Film Pre-Production Project: Ideas, Scripts and Casts

Please note

This document only provides information for the academic year selected and does not form part of the student contract

School:

School of Arts and Humanities

Credit Rating:

Level (including FHEQ):

I (FHEQ Level 5)

Graded or Non Graded:

Graded

Version Valid From:

2023-08-03

Module Leader:

Ben Young

Version Number

2023.02

Learning Methods

Lecture

Supervised Time in Studio/Workshop

Guided Independent Study

Tutorial and Project Supervision

Requirements

Recommended Prior Study

Synopsis

This module guides you through the processes involved in the preproduction of a fiction or documentary film. You will develop and create an idea, pitch, treatment and taster tape in collaboration with fellow students. Your completed preproduction projects will form the basis for final year film making major projects.

Learning Strategy

Students will learn through a combination of lectures, regular group tutorials, supervised time in the film studio, as well as peer learning in the group project development setting. Physical production of projects will take place in a combination of project-specific film studio and/or location settings. Use will be made of resources including film and television production technologies such as cameras, rigs and lighting to provide students with learning resources but also to increase their abilities to select and access appropriate production technologies. Extensive post-production facilities are available daily on campus within the Journalism and Media Building, and the Barbara Hepworth Building. Key information including module documentation, assessment briefs and more will be on the University’s VLE.

Outline Syllabus

The module builds skills in collaborative creative practice through a combination of lectures, tutorials and studio access in support of pre-production group projects. The module critically examines the contexts and practices of pre-production including script selection and development. Themes and topics covered include: ScreenwritingDirectingCastingLocation scouting and managementProducing and adjacent disciplines,… For more content click the Read More button below.

The module builds skills in collaborative creative practice through a combination of lectures, tutorials and studio access in support of pre-production group projects.

The module critically examines the contexts and practices of pre-production including script selection and development.

Themes and topics covered include:

Screenwriting
Directing
Casting
Location scouting and management
Producing and adjacent disciplines, e.g. production management
Cinematography
Lighting
Sound recording
Production design and art direction
Data management
Picture editing
Sound design and its integrated disciplines, e.g. dialogue editing
Colour grading
Visual effects

Initial stages of group constitution are tutor guided and existing and student-created scripts are made available to groups for development.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will

recognise processes in pre-production in film and screen drama, including development production, screenwriting and casting.

critically assess the creative and aesthetic merits of development proposals.

conceptualise processes of reception, distribution and production in selecting suitable proposals and formats for development.

identify and develop original ideas for film production.

demonstrate the ability to collaboratively develop scripts into production-ready projects.

create pitches, treatments and taster tapes of high production values.

Formative Assessment

Assessment 1: Project work

Summative Assessment

Assessment 1: Oral Assessment

Assessment 2: Project Work

Description:Assessment 2 is an individual submission of the group project proposal, typically consisting of elements such as a video pitch, script or treatment, taster tape, individual contribution statement, proposed budget, and draft production calendar.

Assessment Weight:65

Assessment Length:3500 Words (Equivalent Word Count)

Module Learning Outcomes:MLO5, MLO2, MLO3, MLO6, MLO4

Individual or Group:Individual

Final Assessment Component:Yes

Marked Anonymously:No

Eligible for Tutor Reassessment:No

Assessment Criteria

The module will be graded in line with University regulations. The assessment criteria will be based on those used by the Media, Journalism, Film and Drama subject area, designed in accordance with the appropriate benchmark document, and made available to students in the module handbook and on assessment briefs. For… For more content click the Read More button below.

For Assessment 1, the viva will assess individual contributions to the group pre-production project. For Assessment 2, criteria will reflect an ambition for students to be working towards industry-style creative and technical work, especially in processes of pre-production. The elements of the project must be correctly presented according to standard industry conventions.

