Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will build on Introduction to the Film Industry at Level 4 and give students an awareness and appreciation of the professional and personal skills required to work in different aspects of the film industry (be it exhibition, curation, distribution, sales & marketing, film journalism) as well as the challenges of setting up as an independent film company. Students will develop an understanding of the shape and structure of the film industry and be introduced to a range of possible career routes. Students will also be given an opportunity to gain experience of working in the independent film sector through field trips to film festivals and a local independent cinema.

This modules aims to:
1. Provide an overview of the diverse nature of the film industry in the UK.
2. Examine the range of career and employment possibilities in the UK film industry.
3. Outline the diverse nature of the independent film sector, including film festivals and film production.
4. Develop an appreciation of the generic and particular skills and aptitude (including ethical responsibilities) required to make it as a freelancer or an independent filmmaker.
5. Give an insight into the experience of working in the film industry students.

Outline Of Syllabus

Weekly themes, such as:
- Carving out a career in film
- Postgraduate study to build your career
- Carving out a career as a creative in the independent film sector
- Working in the wider film economy – such as film festivals, film distribution or film criticism
- Setting up as an independent – from website to production company

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students successfully completing the module will have:
1. A thorough understanding of the diverse, fragmented and ever-changing nature of employment in the film industry in the UK.
2. An in-depth appreciation of the range of career and employment possibilities in the UK film industry.
3. A good understanding of the diverse, fragmented and dynamic nature of the independent film sector.
4. An appreciation of the generic and particular skills and aptitude required to make it as a freelancer or an independent filmmaker.
5. A realistic understanding of the life as a creative / film professional.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students successfully completing the module will have:
1. developed a range of appropriate social science research skills such as information gathering and critical analysis to investigate the film industry.
2. developed the ability to be critical reflective of abilities and undertake a self-assessment of personal development needs.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures that set out the main ideas and themes and fieldtrips to film festivals and/or an independent cinema spread over two semesters. Students will be given a structure within which they will be able to explore the area of the film industry that interests them in more depth. The combination of lectures and fieldwork will give a structure and context for learning, that will enable students to have both the breadth and depth of understanding of working in the film industry.

If necessary due to public health requirements and restrictions the field trips will take place online, with students attending virtual film festivals and zoom sessions with programmers etc.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The rationale for the assessments is to enable the students to demonstrate an understanding of working in the film industry and to illustrate this through the production of a scholarly 4000-word portfolio. Example content of this portfolio includes: their own online CV, entrance strategies for career plans, case studies of a particular film festival or independent cinema, or relevant volunteering opportunity. Alternatively students may agree with module leader to research in depth a specific aspect of the film industry in a scholarly essay accompanied by their CV.

General Notes

Please note this module involves guest speakers and is also taught by a member of staff who is .6 FTE. It therefore has to be timetabled in a way that will work for the member of staff, and also for the guest speakers.
The current pattern - Fridays 11 - 1 in Semester 1 and Fridays 9 - 11 in Semester 2 works well. Alternatively Fridays 11 - 1 in Semester 1 and Thursday (afternoon) could work. Other options won't. The module also needs to be timetabled into the Ballroom in Culture Lab for the majority of sessions both for the guest speakers and as it involves screenings where a good standard of projection is available.
PLEASE CHECK WITH THE MODULE LEADER IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS as there were a lot of issues with timetabling for this module for 2023/24 which could have been avoided by checking first.