MCH2039 : Film Industry and Alternative Practices
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- 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 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
1)To develop knowledge and critical understanding of the historical, institutional, ideological and commercial contexts for mainstream and alternative documentary practices in the UK
2)To develop knowledge and critical understanding of the different ways in which audiences consume documentary in the mainstream and in alternative contexts
3)To apply and evaluate a range of research methodologies in the study of the contemporary industrial and non-industrial contexts for documentary production and reception in the UK
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
- applying and evaluating different research methods for engaging with industry and audiences in a constantly changing commercial and legislative environment
- applying and evaluating different research methods for exploring non-industrial practices and audiences in both historical and contemporary contexts
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Lectures delivered present-in-person |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 79:00 | 79:00 | Preparation for mid- and end-point assessments and weekly workshop summary |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 88:00 | 88:00 | Reading and viewing preparation for seminar |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Seminar discussion of set reading and research and retrieval tasks with analysis and discussion |
| Total | 200:00 |
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 and alumni 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 study | 1 | M | 30 | 1000-word written case study |
| Essay | 1 | A | 60 | 2000-word essay |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 10 | Participation and engagement |
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.
The professional skills assessment (Engagement and participation at 10%) will account for students' classroom contribution and module citizenship. This is not based solely on registered attendance - seminar contribution, seminar facilitation, feedback discussions and peer-to-peer engagement will be monitored on a weekly basis.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MCH2039's Timetable