Overview
This unit of study will teach you the common layout, tools and workflow for industry-standard video editing software. You will learn the history, methods and principles of video editing and learn how to take a project from rough footage to a finished movie. Through a series of individual editing exercises and practice assessments, you will work through the process of project management, workflow, editing audio and vision, chroma keying colour correction and grading, sound mixing, titles, credits and export. You will learn how to fix common audio and vision problems in documentary and narrative fiction and gain an understanding of professional practices and processes in post-production.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: MMST11009 Digital Video and Audio
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Discussion with fellow teaching staff.
Consider using the editing software DaVinci Resolve in this Unit as it is increasingly used in the industry and has the advantage of being free for students to download.
A review of the DaVinci Resolve software will occur prior to the unit being offered in 2025 and a decision made whether to update learning materials using this software.
- Apply the principles of video editing and visual storytelling in the creation of edited drama and documentary programs
- Produce completed programs using industry-standard software
- Manage media files and workflow through the stages of assemble, rough cut, fine cut, colour grading, graphics, sound mix and export of finished movies
- Reflect critically on one's own professional video editing and post-production practice.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Headphones/speaker/microphone
- Adobe Encoder (Adobe Creative Cloud student subscription recommended)
- Adobe Premiere Pro (Adobe Creative Cloud student subscription recommended) or other NLE software (eg. DaVinci Resolve)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.cattoni@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Unit
The Art of the Cut
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete Student Survey
Completion of Week 1 activities as outlined on Moodle
Module/Topic
Rhythm, Pace, and Visual Storytelling Through Montage
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 2 activities as outlined on Moodle
Module/Topic
Technical Delivery and Specifications
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 3 activities as outlined on Moodle
Module/Topic
Genre Conventions and Narrative Style
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 4 activities as outlined on Moodle
Assignment #1 Due: Monday Week 4 (August 4 2025)
Montage Editing Exercise Due: Week 4 Monday (4 Aug 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Workflow and Techniques for Continuity and Screen Geography
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 5 activities as outlined on Moodle
Module/Topic
No Classes This Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Editing for Performance and Character Development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 6 activities as outlined on Moodle
Module/Topic
Sound Design and Audio Integration
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 7 activities as outlined on Moodle
Module/Topic
Color Correction, Grading and Visual Consistency
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 8 activities as outlined on Moodle
In-class feedback for Assignment #2
Module/Topic
Introduction to Reels
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 9 activities as outlined on Moodle
Assignment #2 Due: Monday Week 9 (September 15 2025)
Documentary and Scripted Scene Editing Due: Week 9 Monday (15 Sept 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Portfolio Development and Creative Expression
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 10 activities as outlined on Moodle
Compulsory Rough-Cut Screenings
Module/Topic
Advanced Techniques and Creative Effects
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 11 activities as outlined on Moodle
Compulsory Rough-Cut Screenings
Module/Topic
Professional Practice and Presentation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Completion of Week 12 activities as outlined on Moodle
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment #3 Due: Monday Review/Exam Week (October 13 2025)
Editing Portfolio Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (13 Oct 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical Assessment
This assessment develops your foundational editing skills through a comprehensive post-production exercise. You will create a dynamic 60-second montage that demonstrates your ability to cut effectively, establish rhythm, and create visual narrative through the juxtaposition of images and sound. Working within an industry-standard workflow, you will manage source materials, build your project using fundamental editing techniques, and deliver your montage in two specified formats. This exercise challenges you to make deliberate cutting decisions that create meaning, emotion, and visual flow through the strategic choice of shots.
Beyond technical execution, you are required to document your creative process and engage with core montage principles through a structured self-evaluation. This reflective component demonstrates your understanding of why certain cuts work and how editing choices impact audience experience. All submission requirements are outlined in the Full Assessment #1 Brief on the unit Moodle page, including a template to guide your completion and submission.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 3: You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Key Components:
- 60-second montage creation with effective cutting techniques
- Rhythm and pacing development through editorial choices
- Multi-format delivery (2 specifications)
- Workflow documentation and critical reflection on cutting decisions
Week 4 Monday (4 Aug 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit Via Moodle
Returned 2 weeks following submission
- Attention to completion of the required task (20%)
- Technical proficiency (30%)
- Application of editing principles (20%)
- Creative decision-making (20%)
- Self-evaluation and critical reflection on practice (10%)
- Produce completed programs using industry-standard software
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Practical Assessment
This assessment challenges you to demonstrate genre-specific editing skills by crafting two distinct scenes from raw footage: a documentary and a scripted drama scene. Working from provided director's briefs, you will transform unedited rushes into engaging narratives that showcase your ability to solve common postproduction challenges and adapt your editing approach to different storytelling modes.
