorporating a practical and theoretical understanding of how films are created traditionally, and how developed technology has advanced with use of green screen technology, motion capture, virtual reality in the areas of film and gaming. 

Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of visual storytelling, writing, editing and broadening their practical knowledge of the latest special effects techniques within contemporary moving image culture. Students will enhance their experience by visiting working film/animation studios and receiving guidance from studio based professional practitioners visiting school.

The creative industry contributes a large proportion of revenue to the global economy. According to the British Department for Culture, Media & Sport the creative industry is the largest growing industry in the country! Here is what the UK government has to say:

Course Overview

Term 1
Introduction to World Building, Storytelling, and Fictional Character Design.
Explore different motion special effects media and technologies.

Project Selection - Students will select from a range of options of digital moving image media:

Practical / tangible (real model making that you make with your hands)
3D digital modeling in Blender leading to 3D Animation
2D illustration and sequencing leading to 2D Animation
Film Making and Motion Graphics leading to Opening Title Sequence Design
Physical (practical) Model and Set Design leading to Stop Motion Animation

Research and Skill Building - Exploration of Software and Digital Tools
Project Planning

Project Concept Development
Weta Workshop Trip
Concept Development Workshop
Mood boards, colour pallets and Logo Development Workshops

Term 2
Character Development
Environment Development
Image Capture
Moving Image Experiments
Storyboarding & Sequencing
Sound FX

Term 3
Second Character Development
Animation Workshops

Creating Digital Folio Showcasing Student Work

Final Moving Image Sequence

Term 4
Looking at After Effects techniques, Premiere Pro for formatting digital folio.
FINAL EDITING OF MOVING IMAGE and digital folio
Formatting Final Digital Folio and handing in the external assessment.

Recommended Prior Learning

Level 2 Motion Special Effects or Level 2 Design is the ideal foundation for this course.

Alternatively, students with a background in senior visual arts, design, or some of our DVC and Technology courses will provide a foundational skill set.  Students with skills and a strong interest in moving image story-telling formats, without any prior visual arts study or high-level skills should discuss their suitability for this course with course leader, Mrs Purda

Contributions and Equipment/Stationery

It is preferable that students have their own device to run the Adobe Creative Suite and specialist animation software such as Blender.

Pathway

It is highly recommended that you have done 2AFMX before choosing this course, or 2ADES. Level 2 DIT can also be an approved entry point, but students should gain entry approval from Mrs Purda.

This course is valuable preparation for many future pathways linked to the entertainment or gaming industries, social media platforms, advertising, film and television, animation, theatre and more. Students develop themselves as creative thinkers and visual storytellers, able to establish and generate unique and original concepts which prepares them for industry and tertiary level. Students will develop a wide range of capabilities in the area of concept work, moving image, animation and special effects and model making.

Please be mindful that students taking Level 3 Design should not take this course unless for experience (and you don't need the credits) as it uses the same NCEA standards. There are options here but this MUST be discussed with Mrs Purda before approval.

Assessment Information

Assessment in this course is portfolio based. Work will be produced in sequences throughout each term which will be assessed for three internals. A three-minute interactive digital submission is the final outcome and comprises the external portfolio assessment.

Students should not take this course if they are planning on taking 3DES as many of the standards cross over.

Other optional standards can be made available if needed including - A.S. 91447 v2 Photography 3.2 - Use drawing to demonstrate understanding of conventions appropriate to photography and A.S. 91628 v3 Design and Visual Communication 3.31 - Develop a visual presentation that exhibits a design outcome to an audience.

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

This course is eligible for subject endorsement.

This course is approved for University Entrance.

Total Credits Available: 30
Internal Assessed Credits: 16
External Assessed Credits: 14
Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91440 v2
NZQA Info

Design 3.1 - Analyse methods and ideas from established design practice


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91445 v2
NZQA Info

Design 3.2 - Use drawing to demonstrate understanding of conventions appropriate to design


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91450 v2
NZQA Info

Design 3.3 - Systematically clarify ideas using drawing informed by established design practice


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91455 v2
NZQA Info

Design 3.4 - Produce a systematic body of work that integrates conventions and regenerates ideas within design practice


Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 14
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91460 v2
NZQA Info

Visual Arts 3.5 - Produce a resolved work that demonstrates purposeful control of skills appropriate to a visual arts cultural context


Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 30
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4
Total Numeracy Credits: 0

Approved subject for University Entrance

Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 30

Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.