module specification

This practical filmmaking module offers students the opportunity to learn through engagement with a series of practical film and screen-based project briefs that embrace current trends within film and television production.

Briefs can change from year to year, adapting to new and emerging practice in a way that encourages students to work at the cutting edge, preparing them for entry into the industry as it is today.

Project briefs can engage with a variety of formats and genres including (but not limited to): Fiction film, Documentary, TV Studio, Interactive and VR, Experimental Film, Live Client-Led (these projects might be competitions, live briefs from external organisations or self-generated projects around themes).

At the end of this module the student will have completed a portfolio consisting of up to four films. They will work with others in a collaborative way and will begin to work in more defined specialisms (Directing, Producing, Cinematography, Sound design and recording, Editing and Post Production). They can choose to work in different specialisms across different projects.

The module aims are to allow students to experiment, working across a variety of genres in a range of different specialist roles. To encourage ambition and originality, to create an environment within which they are willing to take creative risks. To introduce industry practice and skills and to begin to merge their technical skills with their creative ambitions.

Must be taken with MD5002

The syllabus is organised to meet the needs of different groups of students and to offer choice. This may vary in composition from year to year and is specifically designed to be flexible, allowing us to adapt to new and emerging practice.

Specialisms taught as part of film project briefs: LO1-4

Screenwriting
Directing and Producing
Lighting & Cinematography
Sound Recording and Post Production
Advanced Editing techniques

Indicative production genres (varying from year to year):

Single camera environment:
Documentary and factual
Fiction Film
Experimental Film
Interactive Film / VR / New and Emerging Screen based practice
Live Brief or Client Led Brief

Multi-camera environment:
Television Studio Production

The learning and teaching strategy for this module and other atelier modules is to place the emphasis on learning through practice. Students are taught how to be responsible for their own learning and have additional open access to the Avid Suite / Film Studio at other times during the week. Lecturers will be available for consultation and for a schedule of progressive tutorials and feedback.

Teaching methods will also include lectures, seminars, demonstrations, workshops and group tutorials.

This module encourages and combines lecturer-led learning, learning from others in the class and thirdly, learning through experience and independent studies.

At level 5, this opportunity is extended by offering a number of film projects with different themes. These projects encourage students to engage with subject matter and issues that will stimulate and encourage new approaches. These projects will also be an opportunity for students to work with others in the same course, and potentially set up collaborations with students from other courses and other levels.

There will be opportunities for formative feedback throughout the module, including written feedback uploaded to weblearn following formative submission deadlines.  Students can use this feedback to improve their work.

The two atelier modules at this level (this module and Film and TV Practice 2) are part of an integrated approach to learning and can be seen as a pair. In this module, the main assessment item is the portfolio which is made up film assignments and supporting material. In the other atelier module, taken at the same time, the main assessment item is the supporting assignments and critical reflection. Thus, the two modules support and inform each other: product and process.

On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate:

LO1. Extended skills in working independently.
For example, working to and planning for a specific production role on a film project.

LO2. Developed practical skills and an understanding of practice in Film and TV Production.
For example, producing films that demonstrate developing technical skills. Working safely with mechanical and electrical equipment both in the studio and on location.

LO3. The ability to work collaboratively in groups.
Managing conflicting views and developing the ability to listen, reflect, contribute and take the lead at appropriate times throughout the production process.

LO4. Show an understanding of the ways meaning is created in film and screen based work.
For example, by creating ambitious, well-paced, coherent films that express imaginative creative ideas.

The strategy is to increase the power and effectiveness of assessment by simplifying and reducing the number of assessment items. Then, each assessment item is broken into stages so that regular formative and developmental feedback can be given.
Another advantage of a portfolio approach to assessment is that tracking is clear and simple and so we can ensure that all learning outcomes are assessed.

The portfolio will consist of a maximum of four prescribed film or TV briefs, each with specified assessment criteria relating to the module's learning outcomes (section 12), these works will be broadly within the scope of screen-based production (i.e. films or moving image work, potentially incorporating new and emerging or hybrid modes of presentation).

Regular formative assessment will be used to provide diagnostic feedback and to support students to learn, change and improve.

The assessment in different modules will be coordinated and integrated, so that learning outcomes for each module are assessed separately and, also, learning from one module is transferred to other modules.

The assessment load complies with the Faculty’s assessment tariff.
Assessment will be based on 100% coursework.

As project briefs can be quite diverse in this module, assessment criteria will vary from brief to brief.

As an example, assessment criteria for a short fiction film brief is provided below:

• Creative ambition and originality
• Quality of technical aspects of the production
• Quality of aesthetic realisation
• Quality of production paperwork

Each student group will have access to online resources, including a dedicated WebLearn site. These are seen as forums for sharing information, discussion and learning.

In addition, a regularly updated online reading list resource will direct students to reading material that supports and broadens learning for specific subjects and project briefs. A link to the reading and resources list for this course at time of revalidation can be found here: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/6B342B67-8C60-46F3-0062-16E2A5EC7D59.html