Module Directory

Advanced Film Production offers students the opportunity to develop their filmmaking skills through either a Collaborative or Individual pathway, tailored to their creative interests and career aspirations. The module emphasises the integration of practical filmmaking with scholarly research, enabling students to create short films (10–15 minutes) informed by critical and theoretical insights.

In the Collaborative pathway, students contribute to two major creative roles (e.g., Writer/Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Designer) across different projects, fostering a dynamic team-based filmmaking process. Individual pathway students assume key creative roles — Writer, Director, and Producer — driving their projects from concept to completion while engaging with peers as part of a wider production network.

All students will also write a 3,500-word Critical Reflection, accounting for 30% of the overall mark, where they will evaluate their creative and collaborative processes, analyse production challenges, and demonstrate how research and theory informed their work.

Workshops, tutorials, and peer review sessions provide structured support, equipping students with the practical, critical, and organisational skills required to complete their projects. By the end of the module, students will have produced polished short films, deepened their understanding of film practice, and honed their ability to connect critical analysis with creative production.

The aims of the module are:

• To advance filmmaking and storytelling skills through hands-on practice, scholarly research, and engagement with film language.
• To support students in linking theoretical research and creative practice, fostering critical thinking and the ability to reflect on their creative decisions.
• To provide students with opportunities to deepen their technical expertise, refine their research methodologies, and develop independent learning skills.
• To enable students to undertake significant independent or collaborative projects, encompassing all stages of filmmaking from pre-production to post-production.
• To encourage teamwork, collaboration, and effective communication within a creative environment.
• To strengthen the relationship between critical analysis and creative practice through structured reflection and research-informed filmmaking.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced technical and creative filmmaking skills informed by scholarly research and critical analysis.
2. Apply research methodologies to support creative decision-making in filmmaking projects.
3. Produce polished short films (10–15 minutes) that reflect an understanding of film practice, storytelling, and technical proficiency.
4. Critically analyse their creative process and demonstrate how research and theory influenced their filmmaking decisions through a written Critical Reflection.
5. Exhibit a comprehensive understanding of production processes, including scriptwriting, cinematography, editing, sound design, and production management.
6. Showcase effective collaboration and communication skills within team-based or individual filmmaking environments.
7. Connect theoretical concepts with creative practice, demonstrating an awareness of how critical perspectives inform cinematic expression.

Estelle Barrett, Practice as Research:

• Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry


• Students will compile a relevant bibliography during research


• Further module materials will be available on moodle

This module will be delivered through a combination of:

• Workshops: Practical, hands-on sessions focusing on script development, cinematography, editing, sound design, production management, and other key aspects of filmmaking.
• Lectorials: Discussions and analysis of filmmaking theories, research methodologies, and critical reflection techniques to strengthen the connection between theory and practice.
• Supervision Tutorials: One-to-one or small-group tutorials providing personalised feedback on students’ film projects and critical reflections.
• Peer Review Sessions: Collaborative feedback forums where students present their work-in-progress, discuss production challenges, and refine their creative decisions.

This blended approach ensures that students are supported at every stage of their project, from pre-production to final reflection, while fostering collaboration and research-informed practice.