FV3S24 - Advanced Theory: Documentary Commissioning Package 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: FV3S24
Module Title: Advanced Theory: Documentary Commissioning Package
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Film and TV
Faculty Sub Group: Film and TV
Module Leader: Sally Lisk-Lewis, Joseph Sudlow
Module Team: Gwyneth Moore
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100058 - film studies
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

• Build on the proposal/pitching skills introduced at level for and five, in order to support students in an intensive research and preparation project that culminates in the creation of a viable documentary idea into a full commissioning package.
• Further develop students’ communication and proposal writing skills and confidence.
• Critically explore the current industry and its needs and relating industry trends to the theory and practice of documentary filmmaking.
• Enhance employability skills through the creation of a viable ideas package for students to promote after graduation.

Content Summary

Finding stories and the ability to turn those initial ideas into a viable documentary proposal is an essential skill for any filmmaker.
Through a short series of lectures and seminars students will be guided through processes and methodologies that facilitate the documentary subject development process, and outline the expectations of the documentary proposal documentation.
Students are to produce a highly detailed and clearly laid out ‘documentary commissioning package’, that outlines a documentary ‘idea’ in a format that is ‘ready to go’.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 6
Seminar 6
Tutorial 1
Project supervision 12
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 75
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Design, construct and sustain a coherent, literate, well-organised documentary film/TV proposal which has ‘story’ at the heart of it.
LO2 Apply independent research, critical thought and originality in the understanding and evaluation of relevant debates within a particular field of enquiry.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Ready to Go: A portfolio-based, industry relevant commissioning package that is ‘ready to go’. The portfolio will include: a 2-minute taster tape that gives a flavour of the documentary idea that will be pitched to commissioners; and a production folder of key development works. 0 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 1

Reading List

BBC. How to Make a Taster Tape. http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112135595 (accessed on 20th Feb 2013)
Brandt, C. (2008) Read, Research and Write: Academic Skills for ESL Students in Higher Education. London: Sage Publications.
Collier, J. (1986) Visual anthropology: photography as a research method. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
Emmison, E. and Smith, P. (2000) Researching the Visual. London, Sage.
Lees, N. (2010) Greenlit: Developing Factual/ Reality TV Ideas from Concept to Pitch. London: Methuen Drama.
Lees, N. (2012) Give the Money and I’ll Shoot: Finance your Factual TV/ Film Project. London: Bloomsbury.
Luck, M. (1999) Your student research project. Aldershot: Gower.
Marshall, P. (1997) Research methods: how to design and conduct a successful project. Plymouth: How To Books.