Module Information
Module Identifier
FM34200
Module Title
Fiction Film Production
Academic Year
2014/2015
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Pre-Requisite
Successful completion of Part 1
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Practical | 10 x 2 hour Workshops |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Creative portfolio and documentation | 40% |
| Semester Assessment | Final project and project assessment (equivalent to 4000 words) | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Failed components must be resubmitted: creative portfolio and documentation | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Final project and assessment (equivalent to 4000 words) | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the key production processes in film-making, in particular fiction film-making;
2. Employ a range of research techniques in order to create, develop and present a film idea;
3. Manifest technical competence, aesthetic judgement and an appreciation of the interdependence of key production roles;
4. Recognise the ethical dimensions of professional media practice;
5. Critically reflect on the creative process and produce work which is informed by, and contextualised within, relevant theoretical issues and debates.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. |
Reading List
Should Be PurchasedGrant, Barry Keith (2007) Film Genre: From Iconography to Ideology Wallflower Press Primo search Recommended Text
Austin, Thomas (2002) Hollywood, Hype and Audiences: Selling and Watching Popular Film in the 1990s Manchester University Press Primo search Chion, Michael (2009) Fil, A Sound Art Columbia University Press Primo search Cleve, Bastian (2000) Film Production Management Focal Press Primo search Cornea, Christine (2010) Genre and Performance: Film and Television Manchester university Press Primo search Friedman, Lester D. (2006) Fires Were Started: British Cinema and Thatcherism Wallflower Press Primo search Grant, Barry Keith (2007) Film Genre: From Iconography to Ideology Wallflower Press Primo search Hacker, Jonathan and Price, David (1992) Take Ten: Contemporary British Film Directors Oxford University Press Primo search Katz, Steven D. (1991) Film Directing Shot by Shot Michael Wiese Productions in conjunction with Focal Press Primo search King, Geoff (2005) American Independent Cinema Palgrave Macmillan Primo search Mamet, David (1991) On Directing Film Viking Primo search Rea, Peter W. and Irving, David K. (2001) Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video Focal Press Primo search Reay, Pauline (2004) Music in Film: Soundtracks and Synergy Wallflower Press Primo search Stevenson, Jack (2003) Dogme Uncut: Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterburg and the Gang That took on Hollywood Santa Monica Press Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6