TV2S03 - Production Design for Period Drama 30 Jun 2021 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 2
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | TV2S03 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Production Design for Period Drama | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Business and Creative Industries | ||
| Faculty Group: | Games and Design | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Design | ||
| Module Leader: | Timothy Overson | ||
| Module Team: | Anna Solic, Emma Marshman | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2019 | Final Year of Intake: | 2024 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 5 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100441 - film production | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 2 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 30 Jun 2021 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2026 |
Module Aims
To enable students to develop a knowledge and understanding of production design for period drama for a single camera television or film production.
To provide students with the skills to research architectural and social history and apply this research to production design for period drama.
To develop an understanding of film making techniques that combine filming on location with filming on built sets.
To engage students in exploring an imaginative visual interpretation of a text or script that is appropriate to this genre and further develop the visualising techniques required to communicate this interpretation, building on skills acquired in level 5.
To further develop the key skills of construction drawing and model making as tools for design and communication building on skills acquired at level 5.
Content Summary
This module comprises of one assignment.
Students will act as production designers for a single camera period drama (film or television production) based on a given short story.
The short story will form, in effect, the script- the assumption being that the short story is to be adapted for the screen.
Students will be required to read, (or listen to audio versions of) and thoroughly understand the narrative and themes of the short story then narrow down their field of interest to a particular sequence and setting within the book for which they would like to design. An imaginative interpretation of the text is encouraged while remaining true to the narrative and the genre.
The social history and architecture of the period is investigated and through this students develop research techniques that can be applied to drama located in any period of history.
Students source a suitable location to film the exterior scenes of their screen adaptation, the premise being that the exteriors will be filmed on location and the interiors in built sets in a studio. Students then design the interior studio sets which must feasibly ‘sit’ behind the chosen location and the cut between exterior and interior be seamless and believable.
Story boards will be developed for the student’s chosen sequences; these will drive the design of the sets, the design of which will derive from a combination of the anticipated action and the student’s creative, individual interpretation of the text.
The outcome of this module includes mood boards, concept visuals, story boards, construction drawings and white card models. This is equivalent to the culmination of the pre-production stage in industry i.e. the point at which the design agreed, is ready ‘on paper’ and set construction can begin.
The complete process outlined above is supported by lectures, seminars, small group tutorials and individual tutorials where appropriate.
Sharing ideas through regular student presentations and discussion within a small group or the whole cohort exposes students to a wide range of creative and problem solving solutions so that they learn, not only from their own process, but through those of the whole cohort.
Visits to period houses and the National Museum of Wales and where ever possible visits to studios and master classes by visiting industry professionals also enhance this teaching.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 6 |
| Seminar | 4 |
| Tutorial | 5 |
| Supervised time in studio/workshop | 31 |
| External visits | 2 |
| Independent Study | 100 |
| Directed Study | 52 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Demonstrate the ability to design for single camera period drama applying appropriate historical research and taking account of technical requirements and the wider role of the production designer. |
| LO2 | Demonstrate the ability to visualise creatively from a text whilst remaining true to a historical period. |
| LO3 | Communicate design decisions using appropriate methods and techniques for this genre of production design. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 | Research and development for Creative Designs/Art 1 | 0 | N/A | 25 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Creative Designs / Art 1 | Practical design project designing for the screen from a script/text | 0 | N/A | 75 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | LO3 | |
| Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Creative Designs / Art 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |