Elements and Performance Criteria

Documentation may be:
computer generated
manually written
hire agreements
specialist documents required for the transportation of dangerous goods
confirmation of receipt and dispatch notes
memos of instruction
descriptive special effects checklists
fault reports
stock reports
stock orders
budgets
special effects design
scripts
production schedules
call/running sheets
special effects construction schedule/plan
special effects breakdown lists
measurement charts
operational/project plan
manufacture schedules
manufacturer's specifications/instructions
technical drawings
sketches
colour charts
paint colour formulas

Environments where special effects may be assembled and used include:
in a studio
on location - interior
on location - exterior
outside broadcast
day
night

Transportation may involve:
specialist handling and packaging of dangerous goods including explosives, chemicals and pyrotechnic items
the use of hired vehicles
the use of boats, planes, helicopters and trains
the use of special transport low loaders

Types of production may include:
feature films
documentaries
short films
animated productions
commercials
filmed events or performances
music video
television productions of any type (eg music, drama, comedy, variety, sport)
live or prerecorded television productions

Relevant personnel may include:
production designer
performer
special effects department personnel
special effects supervisor/manager
special effects production personnel
specialist manufacturers
specialist equipment designers
personnel with specialist expertise in special effects productions and execution
medics
fire and safety officer
supervisor
head of department
director of photography
director
producer
technical director
other technical staff
other specialist staff
designers
floor manager
transportation provider and crew

Special effects items may include:
road cases, boxes, crates for storage and transportation
models and miniatures:
demonstration type
real type
figures
landscapes
buildings
floor effects:
weather effects
fire and smoke
collapsing and destruction
water
crashes
motion control systems
electronic hardware
sculpture - human, animal, inanimate
pyrotechnics:
explosives
detonators
squibs
smoke
deflating materials
fireworks
animatronics and creatures
pneumatics
electrical and mechanical winches
automated and animatronic devices/controls
cables
electronic devices
electro mechanical devices
computer controlled devices
power packs
motion control electronics/systems
electronic flashing and timing devices

Special effects items may be constructed from:
timber
timber products, eg plywood, particle board, craftwood
masonite
metal products, eg bars, tubes, sheets
moulded or cast metal
fibreglass
plastic
wood
canvas
fabrics
plastics, eg moulded sheet
leather
paper products
clay
resins
latex
foam
plaster
mouldable materials
thermoplastic
polystyrene
fasteners
adhesives

Techniques used may include:
timber construction
fabrication
moulding materials
painting and finishing
sculpting and other shaping methods
gluing and cementing
metalwork, eg cutting, welding, brazing
woodworking

Occupational and public health and safety legislative requirements may include:
commonwealth, state and territory occupational health and safety regulations
relevant national and international standards, guidelines and codes of practice, eg The Building Code of Australia
relevant local government construction legislation and regulation

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of essential knowledge of, and skills in, the following areas:

interpreting scripts, specifications and instructions
interpreting and communicating production specifications
development of operational plans and production schedules
staff recruitment
resource management including human resources
team leading skills
budget management
project management
report writing
principles of negotiation
costing
communication principles and techniques
stock control
record keeping
interpreting construction specifications, instructions and drawings
principles and techniques of special effects construction and painting
knowledge of, and ability to perform, the range of construction techniques used in special effects production
knowledge of the properties, applications and durability of different types of materials that can be used for special effects construction
using a range of equipment in special effects construction - hand and power tools
carpentry and joinery skills
electronic skills
safe handling of hazardous materials
commonwealth, state and territory occupational health and safety regulations
relevant national and international standards, guidelines and codes of practice, eg The Building Code of Australia
relevant local government construction legislation and regulation
detailed knowledge of the Australian film industry recommended safety code

Linkages to other units

This unit has linkages to the following units and combined training delivery and/or assessment is recommended:

CUSADM02A Coordinate the purchase or hire of equipment/supplies
CUEFIN2A Manage a budget
CUSADM06A Develop and implement an operational plan
CUEOHS1A Implement workplace health, safety and security procedures

Critical aspects of evidence
This unit of competence applies to a range of specialist special effects production. The focus of assessment will depend on the specialisation. Assessment must be customised to meet the needs of the particular special effects area of expertise in which performance is being assessed. Assessment should only address those variable circumstances, listed in the range of variables statements, which apply to the chosen context.
Care should be taken in developing training to meet the requirements of this unit. The specific focus of training will depend upon the special effects area of expertise required. For generic pre-vocational training, organisations should provide training which will provide participants with a breadth of special effects knowledge and expertise, encompassing a range of areas of specialisation.

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

the interpretation of production documentation in order to meet practical requirements including venue requirements, type of production and resource constraints, in particular budgetary constraints
effective verbal and written communication with a range of individuals/organisations

Method and context of assessment
Assessment of this unit would most effectively be undertaken on the job due to the specific workplace environment requirements. However, assessment of this unit can be undertaken in a closely simulated workplace environment which reproduces all the elements of a production situation including operating to a production schedule. The simulated assessment event should involve all the team members that would normally participate in a film, television or multimedia production and the use of current industry standard equipment.

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

practical demonstration (direct observation may need to occur on more than one occasion to establish consistency of performance)
role play
case studies
work samples or simulated workplace activities
oral questioning/interview
projects/reports/logbooks
third party reports and authenticated prior achievements
portfolios of evidence

Resource requirements
Assessment requires access to a range of equipment listed in the range of variables statement, currently used by the cultural industries.

Communicating ideas and information
(3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(3)

Planning and organising activities
(3)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)