Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

This module explores filmmaking from the perspective of the technical craft of filmmaking. Screenings and lectures will demonstrate how filmmakers from a broad range of positions and practices have pushed the boundaries of film form. Combining theory and practice, workshops will provide hands-on exploration of the film crafts of Cinematography, Production Design / Art Direction, Sound Design, and Postproduction (Editing, VFX and Colour Grading) to allow students to explore the aural and visual aspects of film language.

At the end of the first semester, after gathering a thorough introduction to these craft skills, students will choose two preferred craft skills to concentrate on during the second semester. The available skills paths are: Cinematography, Production Design / Art Direction, Sound Design, Postproduction (Editing, VFX, Colour Grading). Towards the end of the second semester students will select one of these chosen skill paths to be assessed on.

​The module will build on the fundamentals of film aesthetics and filmmaking through screenings, lectures and seminars as well as studio and on-location workshops. Students will have the opportunity to gain fluency in image and sound creation as well as editorial construction.

In the first semester, a series of weekly lectures will provide an arena for film screenings, for debate about the films viewed, texts read, and projects planned and made by the students. The presentations given in the lectures cover the theoretical aspects of all the above mentioned craft skills, complemented by a screening of a film related to them.

Lecture subjects by week:

- Moving the image
- Shoot it! (Cinematography)
- Vision made of ... (Cinematography)
- Look of a Film (Production Design)
- Sounds like it Audio)
- The Cut (Editing)
- Beyond the Real (VFX)
- The Power of Red, Green and Blue (Colour Grading)
- How it’s Done
- What we’ve Done
- Joint pitch session with the Directing/Producing module (2nd semester)
In the first semester a series of weekly seminar / workshops will provide students with an in-depth introduction to the various craft skills. These sessions will be connected to the subjects introduced during the lectures, providing a mixture of primarily practical sessions with some seminar-style sessions. At the end of the first semester, students will choose two preferred craft skills to concentrate on during the workshops in the second semester.

A series of fortnightly studio workshops will provide students with an opportunity to increase their practical skills and will provide a testing ground for their implementation. Prior to each studio session, students will sign up for a crew position and carry out all the necessary preproduction tasks, such as script, floor-plan, shot-list, lighting-plan, props, etc. Students will then shoot a 3-5 shot sequence during the scheduled workshop session. After the sequence has been shot, the students who signed up for postproduction role will complete the work. The completed pieces will be screened and discussed/critiqued in lecture and workshop sessions. Students will be expected to undertake independent work beyond the scheduled teaching time to successfully complete the tasks required.

​Staff and peer feedback is an integral part of the learning experience; in-class workshopping and one-to-one tutorials will offer a supportive and collegiate environment in which to share student work and solve creative and practical problems. Students will be expected to document, and critically reflect upon, their learning experience and work-in-progress.