FV2D02 - Filmmaking 4: Development 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: FV2D02
Module Title: Filmmaking 4: Development
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Film and TV
Faculty Sub Group: Film and TV
Module Leader: Joseph Sudlow, Margaret Constantas
Module Team: Philip Cowan, Gwyneth Moore
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 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 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

• Explore notions of ‘character’ and ‘characterisation’ in film and television production in a global context.
• Examine notions of empathy and representation within film and television content.
• Develop skills in representing and communicating character and characterisation through the construction of an audio/visual project.
• Explore questions of truth in documentary through theoretical and practical perspectives and notions of authenticity in relationship to the audience.
• Examine the context and ethics in which films are produced and their relationship to culture and society, and develop an understanding of these issues in relation to student’s own practice.
• Develop skills in research, writing, and communication; as part of transferable skills necessary in the film and television industries.

Content Summary

This module contains two optional pathways, ‘scripted’ or ‘unscripted’, both of which will require collaborative filmmaking practice in the production of a 6-8-minute short film.
Pathway one features a ‘scripted’ fiction-based project. The emphasis of this option is on characterisation and representation, together with audience identification, engagement and empathy.
Pathway two features an ‘unscripted’ documentary project that will introduce students to some of the issues surrounding film “truths” and their exploration.
A series of practice lectures and craft specialist workshops will help students prepare for each project. Seminars will support the development of their projects, at each stage.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Seminar 18
Tutorial 1
Practical classes and workshops 24
Independent Study 200
Directed Study 145
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Articulate a greater understanding of ‘characterisation’ and ‘representation’ within documentary or fiction film and television practice.
LO2 Demonstrate enhanced technical skills with specific reference to their film project, and individual role.
LO3 Consolidate abilities to work individually and in groups by demonstrating a greater understanding of the complexities and subtleties of researching, planning, shooting and editing a short film production.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Individual. - Students are expected to submit a portfolio of work that consists of: Collaborative Project - A short (5-8min) film, the topic of which is to be agreed with the tutor beforehand. Individual Project - Students are to submit a development portfolio relating to their individual craft role, which will include a ‘Statement of Intent’ analysing and contextualising their approach to the group film. 0 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Smith, Murray (1995) Engaging Characters: Fiction Emotion and the Cinema, USA: Oxford University Press.
Tan, Ed S. (1996), Emotion and the structure of narrative film. Film as an emotion machine. Mahwah (NJ): Erlbaum, 1996
Plantinga, C. and Smith G. M. (eds.) (1999) Passionate Views: Film, Cognition, and Emotion. USA: John Hopkins University Press.
Concise/Indicative Reading List (Documentary)
Lees, N. (2010) Greenlit: Developing Factual/Reality TV Ideas from Concept to Pitch. London: Methuen Drama.
Navarro, V. and Spance, L. (2011) Crafting Truth: Documentary Form and Meaning. Rutgers University Press.
Cowie, E. (2011) Recording Reality, Desiring the Real (Visible Evidence). University of Minnesota Press.