Each set of rushes presents typical industry problems requiring creative and editorial solutions. You will need to analyse the material, identify challenges, and employ appropriate techniques to enhance performance, maintain continuity, and serve each genre's unique storytelling requirements. The documentary scene requires skills in structuring factual content and creating authentic narrative flow, while the scripted scene requires precision in performance editing and dramatic pacing.
Beyond the creative edit, you are required to demonstrate professional workflow practices and technical proficiency, delivering both scenes to specified technical standards. Your submission includes documentation of your editorial process and a critical analysis of your creative choices. All technical specifications and submission requirements are detailed in the Full Assignment #2 Brief on the unit Moodle page, with templates provided for documentation.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 3: You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Key Components:
- Documentary scene editing from unedited rushes
- Scripted drama scene creation from unedited rushes
- Problem-solving using editorial techniques
- Professional workflow documentation and technical delivery
- Critical reflection and self-evaluation of genre-specific editing approaches
Week 9 Monday (15 Sept 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle website
Returned to student 2 weeks after submission
- Attention to completion of the required task (10%)
- Technical proficiency (30%)
- Clarity and continuity (30%)
- Creative decision-making (10%)
- Problem solving(10%)
- Self-evaluation and critical reflection on practice (10%)
- Apply the principles of video editing and visual storytelling in the creation of edited drama and documentary programs
- Manage media files and workflow through the stages of assemble, rough cut, fine cut, colour grading, graphics, sound mix and export of finished movies
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Practical Assessment
This capstone assessment showcases your complete range of digital media and postproduction skills through a comprehensive creative portfolio. You will demonstrate technical mastery and artistic vision by combining targeted skill exercises with a creative project that reflects your individual style and professional capabilities.
Your portfolio consists of two complementary components: focused technical exercises and a major creative work. The minor exercises target advanced postproduction techniques including chromakey compositing, sound mixing, and colour grading, allowing you to demonstrate precision in specialized skills. The major component centres on creating a dynamic showreel of your finest work, or an equivalent substantial project developed in consultation with the Unit Coordinator.
This assessment emphasises creative expression and professional presentation while maintaining technical excellence. You will participate in collaborative rough-cut screenings during Weeks 10-11, engaging in peer feedback sessions that mirror industry practice and refine your work through constructive critique. All technical specifications and detailed requirements are outlined in the Full Assessment #3 Brief on the unit Moodle page, with templates provided for documentation and submission.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 4: You may use AI extensively throughout your work either as you wish, or as specifically directed in your assessment. Focus on directing AI to achieve your goals while demonstrating your critical thinking. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Key Components:
- Advanced technical exercises (chromakey, sound mixing, color grading.
- Major creative project: professional showreel or equivalent body of work
- Collaborative rough-cut screening and peer feedback (Weeks 10-11)
- 300-word critical reflective statement on creative process
- Peer and self-assessment presentation
Word count:
At CQU, the word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover and references.
Creative Expression Encouraged: This assessment celebrates your unique 'lens' while demonstrating developing skills and technical competency across all aspects of postproduction workflow.
Review/Exam Week Monday (13 Oct 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle website
Returned to student 2 weeks after submission
- Attention to completion of the required task (10%)
- Technical proficiency (30%)
- Creative decision-making (20%)
- Impact (15%)
- Engagement with rough-cut screening and peer feedback (15%)
- Self-evaluation and critical reflection on practice (10%)
- Apply the principles of video editing and visual storytelling in the creation of edited drama and documentary programs
- Produce completed programs using industry-standard software
- Manage media files and workflow through the stages of assemble, rough cut, fine cut, colour grading, graphics, sound mix and export of finished movies
- Reflect critically on one's own professional video editing and post-production practice.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
