Broadcasting - Television and Independent Production

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Courses - September 2023

Level 1

Course details

Production Planning
BRT1150

Description: Working on a television production involves the coordination of a number of different elements and the work of multiple contributors from on-air talent to producers, directors and technicians. In this course students review the various roles and duties of those involved in small independent productions and those working together on large network productions. Students learn how to conduct themselves when on-set and how to document the needs of individual productions through the budget and production schedules.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Single Camera Production
BRT1165

Description: It all starts with the shot. Wide shots. Medium shots. Close-ups. High angle, low angle and canted angle shots. All are elements of the visual grammar that goes into creating a compelling scene. In this course students will explore the language of visual storytelling and learn the basics of professional single camera shooting and editing. They will learn how to shoot a scene from various angles, with different sized shots, and how to edit those shots together to create a single scene that flows smoothly and seamlessly.
  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Editing
BRT1320

Description:

When you are watching a great TV show or film and are immersed in the story, you likely aren't thinking about how editing brought together audio and video elements to create what you see and hear. That important part of storytelling is a focus of this editing course. Students are introduced to the professional software used to edit content as they review the common processes a video editor uses. Students will review how to sequence and transition between shots as well as how to layer in audio elements such as a voice track, background sound and music.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

College Reading & Writing Skills
COMM1085

Description: This course introduces students to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills needed for academic and workplace success. Students will analyse a variety of texts and apply the steps of planning, writing, and revising to produce writing that meets the expectations of selected audiences and purposes. The course prepares students for college-level writing tasks, research, and documentation by asking them to produce clear, informed, and purposeful documents relevant to both academic and professional contexts.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Social Media and Video Marketing
MKT1580

Description:

Video content is used as a powerful marketing tool on Social Media. In this course students review top social media platforms and trends. Students discover how best to target a specific demographic and how to identify a niche market and video storytelling opportunity. Students also learn to read and analyze the analytics available to determine if a video is successful.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 2

Course details

Television Production
BRT1275

Description: Building on the skills learned in Production Planning and the technical courses to date, students begin the process of producing a television show. This course explores the skills necessary to conceive and produce editorially driven, non-fiction content. Taking on various roles of a production crew, students bring together the elements they produce to create studio or field based programs. Students will be introduced to multi-camera production as well as how to create a program format.
  • Hours: 98
  • Credits: 6
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT1165 AND BRT1320
  • CoRequisites:

Location Production and Lighting
BRT1285

Description: Often the difference between a production that looks okay and one that looks amazing is the lighting, but lighting is about much more than illumination. It can be used as a storytelling tool to expand the emotional pallet of a scene by reflecting the tone or the mood of the story, or even a person’s character traits. In this course, students will further their knowledge and skills in single camera production through applying several common lighting techniques within a variety of productions.
  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT1160 OR BRT1165
  • CoRequisites:

Graphics and Motion Graphics
BRT1290

Description:

Graphics and motion graphics play an increasingly important role within the production and post-production environment. They can set the mood within a title sequence, enhance storytelling by providing additional information, and simplify difficult concepts through data visualization. Animated graphics can add excitement and an additional layer of meaning. Using industry-standard imaging and motion graphics applications, students will apply design principles and elements of design to create aesthetically pleasing and technically sound graphics for the screen, including titles, lower thirds, credits and infographics.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT1160 OR BRT1165
  • CoRequisites:

Scriptwriting
BRT1300

Description: Alfred Hitchcock once said, “To make a great film you need three things – the script, the script and the script.” A good script is the foundation upon which your projects will be built. In this course, students will learn how to write compelling scripts for video and film using proper split-script and standard screenplay formats. Plot, character development and effective storytelling structure will be explored through the writing of scripts, some of which will be “greenlighted” and taken forward into production by the students.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: COMM1085
  • CoRequisites:

Safety in the Workplace
OHS1320

Description: This course focuses on developing awareness and skills for the student to safely manage and conduct him or herself within a variety of employment settings. Through the units of the course, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of general Health and Safety guidelines, including WHMIS, Fire Safety and Workplace Violence. The unit on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act will instruct the student on the requirements for Accessible Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulations. General information on Safe Driving, Privacy of Information and Hand Washing will be addressed as well. The course also provides participants with critical information regarding their insurance coverage (WSIB or other) while employed. As well as guidelines to follow in the event of an injury. Participants will receive a printable Record of Completion upon successful conclusion of this course, in order to demonstrate awareness of safe working practices to their employers.
  • Hours: 14
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 3

Course details

Advanced Post-Production
BRT2130

Description: Beyond basic editing lies a world of layering and manipulating video, sound and special effects to engage viewers in the storytelling. This is the world of Advanced Post-production. Students will adopt a problem-solving approach toward applying the techniques of video compositing, colour grading, and audio post-production with an emphasis on motivated decision-making.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT1280 OR BRT1285 AND BRT1290
  • CoRequisites:

Production Management
BRT2150

Description:

