FT3AFP-Advanced Filmmaking Project

Module Provider: Film, Theatre and TV
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites: FT2CSP Creative Screen Practice or FT2CSPSA Creative Screen Practice
Non-modular pre-requisites: Part 3 single honours only
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: FT3ATMP Advanced Theatre Making Project or FT3DISS Dissertation: Film and Theatre or FT3CRP Creative Research Project or FT3JDFA Dissertation (Art and Film and Theatre) or EN3JDX Joint Dissertation English and Film, Theatre and Television (20 credits in each Department)
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mr James Kenward-Abdollahyan
Email: j.kenward-abdollahyan@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Prof Lisa Purse
Email: l.v.purse@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

In this major creative project, you will collaborate in groups to produce a piece of film or television work, building upon your understanding of film and/or television theory and practice in earlier parts of the degree. From pre- to post-production, each group will devise, prepare and deliver the screen work alongside supervision, culminating in screenings at the end of year festival.   

Aims:

The module aims to test the student's ability to apply accumulated skills and knowledge to a major practical, research-based project with accompanying documentation, which is initiated and developed by the student and their group, but under supervision. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to: 

• demonstrate the ability to collaboratively plan a coherent practical project in film or television which draws convincingly on critical and theoretical debates and practices encountered elsewhere on the course; 


• articulate a clear set of aims, expressed both in terms of creative and critical objectives; 


• demonstrate levels of technical skill and achievement appropriate to their project, including the delegation of tasks and briefing of crew members; 


• realise a practical project that is internally coherent, systematic and imaginative in its decision making and that is informed by an appropriate critical and conceptual agenda; 


• evaluate their project self-critically, analysing both local and systemic levels of decision making undertaken by them and their group members, in the light both of independent reading and research and selected examples of practice;


• establish how their project is guided by professional and industry contexts through the realisation of their project and its overall delivery as an event (in terms of organisational skills related to programming, marketing, technical co-ordination and box-office) within a student-led festival.

Additional outcomes:

Assessment is based on the outcomes of production and documentation. The processes of production and documentation will encourage a range of other outcomes. 

Development Blogs: 

Appropriate deployment of research using printed and electronic resources, critical analysis and coherent argument; presentation of written work using IT; identifying and addressing problems in screen practice; self-evaluation and self-critical analysis; development of, and reflection on, collaborative working practices.  

Production: 

Practical planning and time management; successful management of the resources involved in production, including the leadership of a production team, within the constraints and policies of the Department; the development of IT and technical skills (e.g. digital video editing, lighting design and sound recording); research and logistical skills (e.g. location scouting, consent forms, etc.). 

Outline content:

Students will work to produce either:  

• a practical film/ video project (short fiction or documentary) with accompanying documentation through development blogs 


• a practical television project with accompanying documentation through development blogs 

Students will form filmmaking crews to collaborate on the above projects. Each member of the team must have a role that is creative, involves research, and is an integral critical decision-making role. Written documentation will be completed individually. 

During the Autumn Term students will meet regularly with their supervisors, identify the nature of their intended project and under supervision will develop detailed plans (including, as relevant, a storyboard and shooting script) for a project which is appropriate in scale, can be achieved within available resources and is informed by a clear and explicit critical agenda. Satisfactory completion of this phase of work will lead to approval of a production schedule. Students will give a short presentation on their research-in-progress during Autumn term.  

During the Spring Term students will undertake their shooting and editing on a schedule agreed by the co-ordinator, and completed work will be submitted (and/or presented) by specified dates towards the end of term. Supervisors will view rushes during this period to provide formative feedback.  

In Summer Term, the final reflective elements of the documentation will then be submitted and the projects will be screened alongside other Part 3 work at the end of year festival.

Global context:

Working on this module involves researching film and television as well as the production of the students' own work, and projects may conduct this research in relation to texts from a range of national cinemas and cultural contexts. Students will be permitted to shoot outside of the UK (subject to proper procedure and the convener’s recommendations) and students may wish to submit their completed work to international festivals.  

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching is mainly by small-group supervisory tutorial. Larger gatherings with all students will be held to co-ordinate schedules and allocate practical resources, as well as for specialist guidance on particular skills (e.g. screenwriting, lighting interiors, etc.). 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	2
Project Supervision	6	3
Practicals classes and workshops	4
Supervised time in studio/workshop		1
Fieldwork		50
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	30	5	2
Wider reading (directed)	30	5	2
Preparation for performance	70	70
Preparation of practical report	30	30	32
Reflection	8	16	4
Total hours by term	180	180	40
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	40
Project output other than dissertation	60

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Screen work submission plus significant research and critical reflection. Festival participation, part of the student’s wider professionalisation, will form part of the assessment.  

Formative assessment methods:

Ongoing oral feedback provided by the supervisor throughout the development of the project.  

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of coursework. The practical element of assessment may be replaced by a different mode of assessment.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023