Film & Media Studies

By the end of the course, the student: knows the processes and techniques related to the creation, writing, production, packaging, and distribution of film and tv products; knows how to place film and tv production within the broader context of the creation of contents for media and cultural industries; is able to contribute autonomously to the creation of an audiovisual product. The course provides comprehensive training on the world of audiovisuals and the main audiovisual production techniques, both in relation to the different media and to the possible destinations of the product. Tools are provided both from a practical point of view, for the creation of crossmedia and transmedia content, and analytical, for the use and understanding of the basic elements of audiovisual language in a transmedia key. In parallel with the more theoretical introduction, with the help of the teacher, ample space is dedicated to the practical dimension of the laboratory. With the request to design some products of a transmedia nature, collectively or individually, which is analyzed with the teacher and constitutes material for the exam. The following topics are addressed during the course: 
• transmedia approach to entertainment
• design and production of transmedia products
• transmedia storytelling
• storyworld
• transmedia architectures
• analysis of particularly significant cases in transmedia production

This course examines the core principles of screenwriting, looking at how common literary concepts have been adapted for the purpose of telling stories on screen. It considers the ethical questions surrounding narrative ownership and who gets to tell what stories.

This course introduces the history and theory of intelligent media, intelligent media practices, and industry fieldwork, which connects students with diverse real-world AI media projects, emphasizing China’s local development and the latest technological trends

This course explores media policy, industry change, and work practices, including concepts of labor and practical responses to workplace dynamics. 

This course is a hands-on practice in which students learn to apply film production theory to communicate ideas and tell stories. Students gain experience capturing, constructing and manipulating both audio and moving image in the process of designing, shooting and editing digital short films.

This course offers a critical introduction to contemporary film and television. It provides the basic vocabulary for understanding the film-making process as well as narrative forms in both film and television. The course also considers key areas of film and television studies such as spectatorship, genre and realism, with examples drawn from both South Africa and abroad. Students are assessed through academic analysis and a creative assignment (a short film shot on a mobile phone, or a short script). DP requirements: All written work must be submitted by the stipulated dates. Students who miss more than two tutorials lose their DPs. Assessment: Continuous assessment (essays, projects, tests, etc.) counts 100%. Course entry requirements: None

This course is a general introduction course about the technique side and non-technique side to R&D game product and how start a related business. 

This course examines the histories of cinemas and their social, cultural, and political contexts from the silent era through to contemporary film. Important filmmakers and theorists are explored, from Soviet and German filmmaking between the wars, and the emergence of Africa filmmaking in the 1960s to Hollywood New Wave and Dogme 95. The course provides broad knowledge of the histories of cinemas and cinema movements and improved their analytical skills and writing abilities. DP requirements: All written work must be submitted by the stipulated dates. Students who miss more than two tutorials will lose their DPs. Assessment: Continuous assessment (essays, projects, tests, etc.) counts 100%.

The course is designed to prepare students for leadership in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse workforce. Throughout the course, students are challenged to question, think, and respond thoughtfully to the issues they observe and encounter in the internship setting, and the designated city in general. Students have the opportunity to cultivate the leadership skills of problem-solving, deliberation, negotiation, teamwork, intercultural communication, and systems thinking. In addition, the virtual nature of the course, with classmates attending from different regions of the world, offers a unique opportunity for cross-cultural comparative analysis. This is a hybrid course, with both online and in-person components. Online components include instructor led webinars, video lectures, discussion forums, assignments, and readings. Face-to-face elements of the course include local events, site visits, workshops, guest speakers, and participation in a prearranged internship, where students are required to work approximately 200-240 internship hours over the 8-week term.

Media Psychology examines the relationship between media usage and human psychology/behavior. The course covers the following areas: media use and mental health, media violence and aggressive behavior, media and body image, media and cognitive development, media and addictive behaviors, media and prosocial behavior, media and cross-cultural psychology, media and emotional resonance, etc.