MCH2082 : Making a Short Documentary
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Alastair Cole
- Co-Module Leader: Ms Lucy Jolly
- Technician: Mr Matt Robinson
- Owning School: Arts & Cultures
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This practice-based module builds on the experience of the level 4 module Starting Out in Filmmaking, and gives the students the opportunity to develop their cinematographic, editing, and sound skills through a series of filmic exercises. These exercises constitute necessary training and preparation for the level 6 modules Film Practice Project and Independent Documentary Filmmaking. Students are also introduced to the role of the producer, and film festivals as a key exhibition and audience space. The distinctive feature of this level 5 module is that is develops camera and editing skills in a context of critical enquiry about the social world. Students work in small groups if possible, otherwise independently to produce a short non-fiction film and they also individually submit a production critique.
This module aims to:
1. Develop a cinematographic sensibility, an understanding of the aesthetic and ethical dimension of the film image.
2. Develop a high level of proficiency in editing sequences based on an appreciation of time, rhythm and the fundamentals of short storytelling.
3. Develop an understanding of the expressive possibilities of naturalistic sound in the construction of cinematic realism.
4. Develop an understanding of role of the producer in documentary film through all stages of production, including release and the ecology of the international film festival network.
Outline Of Syllabus
Themes and subjects covered can include:
- The art and poetics of short documentary storytelling
- Documentary subject development and research
- Working in a small documentary crew
- The aesthetics and craft of cinematography
- The aesthetics and craft of editing
- Advanced sound recording, and audio mixing
- Production skills
- Rough Cutting
- Fine Cutting
- Advanced post production
- Outputting and Delivery
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Concepts, practice and theoretical underpinnings, debates. On campus (online if required) |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Required reading, online film viewing, creative-practice-based activities. |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 54:00 | 54:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 11 | 3:00 | 33:00 | Filmmaking skills development and practice. On campus (online if required) |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures that set out key theories and concepts and practice-based workshops based on working through the implication of key readings for practice. This will enable students to achieve Learning Outcomes 1-5.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design/Creative proj | 2 | A | 60 | Students work in small groups if possible or independently to produce a short non-fiction film (approx. 5 mins). |
| Reflective log | 2 | A | 30 | A 1500-word production critique that provides critical reflections on the filmmaking process (individual submission) |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | 10 | participation and engagement |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The rationale for the assessments is to enable the students to demonstrate their intellectual grasp of non-fiction film theory and aesthetics and to illustrate this through the production of a short film. Given the emphasis on practice, the production of the film forms the major part of the assessment, but the production critique provides the students an opportunity to articulate the theoretical and methodical considerations that informed their practice. Each student's mark for the creative project is made up of both group (if applicable) and individual role marks. Peer assessment may be used to discriminate individual contributions. Any peer assessment used is not designed to assess quality of individual contributions to any group work but is designed to identify the quantity of work dedicated to the project. In essence this is a mechanism to identify students who have not made a full contribution to the group production.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MCH2082's Timetable