The success of a large-scale television or film production is dependent on bringing the right combination of talented professionals together, within a budget and over the course of a specified schedule. The coordination of these efforts falls to the Production Manager. In this course students will apply and build on the skills learned in Production Planning to organize and execute more complex productions. Setting up production insurance. working with industry unions and guilds, developing negotiation and organizational skills, dealing with vendors and equipment suppliers, as well as developing intricate budgets and schedules are some of the topics covered in this course.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Advanced Camera Production
BRT2160

Description:

Beautiful cinematography can draw viewers into a story, revealing details integral to plot development and factual story construction. Creating images that capture the imagination and interest of the viewer requires a mastery of the camera. In this course, students will build on their skills to date in camera, lighting and editing courses to produce more complex images. The use of additional grip equipment and more involved lighting techniques will assist the camera operator in accomplishing desired movement and effects in their visuals.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT1165
  • CoRequisites:

Series Development and Production
BRT2280

Description: All the skills and knowledge gained in the first year of the program come together in this course, which allows students to plan and produce a television show with original content. Working in teams, students will learn how to develop and pitch a series and create multiple episodes by integrating and expanding existing knowledge of interviewing, performing, scriptwriting, shooting, editing, graphics, production planning tools and live studio production. This course also takes production one step further, as students will discover how to plan and prepare remote coverage and multi-camera operation in the field.
  • Hours: 84
  • Credits: 6
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT1280 OR BRT1285 AND BRT1290 AND BRT1300
  • CoRequisites:

Media Freelancing and Entrepreneurship
ENTR2110

Description: In this course, students are introduced to the importance of initiative, creativity, delivery and business acumen in taking their own journalistic projects from idea to public view. Pitching ideas, pricing and valuing one’s own work, establishing one’s brand, building business relationships, and the financial aspects of running a small business are all important parts of freelancing, independent production and contract work in today’s media environment. Students learn how to market their skills and talents outside of traditional employer-employee relationships.
  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Career Development
ETR2230

Description: Figuring out your dream job and discovering how to go about getting that career is the goal of this practical course. From learning about what opportunities exist in the television and independent production fields, to how to go about branding yourself and creating a professional online presence, this course helps students make the transition from college to obtaining work in their desired field. Students will come away from this course with a polished cover letter, resume, demo reel, social media presence and interview skills that will help them secure their faculty-approved, Industry Placement in the subsequent semester and work after graduation.
  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT1150
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 4

Course details

Capstone - Television and Independent Production
BRT2170

Description: Using the skills learned to date in the program, students hone their professional abilities through their capstone project. Students take the lead on a production that reflects their passion and career objectives. Students can choose between media genres to create either a narrative or documentary short film, a television series or pilot, or plan and execute branded content for a client. All projects are guided by faculty mentors as students take their content through the stages of pre-production, production, and post production.
  • Hours: 140
  • Credits: 9
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT2130 AND BRT2280 AND OHS1320 AND OHS8320
  • CoRequisites:

Field Placement (Broadcasting Television and Independent Production)
FPLT2080

Description: This course facilitates a placement experience with a company/agency which has been approved by the program. Students will take an active role in securing a placement by practising employability skills learned through preparatory courses. Engaging in the work environment of a professionally relevant company/agency will allow students to apply their education and skills contributing to their mutual benefit. Appropriate workplace behaviour and etiquette is expected as students use this opportunity to expand their network of industry contacts and effectively market their personal brand. Through this experience, students can cultivate confidence, escalate awareness of industry practices, add to their resume & portfolio, and contribute to their own career success.
  • Hours: 210
  • Credits: 7
  • Pre-Requisites: BRT2130 AND BRT2280 AND ENTR2070 OR ENTR2071 OR ENTR2110 AND OHS1320
  • CoRequisites:

Program outcomes

  1. Operate industry standard production equipment, in studio and on location, to create television, video and/or web content for multiple platforms
  2. Deliver television, video and digital or web content via multiple platforms in formats that meet current broadcast industry standards
  3. Participate in the planning and preparation of television, mobile and/or Web productions that meet industry standards and regulations
  4. Monitor and maintain the technical quality of productions during recording and broadcasts using resources, equipment and protocols which meet with industry standards
  5. Participate in marketing activities to promote independent productions and/or a station's brand and products
  6. Plan and prepare interviews, scripts, and reporting content for the use in television, video or digital media productions
  7. Use business skills and accepted industry practices in the creation of television, video and/or web productions
  8. Keep current with the needs of the television and digital media broadcast industry using strategies that enhance work performance and guide professional development
  9. Conduct work safely in accordance with all applicable acts, regulations, legislation, and codes to ensure personal and public safety
  10. Use a variety of post-production skills and techniques to enhance and complete television, digital, web and/or video productions
  11. Analyze the risk, rewards, and pathways associated with working as a freelancer within independent media production to maximize viable career opportunities
  12. Develop and maintain a branding strategy to support freelance, contract, and other independent production activities or initiatives