By this stage of your degree, you will have developed a clear sense of the creative or professional direction you want to pursue. You will have growing confidence in the methods and processes that support your practice. The module helps you advance this understanding through a self-directed project that reflects your creative identity, showcases your skills, and aligns with contemporary Creative Industries expectations.

Building on prior learning, the module requires a strong commitment to independent study. You will undertake extensive research, concept development, and iterative testing as you move through the full cycle of creative practice.
You will begin by negotiating a project proposal or set of research questions with staff, outlining:
- your intentions
- contextual framing
- a realistic timeline
- any technical and/or material needs
You will then complete a sustained period of production, address creative and practical challenges while refining your work to a professional standard.

Throughout the module, you will use appropriate visual /audio, material, digital, or theoretical methods.
You will consider how your work communicates to relevant audiences or industry contexts.
Effective time management, communication, and reflective practice will be crucial for evaluating your progress and identifying areas for improvement.

The module concludes with a presentation of a coherent, well-resolved body of work demonstrating your readiness for professional practice or further creative development.

Assessment 1: Filmmaking Projects Pitch

A 5-minute verbal pitch highlighting your proposed filmmaking projects, individual aims, researched reference points, and aligned career ambitions.

Assessment 2: Filmmaking Portfolio

A resolved comprehensive body of filmmaking output, demonstrating creativity, technical competence, project management and leadership, professional standards, and critical engagement.

Assessment 3: Production File

A curated and reflective body of evidence documenting the development of the projects from development to distribution. Further guidance on equivalent formats will be provided in the module brief.

Formative Assessment:

Midway formative feedback will be embedded within practical sessions, providing structured opportunities for feedback on work-in-progress to support student development and progression.

- Lectures
- Specialist workshops
- Seminar discussions
- Tutorials
- Drop-in support sessions
- Group work
- Independent and self-directed learning
- Reflective practice

1. Demonstrate a methodical understanding of theories, concepts, and professional practice to support your continued professional development in film production.

Knowledge & Understanding
Personal Development & Entrepreneurship

2. Undertake in-depth research and experimentation to develop, test, and refine original creative ideas in response to complex professional or conceptual challenges in film production.

Research Skills Application & Problem Solving

3. Produce a resolved professional-standard filmmaking portfolio to showcase your film production skills.

Digital Literacy
Application & Problem Solving

4. Critically evaluate and develop your creative practice in response to real-world professional and societal challenges within filmmaking, working independently and, where appropriate, in collaboration with others.

Knowledge & Understanding
Critical Reasoning & Collaboration

- Student Life https://www.youtube.com/@uniofstaffsstudentlife/videos
- University Careers https://staffs.careercentre.me/Members
- University Library https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/library
- Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment will support this module where relevant
- Specialist Spaces
- Smart Zone
- CAD Labs
- Print Bureau
- Media store
- Betty Smithers Design Collection

Crouch, C. and Pearce, J. (2020) Doing research in design. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Leonard, N. and Ambrose, G. (2020) Design research: Investigation for successful creative solutions. Lausanne: AVA Publishing.

Tharp, T. (2006) The creative habit: Learn it and use it for life. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Tracy, B. (2014) Time management. 1st edn. New York: American Management Association.

Williams, K., Woolliams, M. and Spiro, J. (2020) Reflective writing. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Where older texts are included, they are retained as foundational texts within the discipline, remaining relevant where no more recent equivalent texts are available.

In this self-directed module, you’ll develop an extensive portfolio of film production outputs that reflect your multidisciplinary filmmaking skills, creative ambitions, and professional direction. Through independent research, concept development, and creative outputs, you’ll work through the full cycle of creative practice, from proposal to resolved outcome. You’ll consider audience, context, and industry relevance while refining your work to a professional standard, preparing you for future creative practice or progression within the Creative Industries.