Audiovisual Theory and Techniques

Learning Objectives

The First-Level Academic Diploma Course in Audiovisual Theory and Techniques aims to train professionals capable of supervising and managing the entire development process of an audiovisual project, working as part of a team and drawing on a wide range of artistic, cultural, communication, legal and technological disciplines. Professionals who, by conscientiously interpreting the psychological, social, cultural and economic aspects of the target market, arrive at innovative aesthetic solutions. Professionals able to consciously manage and protect their personal branding and public image (reputation).

The course aims to achieve the following learning objectives:

1. to ensure a high level of basic training in the disciplines that define the cultural, artistic and economic context of the sector;
2. to develop a particular awareness of contemporary audiovisual and cinematographic languages with different structures;
3. develop an aptitude for ongoing personal development;
4. to ensure knowledge of historical events and current affairs that form the basis of film and audiovisual culture;
5. to provide appropriate professional training in the field of audiovisual product design and development, focusing on communication ethics and the psychology of cultural consumption;
6. develop an aptitude for innovation in audiovisual expression, taking into account social changes, market dynamics and technological development;
7. to provide appropriate knowledge on the management of directing, writing and, in general, creative leadership and/or artistic responsibility for an audiovisual and cinematographic project;
8. to ensure a basic knowledge of legislation relating to the specific sector and copyright law;
9. to ensure a basic understanding of how to communicate the audiovisual work to the press and the public, including through the development of an advertising campaign;
10. to develop knowledge and mastery of processes related to integrated new media techniques, including audiovisual media and cinema;
11. to develop the ability to work not only as part of a team (pyramid), but also in shared production (network), successfully collaborating with other authors;
12. to be able to proficiently use English (as well as Italian) in the specific field of expertise for the exchange of information and international collaboration.

Career prospects

Director: a key figure who, working from the design and writing stage through to the final production, is the guarantor of artistic quality, including in cross-media and transmedia contexts. He/she is a leader who can bring together and manage various professionals, coordinate and motivate his/her staff by aligning strategy, structure, systems, skills, culture and art. They are able to choose – depending on what is best for the objective to be achieved – whether (for example) to use the traditional production system (pyramid) and/or the shared production system (network).

Creator of audiovisual content: a professional figure capable of creating, either independently or as part of a team, formats and content related to various audiovisual expression techniques that converge and merge into digital language, in a field where cross-media and transmedia are both in play. This term also refers to those who produce documentary, informational and journalistic films (feature films or short films), handling (even independently) both the shooting and editing of audiovisual products that can be used to support news or as news itself, suitable for television, cinema, via apps and the web, the latter being an area in which audiovisual media is becoming increasingly prevalent (for example in journalism) as a means of enhancing digital photographic images and written text.

Artistic director: creator and/or coordinator of a live event, television, festival and film reviews. He/she is also responsible for a brand’s visual identity and communication. They are able to master the tools and techniques of artistic production and communication in the contemporary sphere, enabling them to supervise and coordinate the creative team.

Entry requirements

To enrol in the First-Level Academic Diploma Course in Audiovisual Theory and Techniques, a Secondary School Diploma or other recognised equivalent qualification, obtained in the European Union or abroad, is required.
During the admission process, a committee composed of course lecturers will evaluate each prospective student’s application based on their curriculum vitae et studiorum, an audiovisual presentation created by the candidate, and a letter of motivation.

Type of final assessment

The final assessment for the First Level Academic Diploma Course in Audiovisual Theory and Techniques consists of the design, executive production and creation of a film and/or audiovisual product in all its phases, a written report on its design, development and communication process (including its communication to the press, indication of the forms of distribution and preview), accompanied by a related theoretical paper, which reports the result of the research phase of the project itself, also in mixed form (images and text), produced on paper or digitally, under the guidance of a supervisor, who may be assisted by other co-supervisors.