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Group Projects I - TFT00055M

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  • Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. John Mateer
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module summary

Group Projects I enables students to practice and develop skills related to their chosen specialisation in a group setting. Working to a detailed brief, students work as teams to create a short film in a manner that mimics the production practices, requirements and limitations found in industry.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22

Module aims

This module seeks to provide a formal inter-disciplinary structure in which students from all Film and Television Production course variants (e.g., Cinematography, Directing, Producing, Sound and Visual Effects) can explore methods and techniques related to their chosen specialisation by applying them to the production of film project based on a typical industry brief.

It emphasises the importance of creative and technical collaboration for the effective management of the filmmaking process in terms of use of time, working with other personnel and problem solving. The objective is to develop students’ preproduction, production and postproduction skills through a hands-on exploration of film production that mimics a real-world scenario. The module aims to develop an awareness of professional production values and collaborative working practices through reflective learning.

Module learning outcomes

Upon completion of this module all students are expected to be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of health & safety requirements and procedures for film and television production

Demonstrate an understanding of preproduction, production and postproduction processes related to their specialisation as they are applied to the creation of professionally produced media programmes in the context of single camera production involving:

  • preproduction design, planning and visualisation
  • location and studio recording of picture and sound
  • visual effects to support story
  • sound design

Students must support their creative output with comprehensive and reasoned technical documentation as well as a reflective analysis of each finished piece.

In terms of academic and graduate skills, student must also demonstrate:

  • an ability to project manage, organising all required elements in a systematic way and managing time effectively to complete projects to schedule.
  • an ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
  • an ability to critically reflect on their area of specialisation, including discussion of both aesthetic and technical aspects of project creation
  • an ability to write a comprehensive and reasoned technical report detailing all relevant steps in these processes.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Health & Safety		 N/A 10
Essay/coursework
Reflective Report		 N/A 65
Practical
Film production artefacts		 N/A 25

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

If there are unequal numbers of students from the different specialisations (e.g., more directors than producers or cinematographers, etc.) we address this through the allocation of related roles that still provide valuable experience relevant to the specialisation. These include:

... with Directing: Director, 2nd Unit Director, 1st Assistant Director, 2nd Assistant Director

... with Producing: Producer, Line Producer, Production Manager, Postproduction Manager

... with Cinematography: Director of Photography, Lighting Director, 1st Assistant Cameraman, Digital Imaging Technician

... with Sound: Supervising Sound Editor, Dialogue Editor, Effects Editor, Production Sound Mixer

... with Visual Effects: Visual Effects Supervisor, Colourist, Lead 2D Artist, Lead 3D Artist

In this way we can scale groups based on uneven cohort numbers and still provide significant and relevant experience to the students.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Health & Safety		 N/A 10
Essay/coursework
Essay Resubmission		 1 hours 65
Essay/coursework
Report in lieu of production artefacts		 N/A 25

Module feedback

Detailed oral feedback on Pitches in Week 4 AuT; detailed written feedback on Project Report by Week 6 SpT

Indicative reading

Brown, B. (2002) Cinematography Theory and Practice. Amsterdam and London: Focal Press.
Krasner, J. (2008) Motion Graphic Design: Applied History and Aesthetics. Amsterdam and London: Focal Press.
Goux, M. & Houff, J. (2003) On Screen In Time: Transitions in Motion Graphic Design for Film, TV and New Media. Mies, Hove: Rotovision.
Meyer, T. & Meyer, C. (2010) Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, 5th Ed. Amsterdam and London: Focal Press.
Wellins, M. (2005) Storytelling through Animation. Hingham, MA: Charles River Media.
Wyatt, H. and Amyes, T. (2003) Audio Post Production for Television and Film: An introduction to technology and techniques. Amsterdam and London: Focal Press.
Yewdall, D.L. (2003) Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound. Amsterdam and London: Focal Press.
Sonnenschien, D. (2001) Sound Design, The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions.
Beauchamp, R. (2005) Designing Sound for Animation. Amsterdam and London: Focal 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.