EA354-6-FY-SO:
Contextual Studies
2024/25
East 15 Acting School
Southend Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
15
31 March 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA W412 Acting and Fight Performance
In Years One and Two, contextual studies were structured to develop students' abilities to cope with the rigours of honours level study. In Year Three the work consists of the Theoretical Thesis Project and the Career Preparation unit. The module provides opportunities for you to develop and utilise knowledge of the industry, its suppliers and production processes. It also, through the Theoretical Thesis Project, encourages you to free your creative imagination to devise, plan and present a full production on paper.
Terms One, Two and Three: Theoretical Thesis Project
In this unit you will devise and plan a performance project in the media of your choice. As this is a theoretical project which you will not be required to perform, there is much scope for your creative ambitions. However you must support your concepts with practical production details such as: costing, design, staging, casting and production schedules. This will require you to build on the core contextual skills that were developed during the first and second year – using various forms of research and both oral and written expression of your ideas. These include:
1. Research/Concept design
2. Problem identification and solutions
3. Communication and team working
4. Planning
Terms One, Two and Three: Career Preparation
This unit is intended to prepare students to market themselves in the industry. Using the research and communication skills you have acquired over the duration of the module you will prepare CVs and promotional material for the purpose of getting a job. You will practice interview and audition techniques with directors and research for agents, casting directors and other organisations that may facilitate employment. In the final term of this BA Hons unit you will be tutored in how to apply your skills towards gaining work within the profession. The unit focuses on students' ability to express a range of ideas and on the practicalities of organising and assessing a future personal plan. You will research potential employment opportunities and prepare appropriate CVs for a range of employment markets.
The modules aims to:
1. introduce students to the overall process of planning a production
2. encourage the application of knowledge to specific criteria and circumstances
3. develop students’ communication skills
4. develop students’ awareness of how best to present themselves to employers
5. develop skills needed for auditions and interviews
5. widen students’ knowledge of individuals and organisations offering employment
Students will be able to demonstrate:
- Understanding of the industry’s production processes
- Understanding of the practical necessities of the production process
- Ability to identify production problems and devise appropriate solutions
- Creative and lateral thinking
Students will be able to demonstrate:
- A knowledge of agents and organisations that can assist in finding work
- Understanding of effective interview and audition technique and promotional skills
- Confident representation of knowledge and skills to a potential employer
- Ability to make informed decisions about potential career options
Theoretical Thesis Project:
In this unit you will devise and plan a performance project in the medium of your choice. As this is a theoretical project which you will not be required to perform there is much scope for your creative ambitions but you must support your concepts with practical production details such as: costing, scripts, design, staging, casting and production schedules when youpresent your project for consideration. This will require you to build on the core contextual skills that were developed during the Foundation degree - using various forms of research and both oral and written expression of your ideas.
Career Preparation:
This unit is intended to prepare students to market themselves in the industry. Using the research and communication skills you have acquired over the duration of the module you will prepare CVs and promotional material for the purpose of getting a job. You will practice interview techniques with directors and research for agents, casting directors and other organisations that may facilitate employment. In the final term of this BA Hons unit you will be tutored in how to apply your skills towards gaining work within the profession. The unit focuses on students' ability to express a range of ideas and on the practicalities of organising and assessing a future personal plan. You will research potential employment opportunities and prepare appropriate CVs for a range of employment markets.
Lectures, presentations, tutorials, research, independent study
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Theoretical Thesis Project |
|
70% |
| Practical |
Career Preparation |
|
30% |
Additional coursework information
Assessment Methods:
1. Presentation of a production plan for a performance project (of 3500-5000 words) with supporting documentation/research material
2. Career Preparation (Weighting 30%)
3. Preparation for and participation in an interview/audition situation based on CV in Term 3 (50%)
4. A speech in an accent other than own native voice in Term 2 (25%)
5. Preparation for and performance of an audition song in Term 2 (25%)
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Nick Hall, email: halln@essex.ac.uk.
Nick Hall, Chris Main
For further information please email halln
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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