My Reading

Reading List

http://library.hud.ac.uk/my/AIC2425

Ackland-Snow, T, & Laybourn, W. (2017) The Art of Illusion: Production Design for Film and Television, The Crowood Press, Ramsbury

Avarese, J. (2017) Post Sound Design: The Art and Craft of Audio Post Production for the Moving Image, Bloomsbury Academic, New York, USA

Barnwell, J. (2017) Production Design for Screen, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, New York, USA

Bergery, B. (2002) Reflections: Twenty-One Cinematographers at Work ASC Press, Los Angeles, USA

Bode, L. (2017) Making Believe: Screen Performance and Special Effects in Popular Cinema, Rutgers University Press, New York, USA

Bordwell, D., Thompson, K. and Smith, J. (2017) Film art: an introduction, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Brown, B. (2016) Cinematography: Theory and Practice – Image Making for Cinematographers, Directors, and Videographers, 3rd ed., Focal Press, Oxford

Cleve, B (2017) Film Production Management: How to Budget, Organise, and Successfully Shoot Your FIlm, 4th ed., Focal Press, Oxford

Crittenden, R. (2018) Fine Cuts: Interviews on the Practice of European Film Editing, Focal Press, Oxford.

Dancyger, K. (2019) The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th ed., Focal Press, Oxford

Dinur, E. (2017) The Filmmaker’s Guide to Visual Effects: The Art and Techniques of VFX for Directors, Producers, Editors, and Cinematographers, Focal Press, Oxford

Evans, R. (2006). Practical DV Filmmaking. New York: Routledge,

Fischer, L. (2015) Art Direction and Production Design: A Modern History of Filmmaking, 2nd ed., I B Tauris, London

Frierson, M. (2018) Film and Video Editing Theory: How Editing Creates Meaning, Focal Press, Oxford

Gilje, Ø. (2011). Working in tandem with editing tools: iterative meaning-making in filmmaking practices. Visual Communication, 10(1), 45–62

Goodridge, M, & Grierson, T. (2012) FilmCraft: Cinematography, Ilex Press, Lewes

Grove, E. (2014). Raindance Producers' Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking. New York: Routledge.

Keating, P (Ed). (2015) Cinematography: A Modern History of Filmmaking (Behind the Silver Screen), I B Tauris, London

Landry, P. (2017) Scheduling and Budgeting Your Film: A Panic Free Guide, 2nd ed., Focal Press, Oxford

McIver, G. (2016) Art History for Filmmakers, Fairchild Books, New York, USA

Miles, D. (2014) Location Audio Simplified: Capturing Your Audio… and Your Audience, Focal Press, Oxford

North, D, Rehak B, & Duffy, M. (2015) Special Effects: New Histories, Theories, Contexts, BFI, London

Ohanian, T.A. and Phillips, M.E. (2011) Digital Filmmaking: The Changing Art and Craft of Making Motion Pictures, Second Edition. Focal Press: Burlington, MA.

Pasquariello, N. (2013) Sounds of Movies: Interviews with the Creators of Feature Sound Tracks, Port Bridge Books, Providence, USA

Proferes, N. (2017) Film Directing Fundamentals: See Your Film Before Shooting, 4th ed., Focal Press, Oxford

Rabiger, M. (2013) Directing Film Techniques and Aesthetics,5th ed., Routledge, London

Rogers, H, & Barham, J (Eds). (2017) The Music and Sound of Experimental Film, Oxford University Press, Oxford

Seger, L. (2019). The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking. London: Routledge.

Stump, D. (2014) Digital Cinematography: Fundamentals, Tools, Techniques, and Workflows, Focal Press, Oxford

Tomaric, J.J. (20110 Filmmaking : direct your movie from script to screen using proven Hollywood techniques, Burlington, MA : Focal Press.

Weston, J. (1999) Directing Actors, Michael Wiese Productions, Studio City, USA

Woodbridge, P. (2013) Designer Drafting and Visualizing for the Entertainment World, 2nd ed., Focal Press, Oxford

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