This module aims to support professional development and employability through self-directed research and enquiry. Focussing on a craft skill of your choice: scriptwriting, producing, directing, production design, cinematography, sound, animation, special effects, post-production, distribution - you will develop a personal brand and profile as a filmmaker.

You will examine the qualities, transferrable skills and standards expected from industry practitioners and employers within film and television specialisms you wish to pursue. Within the realm of the technological and creative aspects of film, television and animation, you will produce original digital artefacts for a self-promotional portfolio or showreel. The work should directly demonstrate advanced craft skills specifically aligned to your aspired career role.

You are expected to identify the internal and external expertise and specialist individuals you require to contextualise and improve the quality of your work. Networking and conducting case studies with industry professionals in your chosen field is encouraged. Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to enrich your employee profile, including becoming an Adobe Certified Associate, entering film festivals and participating in the Turin project.

ASSESSMENT ONE: FILMMAKER PORTFOLIO

A Filmmaker Portfolio to include the completed self-promotional portfolio or showreel, which may be supported by a personal filmmaker profile and branding.

LOs (Learning Outcomes): 1-3 100%.

Learning strategies are grounded in a student-centred approach, utilising project-based experiential learning and authentic assessment. You will have the freedom to determine the technical and creative treatment of the work produced, negotiating the project goals with your Supervisor. There is opportunity for learning to be personalised, as students are encouraged to create work aligned to their aspired career roles.

Creative Industry practitioners and departmental staff will offer differing expertise and perspectives, aimed to challenge, extend, stimulate and inspire your learning and practice. Your Supervisor will support your learning and help you to reflect upon and develop your practice, recommending personalised reading lists appropriate to your field of study.

Seminars will introduce the fundamental theories that underpin the development of your professional practice.

Workshops will provide research exercises and enable you to link theory to practice.

Technical Instruction provides hands on experience with professional camera, audio and lighting equipment and specialist studio and post-production facilities.

Guest Speakers will provide context to the current climate of the film and television industry and give an insight into specific careers and employer demands.

Studio & Location fieldwork will provide experiential learning, enabling you to apply creative, technical and theoretical skills to an authentic film project.

Project Supervisor (Lecturer) will oversee your project and offer regular formative feedback on your research, digital film work and employability skills. You will be required to meet negotiated project milestones, which may be hyper personal depending on your project goals.

1. Evaluate the current climate of the film and television industry and interpret employer requirements to plan and personalise self-promotional artefacts.
Analysis.

2. Deploy established techniques of analysis and enquiry to initiate and shape the creative and technical execution of a professional portfolio or showreel.
Enquiry.

3. Apply advanced digital craft skills and techniques to the creative and technical execution of a professional portfolio or showreel.
Application.

Portable video and audio recording equipment
Specialist post-production suite - Editing, sound mixing, colour grading
Film studio, set flats, green screen and lighting
E-library books and journals
Microsoft Teams digital learning environment.
LinkedIn Learning
Adobe Certification course materials, practice tests and exams.
Academic Study Skills Tutors

Due to the emphasis on individually negotiated projects, students are expected to identify appropriate sources of research, which will be guided by the project Supervisor (Lecturer).

Barr, P. (2019) The Successful Career Toolkit, London: Kogan Page.

Deuze, M (2019) Making Media: Production, Practices, and Professions, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

Honthaner, E.L. (2018) Hollywood Drive: What it Takes to Break in, Hang in & Make it in the Entertainment Industry. 2nd ed. London: Routledge.

Ilasco, M.M. and Cho, J.D. (2010) Creative, inc.: the ultimate guide to running a successful freelance business. San Francisco: Chronicle.

Quinn, C. (2010) No Contacts? No Problem! How to Pitch and Sell a Freelance Feature. London: Bloomsbury.

Smith, S. A. (2018) Careers in Media and Communication, London: SAGE.

Taylor, S. & Luckman S. eds (2020) Pathways into Creative Working Lives, London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Tupper, H. & Ellis, S. (2022) You Coach You: How to Overcome Challenges and Take Control of Your Career, London: Penguin.

Craft Skills Showcase will cover:
Film and television careers
Market analysis
Where to find film and television jobs
Networking
Showreels and branding
Adobe training for certification