Purpose: 
This course gives students the background they need in video equipment operation and filming styles to start a video production program. Students are introduced to essential production elements, such as videography, lighting, audio track and editing concepts. This is the first course in a video production program.

This course is deliberately designed to conform to the Problem Based Learning (PBL) mode of delivery. PBL, a learning and teaching approach which Daystar University has recently adopted, provides learners with opportunities to identify solutions to ill-structured, real-world problems.

Objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Get a grasp of the theoretical and practical components of the TV production process.

2. Master the skills of operating a video camera.

3. Demonstrate an integrated understanding of scripting and production of programs such as commercials, PSA, News, Features/ Documentary.

4. General audio and sound techniques, including the handling of common audio problems.

5. Lighting techniques, including existing light, bounced light and three-point lighting.

6. Technical and production differences between standard definition (SDTV) and HDTV/DTV production.

7. Elements of effective visual composition.  

8. Editing techniques: assembly and insert, online and offline, linear and random access, and the use of time-code.

9. A general understanding of post-production, including associated audio and video equipment.

10. The ability to critique the strengths and weakness of video productions.

Content

Traditional television viewing has been rapidly diminishing, and owing to this reality the industry has been increasingly embracing the digital era. This may come as no surprise to anyone under the age of 25, the majority of whom do not watch television on — well, television. In an era where everyone is watching Netflix and YouTube, how is television adapting to the major change?

The television industry has migrated online, changing music (album formats are now streaming), entertainment (a YouTube star can land major deals) and — naturally, itself.

Television is adapting to the digital era in the way that other forms of media can’t — actually embracing it. While print journalism and radio can, in fact, put their content online, television shows are able to provide snippets of their content online, on easily accessible sites such as YouTube, or social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram.