| CODE | MCS3220 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Short Film Production | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 8 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will bring together students taking the Film & Screen Arts stream of the B.Communications course to make a professional short film, with the course tutors guiding them from script and development stage, right up to distribution and exhibition. The study-unit will include: 1. Scriptwriting: participants will complete the screenplay for the short film through discussion and revision in the context of in-person sessions, followed up with online workshops with foreign experts. A 'writer's room' set up will be formulated to include all members of the class, to work out the scenes and finalise the script. 2. Development: students will be taught how to complete funding applications; pitch books; and other material requested by financing bodies. This part of the study-unit will also focus on script finalization, pitching and coproduction markets. At this stage of the unit, students will be divided up into 'departments' so they can focus on different specialisations: production, direction, art dept; ADs; costume/hair&makeup; camera; and sound. 3. Preproduction: sessions will be dedicated to give students the tools to logistically organise the shoot, and will include budgeting and financial planning; casting and talent acquisition; location scouting and set design; equipment procurement and rehearsals, including screen tests, lens tests as well as hair, makeup and wardrobe tests. This will include script continuity where students will learn script breakdown techniques, continuity tracking, and preparation; moreover, students will be taught real-time continuity management, note-taking(various), and liaising with departments; students will also be shown how continuity notes and reports serve the editor in assembling the final film. 4. Shoot: all hands on deck for the shoot, with students taking on the roles of their various departments. 5. Postproduction, Distribution and Marketing students will also be allocated various responsibilities post-shoot to include finalising the visual and sound deliverables for festivals; applying to festivals; organising a local premier. There will also be students responsible for the marketing and advertising of the film. Study-Unit Aims: The goals of the study-unit are to give students real, applicable experience in short film production, giving them the opportunity to create a professional piece which can eventually be included in their portfolios. The study-unit aims to bring together the course's theoretical elements - and knowledge of film language, scriptwriting, direction, cinematography, and producing - in the creation of a collaborative piece. It will also help students employ problem-solving techniques, demonstrate leadership skills and assess good working methods through the practical challenges which will present themselves. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - To differentiate the key stages of filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production, by participating in a hands-on project; - To formulate a compelling screenplay by utilizing visual, auditory, and narrative elements and craft engaging and cohesive storytelling in a short film format; - To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the collaborative short film and provide constructive feedback to peers; - To appraise the strengths and qualities of different modes of exhibition and distribution, and make a judgement on which would be appropriate for the short film in question. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Operate industry-standard equipment and software for cinematography, sound recording, and editing to produce a professional-quality short film; - Employ effective team work skills as part of a production, while fulfilling a specific role while contributing to a shared creative vision; - Apply management skills in the completion of deadlines, schedules, and to administer resources efficiently within the constraints of the project timeline and budget; - Produce a polished, collaborative short film that serves as both a learning achievement and a portfolio piece for future academic or professional opportunities. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Hammett-Jamart, J., Mitric, P., & Redvall, E. N. (2018). European Film and Television Co-production: Policy and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan: Cham, Switzerland. - Ryan, M.A. (2017). Producer to Producer : A Step-by-Step Guide to Low-Budget Independent Film Producing. Michael Wiese Productions: Seattle, US. |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE MCS1110 AND TAKE MCS3070 OR TAKE MCS2120 | ||||||||||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Co-requisite Study-units: MCS3250 and MCS3300 |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Project and Workshop | ||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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