Module Information

Module Identifier
FM34200
Module Title
ADVANCED FICTION FILM PRODUCTION
Academic Year
2011/2012
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Practical 10 x 3 hour workshops (Semester 1) - 30 hours
Practical 10 x 2 hour workshops (Semester 2) - 20 hours
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion

Content

Semester 1

The Structure will consist of lectures and/or seminars, followed by workshop exercises.

Week 1
Lecture: Course intro/ considering audiences
Workshop: Generating ideas in relation to target audiences

Week 2
Lecture: Narrative and story-telling: Mainstream vs Independent/Arthouse
Workshop: Collaborative working methods -developing ideas/stories/plots

Week 3
Seminar: The power of the camera (with reference to set short films)
Workshop: Achieving style - lighting and production design

Week 4
Lecture: Sound - music, soundscapes and sound effects
Workshop: Working with soundtracks

Week 5
Student presentations: Genre
Seminar: Research for fiction and the nature of fiction
Workshop: Developing characters

Week 6
Lecture: Making scenery and objects significant
Workshop: Visualizing ideas - creating image-led narratives

Week 7
Lecture: Strategies for developing dialogue
Workshop: Developing dialogue, blocking, working with actors, establishing points of view

Week 8
Seminar: Styles of editing (with ref. to selected films)
Workshop: Advanced editing

Week 9
Lecture: Production management
Seminar/Workshop: Turning a script into a film - creating a production schedule

Week 10
Lecture/Seminar: Branding a film - producing a publicity package
Workshop: Review of scripts developed during the semester

Semester 2

Students develop personal projects (script, film and production package). Weekly 2 hour sessions are used for group tutorials (10 x 2 hour sessions) where individual work-in-progress is presented and discussed. These sessions are also used to 'trouble shhot', discuss techniques and share advice concerning technical matters. Semester 2 culminates in a formal viewing of all final products.

Brief description

This module offers students an opportunity to apply some of the technical and creative tools acquired during Part 1 with a view to creating increasingly indepemdent work culminating in a group film production. This module will focus primarily on fiction production although techniques acquired in the study of other production genres may be applied.

The module is organised around a series of student-centred projects set by the coordinator and involving such activities as: project-oriented writing assignments; practical research assignments; exercises in visual story-telling; individual and group presentations, discussions and evaluations; practical camera and sound exercises. The first semester concentrates on project research and development, the second focuses on realisation and the key roles in the production team. Each semester culminates in several team projects.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Technical work requires numeracy. This will not be assessed.
Communication Written communication as well as the process of communicating a concept through a particular medium is directly assessed for inclusion in the creative portfolio and the final project assessment (film). Oral communication skills are developed through exercises, seminars, pitches and feedback on written work particularly during Semester 2 although this is not directly assessed.
Improving own Learning and Performance Filmmaking is a continual process of self-assessment and learning. The final project includes a self-assessment.
Information Technology Competence and familiarity with information technology is expected, particularly in the research period, but this is not formally assessed.
Personal Development and Career planning This module has value not only for those with concrete career aims in the media industries but offers all participants opportunities for personal development - see items 1 - 7 above. Guest lecturers from the industry (item F3) can also provide specific career advice.
Problem solving Filmmaking is a continual process of problem-solving. Students are tested on this individually and as part of a team.
Research skills Students undertake research as exercises and in the development of the final project.
Subject Specific Skills See Subject Benchmark Statement for Communication, Media, film and Cultural Studies (2008)
Team work Although not directly assessed, the majority of media production forms involve a high degree of team work particularly through the group tutorials in Semester 2.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6