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Module

MCH1039 : Introduction to the Film Industry (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Mr Simon Rushton
  • Owning School: Arts & Cultures
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

1) Introduction to the industrial and alternative contexts for documentary production in the UK
2) Introduction to the historical context for the development mainstream and alternative doc practices
3) Introduction to the ways in which audiences consume documentary in a variety of contexts

Outline Of Syllabus

Topics covered on the module may include:
- structure and organisation of the different contexts in which UK documentary is produced, distributed and exhibited
- the production, distribution and exhibition of documentary from mainstream to alternative practices
- key processes, timelines, personnel, budgets, funding, marketing, dissemination
- sources of support for development of projects for mainstream and alternative documentary projects: screen agencies, NGOs, other forms of sponsorship
- historical emergence and development of different industrial and institutional contexts: corporate, governmental, theatrical, broadcast, independent, alternative, gallery, academic (anthropological/ethnographic)
- the importance and place of the independent film sectors in relation to the dominant film industry
- the role of film societies and film festivals in developing film cultures
- contemporary developments in non-fiction formats in the broadcast sector, the mainstream film industry and the infrastructure of film viewing in a range of different contexts

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture111:0011:00Lectures delivered present-in-person (can be delivered online if necessary)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion179:0079:00Preparation for mid- and end-point assessments and weekly workshop summary
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading188:0088:00Reading and viewing preparation for seminar
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching112:0022:00Seminar discussion of set reading and research and retrieval tasks with analysis and discussion
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars that set out the contemporary and historical context for the development of the documentary film industry and alternative documentary practices. Illustrated lectures will outline key themes, and reading-based discussion in seminars will use case studies to consolidate knowledge and understanding. Seminars will also include research and retrieval tasks as a basis for further discussion. A visit to a specialist film research library (the BFI Reuben Library) may be organised and selected visiting speakers from the university may be invited to share their experiences of working in different industrial and institutional contexts on documentary projects.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Case study2M401000-word written case study
Essay2A602000-word essay
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The rationale for the assessments is to provide students with a diversity of assessment opportunities to demonstrate and consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the module Aims. The case study will enable students to present their research in a different format from the essay.

Reading Lists

Timetable