This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to develop and apply the relevant skills involved in making experimental films, or a short film that utilises experimental, alternative or innovative future filmmaking techniques.

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of how to apply experimental models within the context of creating a short film. Topics will include understanding and communicating concepts to audiences, subjects, ideas, themes in a unique manner. We will explore, discuss and deconstruct historical and contemporary films and filmmakers. You will complete a series of exercises and short-form experiments that help and enrich your filmmaking these will be in experimenting and researching your film.

You will create a series of short video experiments that will form a portfolio of work and ultimately influence a 5-minute short film. The experimentation conducted will be documented in your Artists Notebook, and you will be expected use critically reflect upon the process throughout the Notebook.

1. Short Experimental Film – Assessing Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 6 – weighted at 60%

2. Artist Notebook – Assessing Learning Outcomes 3, 4 and 5 – weighted at 40%

The learning strategies used within the Experimental Filmmaking module include: experiential learning, where you will learn through the process of experimenting and reflecting on your audio-visual work. There is opportunity for your learning to be individualised, as we encourage all students to draw from their personal experiences, influences and individuality whilst developing concepts for their experimental or future films.

Workshops will introduce key theories, principles and practices from historical experimental filmmakers. Ensuring you are well informed of the historical developments within early cinema and how these techniques are utilised and developed in contemporary work. You will be expected to participate in discussions and deconstruction of historical and contemporary filmmakers, art and films.

Studio Experiments will allow you to experiment with alternative filmmaking techniques, linking practices and theories developed in lectures to your own practice-based research.

Crit Club will give you an opportunity to showcase your influences, present your experiments and work in progress films, whilst giving an opportunity to discuss your projects and to give and receive feedback from your peers.

Film Festival/Gallery Visits will enable you to become a consumer of creative and innovating filmmaking and consider where your work sits within current distribution practices. These experiences will also provide opportunities to attend masterclasses, discussion panels with directors and the possibility to make industry connections through networking events.

Technical Instruction introduces advanced editing techniques and hands-on experience with a higher level camera and sound equipment.

Production Supervisor (Lecturer) will oversee your experimental of future filmmaking project and experiments. This means you will be required to meet negotiated project milestones, which may be hyper personal depending on your project goals. You will receive regular formative feedback on your audio-visual production and artist notebook.

Gallery showcase/screening event will give you opportunity to experience the organisational, planning and curating that form the public presentation of experimental or future filmmaking work.

1. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and appreciation of experimental and alternative filmmaking principles and practices.
Knowledge and Understanding

2. Explore alternative approaches to creative filmmaking and identify themes of personal interest and artistic identity.
Learning

3. Evaluate different approaches to solving problems and propose solutions to problems arising from production.
Problem Solving

4. Conceive and apply creative audio-visual experiments to generate new ideas and approaches to filmmaking.
Application

5. Critique and reflect on the creative, technical, logistical practices and processes encountered during experimental and alternative filmmaking.
Reflection

6. Utilise communication skills to communicate experimental and alternative filmmaking techniques and concepts; both verbally and through the written word.
Communication

Level 5 camera, lighting, sound, studio and postproduction facilities.
Virtual Production Suite
Library facilities web, computer access, printing facilities.
Blackboard virtual learning environment.
Film Theatre screening and viewing facilities.
Lynda.com Online learning Resource.

Bordwell, D. and Thompson, K. (2013) Film art: an introduction. New York: McGrawHill.
Hjort, M. and MacKenzie, S. (2003) Purity and provocation: Dogma 95. London: British Film Institute.
Garfield, R. (2021) Experimental Filmmaking and Punk: Feminist Audio Visual Culture in the 1970s And 1980s. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Grove, E. (2013) Raindance Producers' Lab Lo - To - No Budget Filmmaking. Focal Press.
Jones, C. and Jolliffe, G. (2006) The guerilla film makers handbook. London: Continuum.
Ramey, K. (2016) Experimental filmmaking: break the machine. New York: Focal Press.
Rees, A. L. (1999) A history of experimental film and video: from the canonical avant garde to contemporary British practice. London: BFI Publishing.
Rizzo, M. (2005) The art direction handbook for film. London: Focal Press.

Break and make the rules! within the Experimental Filmmaking module, you can push the boundaries of what filmmaking can be by exploring conceptual filmmaking and expanding your creativity. The module aims to broaden your filmmaking knowledge and understanding by blurring the lines between art and cinema. Create a niche audio-visual project for your filmmaking portfolio that stands out from the crowd and expands on conventional filmmaking traditions. This can be achieved by exploring alternative ideas, new technologies, formats and means of production, up to the distribution of your audio-visual project.