LT932-7-SP-CO:
Film Workshop
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
20
24 September 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This ten-week module provides practical skills in fiction film production, allowing students to have hands-on experience in film and to utilise concepts gained in theoretical seminars. Each week, the session will be split between discussion, practical sessions and ongoing work towards a final group short film project.
Technical training will involve working with the Canon C70 camera and location sound recording. There also will be sessions on working as a crew, directing actors, production design and creative editing.
The class runs for 10 weeks, but students will also be expected to spend time out of class working towards the completion of the short film project.
The aims of this module are:
- To develop and translate an original screenplay into a short film.
- To provide students with a significant piece of practical work to evidence their academic studies.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Have acquired practical skills necessary to produce short fiction films.
- Have acquired an understanding of key roles in the film industry.
- Have acquired an understanding of managing a successful production.
- Have gained insight into film industry practices.
Suggested Reading:
- Patricia Cooper & Ken Dancyger, Writing the Short Film (Focal Press, 2005)
- Bruce Block, The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Focal Press, 2007)
- Judith Weston, Directing Actors (Michael Wiese Productions, 1999)
- Blake Snyder, Save the Cat! (Michael Wiese Productions, 2005)
- Mike Figgis, Digital Film Making (Faber and Faber, 2007)
- Sam Kauffmann, Avid Editing: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users (Focal Press, 2017)
All equipment outside of classes should be booked from the Media Centre.Editing is available in the Media Lab.
This module will be delivered via:
- One weekly seminar/workshop class
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 |
Group Fiction Film (group work, 10-15 mins) - SUBMIT TO MOODLE by 10am, 25th April 2025 |
|
45% |
| Practical |
Participation mark (individual, monitored throughout) |
|
5% |
| Practical |
Filmmaker's Portfolio (individual work, 4000 words) |
25/04/2025 |
50% |
Additional coursework information
95% is for the GROUP FICTION FILM (group work, 10-15 mins, 45%) mediated against the FILMMAKER’S PORTFOLIO (individual work, 4000 words, 50%). The remaining 5% is for PARTICIPATION (individual, monitored throughout).
Each student should use the FILMMAKER’S PORTFOLIO to provide a creative record of their specific input into the making of the film throughout the production process.
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 Bevan Walsh, email: bwalsh@essex.ac.uk.
Mr Bevan Walsh
LiFTS General Office - email liftstt@essex.ac.uk.
Telephone 01206 872626
No
No
No
Dr Andrew Birtwistle
Canterbury Christ Church University
Reader in Film and Sound
Available via Moodle
Of 48 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
48 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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