Program Overview

Course Overview

The Compositing and VFX Design course, MDDN 421, is an advanced program that offers an intensive, hands-on experience in compositing and visual effects (VFX) design. Students explore digital compositing techniques, advanced VFX tools, and VFX shot design, focusing on integrating CGI with live action footage.

Course Details

• Course Code: MDDN 421
• Duration: 17 weeks
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 300 hours or 17.6 hours per week
• Points: 30
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$2,752.80
  • International students: NZ$11,736.00
• Lecture Times: Tuesday, 10:30am
• Campus: Miramar Creative Centre

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None

Course Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Comprehensively understand technical and artistic approaches to modern digital compositing.
2. Critique images for visual FX, articulate why images do or do not work, and gain insight into what could be done to improve them technically and aesthetically.
3. Formulate strategies for effectively creating complex visual effects images, and deconstruct how visual effects work has been achieved.
4. Understand the historical and contemporary context of compositing as it relates to film history and society.

How the Course is Taught

• Lectures, studios, and tutorials require in-person attendance.
• Lecture recordings will be made available for subsequent revision.
• Core skills will be taught through lecture format, and seminars will be used to check progress through demonstration and critique.
• The bulk of the course will be spent in studio, putting skills into practice through hands-on exercises.

Assessment

• Basic Compositing I: Mattes - Image sequence, scene file, oral presentation (16.5%)
• Basic Compositing II: Tracking - Image sequence, scene file, oral presentation (16.5%)
• Basic Compositing III: Colour - Image sequence, scene file, oral presentation (16.5%)
• Advanced Compositing I: Matte Painting - Image sequence, scene file, oral presentation (25%)
• Advanced Compositing II: Visual Magic - Image sequences, scene files, oral presentation (25.5%)

Mandatory Requirements

There are no mandatory requirements for this course.

Group Work

Students will work in groups to shoot the material needed for the assignments but will be graded individually.

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 23 February 2026 to 5 April 2026
• 20 April 2026 to 31 May 2026

What You'll Need to Get

Students will need to provide all materials and equipment as necessary for the completion of course work.

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.