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Creative Business Methods: Finance and the Law - TFT00052I

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  • Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Peter Merrington
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module is a central and defining component of this degree programme. It will equip you with the key - and transferable - business skills that underpin entrepreneurialism and business procedures in the creative industries including finance, the impact of intellectual property, copyright and contract law. By combining practical and theoretical learning, you will develop an understanding of what distinguishes the creative industries from other forms of business in terms of their approach to money and legal issues. And you will apply that understanding to the creative industries' different sectors, screen, stage, digital media and music.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims to:

  • Acquaint you with the practical skills surrounding finance and financial planning in the creative industries.
  • Acquaint you with a working knowledge of the impact of key aspects of the law - intellectual property. copyright, contract - on creative working practices
  • Stimulate a critical engagement with. and an understanding of, what distinguishes the creative industries from other industries in terms of their business methods.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this key module you will be able to:

  • Identify the objectives of a creative project - for screen, stage, digital media and beyond - and assign the appropriate financial resources to its realisation.
  • Apply a working knowledge of finance and financial planning to the headline financial demands of a variety of creative content scenarios.
  • Apply a working knowledge of the law to the contract and copyright issues - amongst others - that apply to the creative industries and their outputs, across different sectors of activity.
  • Deploy a working knowledge of finance and the law in the design of business plans, or proposals.
  • Critically analyse and distinguish the particular characteristics of creative as compared with other industrial models.

Module content

This module will run in two discrete strands - one financial, the other legal - each of them supported by lecture, seminar and assigned reading. The structure then allows for the introduction of practical problem-based learning (PBL) sessions to accommodate and develop the module's concern with reconciling finance and the law scenarios.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : Business Plan		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Students will receive direct feedback through practical sessions, and in individual supervision.

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times. In addition you will receive direct feedback through practical sessions, and in individual supervision

Indicative reading

Alberstat, P. (2004). The Insider's Guide to Film Finance. Oxford: Focal Press.

Association for Project Management, (2015). Planning Scheduling Monitoring and Control. Kindle

Bentley, L. (2018). Intellectual Property Law. Oxford: OUP.

Litwak, M. (2012). Contracts for the Film and Television Industry. Los Angeles: Silman James Press.

Singleton, R. (1991). Film Scheduling. Los Angeles: Eagle.

Vogel, H. (2011). Entertainment Industry Economics. New York: Cambridge University Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.