Digital film school
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Digital film school is your chance to join the millions of people around the world who make and share video every day. The explosion of film-making for websites and mobiles gives people and organisations the opportunity to tell their stories and show what they have to offer, at low cost. This 10-week online course is practical, hands-on and fun, built around simple tasks based on real-world briefs and a strong culture of mutual support between students. Our experienced team of film-makers will show you some of the craft secrets that underpin good film-making, and how the professionals stay up to date.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | T156 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 1 Computer-marked assignment (CMA) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
This course is a practical introduction to digital film-making and will develop your skills to produce and share video online. It is suitable for newcomers to video as well as those with some experience who would like to improve their technique. Over ten weeks of study, a set of structured tasks offers you the chance to build up your skills and confidence. As you take more creative control of your work, the over-the-shoulder video tutorials will provide expert guidance on making media for real-world applications.
Video has many uses, and we recognise that your needs and interests will be quite personal. The teaching approach is based on a broad understanding of how individuals use video personally and professionally, grounded in long experience of providing introductory training in using video. We also recognise that integrating new skills can present challenges. Digital film school offers you a supportive environment for learning so that you can continue to develop as a film-maker afterwards.
The course provides a comprehensive set of resources to support your learning, such as worksheets, production resources and a course glossary. It is online, and makes full use of the opportunities afforded by social media. Video technologies change very quickly, but you will learn how to make sense of the options available to you.
As the course progresses, you will find and share your pick of online media with other students, and have the opportunity to rate other people’s finds. This gives you access to the research skills of hundreds of other people, as well as an opportunity to get feedback on your own productions from fellow students
You will learn
Film-making involves bringing many elements together as a whole. The course will help you develop your knowledge and skills in three key areas:
Creativity – The elements that make a satisfying visual narrative and how media is constructed in terms of genre, shot types, sequencing, soundtrack and composition. How to combine images and audio to communicate specific information accurately and appropriately for a given purpose and audience.
Organising – Managing the production process for creating media to a brief, including issues such as planning, media rights, choice of equipment, and scheduling. The key to this area is working well with other people, communicating clearly and building effective relationships.
Technical – Considerations such as editing techniques, media formats, how to set up and get the most from your equipment, and getting your work into the right form for sharing. Strategies for researching online to find, select and use relevant information on techniques and technical matters, and to present it to others.
Vocational relevance
Simple video production is becoming another part of a professional’s skill set. Many commercial and voluntary organisations are finding online video an effective way to communicate and are looking for employees with the experience and knowledge to deliver it.
The course will provide valuable skills for anyone with an interest in communicating powerful and captivating messages in presentations and through the web. It is particularly relevant to teachers, journalists, and youth and community workers, as well as photographers and others already in the creative industries wanting to extend their skills.
Entry
This is a Level 1 course. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you progress to courses at Level 2.
You do not require any previous qualification or prior knowledge of film-making or the use of video to study this course, but you will need some experience of using the internet and a basic proficiency in computing.
You will be familiar with some of the teaching concepts in this course if you have studied Digital photography: creating and sharing better images (T189), but this is not a requirement.
Whether you want to simply capture memorable moments, use video in your career, or enjoy the team spirit and creativity of low-budget film-making, the study material is designed to help you start your journey.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
The course is available to students outside the UK.
Preparatory work
There are no formal requirements, but you will need to be able to manage your computer files competently and be confident with basic software such as a word processor and a web browser. If you don’t feel comfortable about doing that on your own, you might want to take a basic computing course at a local college before you start the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
We encourage students with a disability or additional requirement to consider taking the course; however because of the nature of the subject it is probably not suitable for those with substantial visual impairment. This course has a high proportion of visual content and the practical work requires you to be able to record video in different settings.
The course is delivered wholly online, requiring extensive use of the internet. If you use special hardware or software you must find out whether this is compatible with editing video and posting it online, well before the course begins.
Written transcripts of audio components are available. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website . It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Access to the course website includes a specially adapted version of the Open Studio platform for sharing and rating online media and links to resources. It also includes course media, activity sheets and production resources which can be customised for your own projects.
You will need
You will need the following to study this course:
- a camera or mobile device that can record standard definition or high definition video
- video editing software
- broadband internet access for transferring and playing video files
- a computer capable of working with all of the above.
Handling video data is very intensive in terms of processor speed, system memory and storage space. Video editing may require a higher specification computer than the basic technical requirements for accessing study material, depending on the type of video that your camera records and the software that you are using. The minimum and recommended requirements for your video editing software will provide reasonable guidance for this.
If you are considering using an older computer it will need to be one that had a top-end specification at the time of purchase. A mid-priced computer more than a few years old is unlikely to be suitable.
Please note you may have difficulties completing this course with a Linux computer as some of the web tools do not have a Linux-compatible version.
We do not specify particular hardware or software combinations – we encourage you to use what you have to hand, and the course is designed to work with a wide range of setups. However, please ensure that your video device is capable of transferring video data to your computer, and that your software can read it in the format delivered. If in doubt, check the manufacturer’s website for your camera and software. If your camera cannot record audio, you will need a separate digital audio recorder.
It will be possible to use almost any video editing software that works with your camera, from entry-level consumer programs to professional suites to study the course. This includes the free software that comes with many PC or Mac operating systems. But be aware that some programs, for example Windows Live Movie Maker 2011, have a very restricted set of features and you will not be able to use all the techniques demonstrated in the course without lengthy and complicated workarounds. We therefore recommend that students consider purchasing one of the inexpensive consumer level software packages available on the market.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
The course is taught entirely online and you will not have an individual tutor. You will have access to online student self-help forums that you are strongly encouraged to participate in, as they are an excellent source of support and information and form an integral part of the course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your end-of-module assessment (EMA).
For the EMA you will choose from a selection of briefs, and make and publish a short video that demonstrates your knowledge, understanding and skills. An accompanying piece of written work will assess your ability to articulate how you have applied your creative, organisational and technical abilities to your video.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and October 2012 and May 2013. We expect it to be available twice a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | T156 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 1 Computer-marked assignment (CMA) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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