Fiction Filmmaking: directing and visualisation (879P4)

30 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Autumn teaching

This module builds and develops your skills and experience in the practice of visualising and realising concepts for fiction film. You will learn about visual conception and how to develop ideas. You will engage with a range of approaches to visual composition and continuity filming and editing. You will work in close collaboration and to a tightly scheduled structure over the course of the term.

In the first weeks, you will learn about camera, lighting, composition and how to create meaning visually. In later weeks, you will learn about directing actors and managing the set. This includes:

• casting
• rehearsals
• directing actors for camera
• working with scripts.

You will be required to cast, film, direct and produce a scene from a script with emphasis on performance and visual realisation.

Throughout the term, you will engage in the analysis of selected historical and contemporary filmmaking practices (including film language and screen drama) to situate you own work within the field and critically reflect on it.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 267 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.