- This module will continue to develop your production skills through creating a documentary feature. You will learn general principles of storytelling and media making in the negotiation of your own factual based project. You will develop creative skills in the development of story and presentation of your content while developing an understanding of contemporary, and future processes in documentary product-on.
- You will develop technical skills in camera, lighting, sound and editing, along with building your knowledge of production methods to investigate the development of form and content to tell a story about a chosen topic.
- This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the production and post-production processes in creating a documentary. You will be building on your understanding of these with reference to the importance of research, visual composition and sound production.
- This module aims to provide you with a deeper understanding of the full production process from concept to post-production and the importance of collaboration, teamwork and time management. You will also develop the advanced production skills required in camera, sound and editing and the skills of communication, organisation and planning.
- Different documentary case studies will be examined to understand their storytelling composition and to assess their impact on audiences, and we will also consider hybrid forms, such as drama documentary and the ethical considerations of mixing fact and fiction in the representation of truth, authenticity, and reality.

Assessment 1: Documentary Project
You will produce an individual documentary project on a subject of your own choice, demonstrating your ability to research, plan, and realise a factual media output. The project should show effective storytelling, informed subject research, and appropriate consideration of audience, ethics, and representation. You will apply advanced production and post-production techniques in camera, lighting, sound, and editing, alongside professional production methods, collaboration, and time management, to communicate a coherent and engaging documentary narrative.

Assessment 2: Reflection You will submit a reflective commentary critically evaluating the development of your documentary project. The reflection should consider creative and technical decision-making, research processes, ethical considerations, and collaborative working practices. You will identify strengths, challenges, and learning output, and reflect on how the skills developed support your future creative and professional practice in documentary and factual media production. A choice of submission is:

Option 1: an 1,800-word written report or
Option 2: 6-8 mins verbal presentation

- You will be involved in several exercises and work in individual and groups to produce short documentaries, such as media craft sessions on creative production skills.
- There will be technical demonstrations, exercises and workshop instruction. The learning experience will involve you extensively in researching and practicing documentary production. Technical skills include the production of sound and vision sequences, which will involve recording, editing and mixing. Research skills include using different resources.
- Visual and verbal skills will be developed through practice in small groups, with support from tutors to begin and build ideas and concepts.
- The emphasis will be placed on group communication, and a range of team building exercises will be included as a learning approach. Workshops will also consider how apply and evaluate your learning and develop reflective practice.
- Technical Instruction sessions will include covering risk assessments, health and safety, Media Centre operation.
- Guided Independent study activities may include independent practice with equipment, research gathering, group meetings, personal development planning, production project work and skills development.

1. Apply knowledge and skills to produce a creative project that responds to contemporary issues related to a documentary production to professional standards.

Knowledge & Understanding

2. Solve discipline-specific problems using evidence-based approaches.

Application & Problem Solving

3. Apply digital tools to support professional-standard creative workflows in documentary production.

Digital Literacy

4. Reflect critically on your development as an emerging professional in documentary production.

Reflection

Specialist production spaces
Media Centre production equipment
Library facilities
Blackboard virtual learning environment

Chasse, B. (2026) The documentary filmmaking master class. New York: Allworth Press.

Rabiger, M. and Hermann, C. (2026) Directing the documentary. London: Routledge.

Rooney, B. and Belli, M. (2025) Directors tell the story. London: Routledge.

Roth, J. (2026) The fundamentals of documentary. London: Routledge.

Ever wondered how documentaries turn real stories into compelling screen experiences?
In this module, you’ll explore the full documentary production process, from developing ideas and researching subjects through to filming and post-production. You’ll build skills in camera, sound, and editing while learning how composition, collaboration, and teamwork shape factual storytelling. The module develops essential creative, technical, and organisational skills that support your progression on the course and prepare you for professional documentary and creative media production.