module specification

The main focus of the module is the creation of a major body of work that has evolved from proposal stage during the course, based upon a programme of research and practice based enquiry at an advanced level.

This module supports students to further develop their subject specific and professional practice skills and to see their project, instigated during the Project Part 1 module, through to completion. Students will further extend their practice producing either, a series of short films or animations or, a single major film or animation that consolidates their investigation and learning during the Masters course.

On completion of the module, students will submit a substantial and completed body of work including documented pre-production and workbook development. They will also demonstrate their understanding of context through documentation of presentations, live projects and screenings undertaken during the course of the year. This module is delivered for both MA Film and Broadcast Production and MA Animation and may involve some co-taught sessions.

The module aims to:

• Support students to develop their independence and self confidence, to enable them to question conventions and set their own agendas, as resourceful and innovative film and broadcast practitioners or animators;
• Encourage dialogue, exchange, experimentation, heuristic learning and professional practice;
• Support students to achieve and at times exceed their own ambitions and enable them to develop the skills and confidence required, to go on to further study and/or professional practice
• Prepare students with the necessary reflective skills to tackle the challenges and demands of the changing nature of media and technology
• Provide students with an educational framework from which they can explore and understand the social, ethical and sustainable responsibilities associated with their work.

The overall aim of the module is, to provide students with the opportunity to expand their practice, to realise a major self-initiated and self-directed project. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and practical, theoretical and conceptual skills and competencies required for them to function effectively as professionals within the expanding Film and Animation sectors.

Students will further progress their self-directed work, based upon their developed and updated project proposal that sets out to build upon and refines their research and exploration.

During the module, each student will advance their specific approach to making work, employing a bespoke set of skills and technical applications relevant to their particular intentions. Students will engage in evaluation and analysis of their practice, through discussion and presentation as well as contextual research, in this way they will expand their critical understanding and their knowledge of the process from ‘Concept to Screen’.

Students will continue to take a pro-active and entrepreneurial approach to live projects and pop-up screenings in order to directly test out appropriate professional strategies.

The Learning and Teaching strategy for the module is to base learning around the student’s evolving work and practice. There are a range of learning and teaching methods employed including:

Live projects enable students to develop project management skills, negotiation and collaborative working skills while developing their own approach to working in public and professional contexts.

Peer review and critiques encourage students to analyse and critically evaluate and engage with their own work and the work of others and develop advanced communication and presentation skills.

Student ‘rough cut’ screenings support students to interrogate their own practice and develop presentation skills and also provide a platform for debate and engagement with peers from across the Faculty

Learning through practice Individual and group work analysing, testing and originating Film or Animation using an appropriate range of media and techniques.

Individual and group work developing the critical project and working practices through tutorials, seminars, crits and presentations on work in progress involving peers, tutors, research and subject specialists.

Individual development of the project outline for the next stage of study, establishes the themes, strategic aims and practice-based research criteria for the ensuing stage.

Access to technical facilities enable students to test out and produce work to a professional standard based on their own research plans.

In addition, students are encouraged to make maximum use of the resources available to them in terms of the IT provision, both within the Faculty and the library. Blended Learning /weblearn includes the provision of course and module information on the web, lecture notes, feedback, and blogs are used to enhance independent learning.

On successful completion of the module, the student will be able to:
1. Devise, manage and produce a confident self-directed project that engages in and questions the field of Film and Broadcast Production or Animation;
2. Employ in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the theories, contexts, audiences and debates relevant to their field of practice;
3. Situate and evaluate their practice in relation to the wider field of Film and Broadcast Production or Animation;
4. Employ relevant independent research skills, informed critical judgement and decision making in relation to their practice and its presentation;
5. Develop appropriate skills and techniques to support the realisation of their practice;
6. Employ relevant entrepreneurial strategies and communication skills to document and realise their practice in a public and professional context;
7. Demonstrate initiative and personal responsibility in managing their practice, utilising collaborative processes and effective teamwork where appropriate;
8. Navigate a route through relevant ethical issues, such as environmental, social or economic, in relation to their practice.

Assessment will be holistic and based upon coursework, presented within two associated pieces of work:

Workbook  (including final draft of proposal, plan of works, project brief, description and analysis of project development) (indicative word count 3000) and Project (either a single major work or series of works).

Work will be assessed against the learning outcomes in relation to the following criteria:

• Appropriate use of research methods
• Quality of analysis and interpretation
• Subject knowledge and relevance
• Quality of communication and presentation
• Appropriate technical competence
• Appropriate use of problem solving, testing and experimentation
• Management of own learning and personal professional development
• Effective collaborative and/or independent working methods

Students will devise their own reading lists, relevant to their specific project. In addition, module booklets will direct students to reading material that supports and broadens learning for particular groups and particular projects.

Indicative reading for Animation students includes:
Beiman, N (2010), Animated Performance: Bringing Imaginary Animal, Human and Fantasy Characters to Life, Worthing: Ava Books,
Betancourt,M (2013) The History of Motion Graphics: Wildside Press
Dopoll (Editor) (2012) Moving Graphics: New Direction in Motion Design: Promopress
Heit, L (2013) Animation Sketchbooks: Thames and Hudson Ltd
Hooks, E. (2003), Acting for Animators: A Complete Guide to Performance Animation, Westport: Greenwood Press
Murch, V (2001) In The Blink Of An Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing: Silman-James Press, U.S.
Reiss, J (2011) Think Outside the Box Office: The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution and Marketing for the Digital Era: Hybrid Cinema
Shaw, J. and Weibel, P (2003), Future Cinema: The Cinematic Imaginary After Film, Cambridge: The MIT Press
Urban Screens: The Potential Of Screens For Urban Society <http://www.urbanscreens.org/> (Accessed: 2011, August 14).
Wells,P., Hardsatt, J. (2010) Re-Imagining Animation: The Changing Face of the Moving Image, Worthing:  Ava Books

Indicative reading for Film and Broadcast Production students includes:
Cousins, M & MacDonald, K (1998) Imagining Reality: The Faber book of Documentary, London. Faber
Dancyger, K and Cooper, P (1997) Writing the Short Film, Focal Press
Erickson, G et al (2010) The Independent Film Producer’s Survival Guide: Schirmer
Gates, R (1992)  Production Management for Film and Video , Focal Press
Honthaner, E.L (2010) The Complete Film Production Handbook: Focal Press
Joliffe, G & Jones, C (2000)  The Guerrilla Film Maker Handbook
Katz, S. D (1990) Film Directing Shot by Shot, Michael Wiese Productions
Kramer, P, & Lovell, A (1999) Screen Acting, Routledge
Lee Jr, J & Gillen, A.M (2010) The Producer’s Business Handbook: Focal Press
McKee, R, (1998) Story: substance, structure, style and the principles of screenwriting, Methuen
Murch, V (2001) In The Blink Of An Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing: Silman-James Press, U.S.
Rabiger, M (1997) Directing the Documentary: Focal Pres
Shaw, J. & Weibel, P (2003), Future Cinema: The Cinematic Imaginary After Film, Cambridge: The MIT Press
Tashiro, C. S. (1998) Pretty pictures: production design and the history film: University of Texas Press
Vogler, C (1999) The Writer's Journey - Mythic Structure for storytellers and screenwriters: Pan