University of Essex

LT122-4-FY-CO:
Introduction to Film Production

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Full Year

Level: Undergraduate: Level 4

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 05 October 2023

End date: Friday 28 June 2024

Credits: 30

Last updated: 09 May 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: LT121

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): LT226, LT227, LT322, LT833

Key module for

BA P303 Film Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA W620 Film Studies,
BA W623 Film Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA W628 Film Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA P565 Film and Journalism,
BA P566 Film and Journalism (Including Foundation Year),
BA P567 Film and Journalism (including Placement Year),
BA P568 Film and Journalism(including Year Abroad)

Module description

The course provides an introduction to the basic skills required for fiction filmmaking: from pre-production to post-production. Students are introduced to the ways in which framing, mise en scène, sound, editing, and other technical processes are instrumental in fiction filmmaking.

Classes cover such topics such as: how shots are framed, how lighting affects the mood of a scene or how different editing techniques manipulate film narrative. Students on this course are encouraged to translate key concepts they learn on LT121 ‘Introduction to Film Studies’ into film practice. Students will work individually as well as in small groups under the guidance of their lecturer.

Module aims

The aims of the module are:

1. to enable students to develop the basic skills required for fiction filmmaking.

2. to provide students with hands-on experience of the film process: from pre-production to post-production.

3. to help students develop a critical and practical understanding of the ways in which framing, camera movement, lighting, sound, editing, and other technical processes are instrumental in developing film form.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students should have:

• gained an understanding of the pre-production and production process, as well as post- production techniques
• acquired an understanding of film form and visual style
• developed individual skills of communication, presentation, and analysis
• developed skills in working effectively individually and as a team
• acquired basic skills in handling technical equipment for film production

Module information

General Reading:
Practical
C. Counsell & L. Wolf, Performance Analysis: An Introductory Coursebook (London: Routledge, 2001)
Des Lyver & Graham Swainson, Basics of Video Lighting (Oxford: Focal Press, 1999) 2nd edition
Michael Rabiger, Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics (Oxford: Focal Press, 2008) 4th edition

Theoretical
David Bordwell & Kristin Thompson, Film Art: an Introduction (New York: McGraw Hill, 2012) 10th edition

Useful Websites
The British Film Institute, www.bfi.org.uk
Film London, www.filmlondon.org.uk

Learning and teaching methods

Anticipated teaching delivery: Weekly 3-hour class and final week screening

Bibliography

Bordwell, D., Thompson, K. and Smith, J. (2019) Film Art: An Introduction. 12th edn. New York, US: McGraw-Hill. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/387523.
Rabiger, M. and Hurbis-Cherrier, M. (2013) Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics. 5th edn. Abingdon, UK: Focal Press. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1125193.
Counsell, C. and Wolf, L. (eds) (2001) Performance Analysis: An Introductory Coursebook. 1st edn. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203977002.
Brown, B. (2016) Cinematography: Theory and Practice for Cinematographers and Directors. 3rd edn. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/974034.

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	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Individual Learning Portfolio (3,000 words)	25%
Practical	Participation	5%
Practical	Individual Practical (2-3 minute film)	30%
Practical	Group Practical (8-10 minute Fiction Film), Group Production Log, and Individual Film Production Diary (500-800 words)	40%

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

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Tasos Giapoutzis, email: tasos.giapoutzis@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Eirini Konstantinidou, email: ekonstb@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Various

Contact details: LiFTS General Office - email liftstt@essex.ac.uk. Telephone 01206 872626

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Dr Andrew Birtwistle

Institution: Canterbury Christ Church University

Academic role: Reader in Film and Sound

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 210 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
210 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

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Module Directory

LT122-4-FY-CO:Introduction to Film Production