Undergraduate Course: FTV3B: Advanced Narrative Filmmaking (DESI10155)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | This course explores the practical process of developing, planning, and filming narrative scenes from page to screen. You will engage with key aspects of directing, production design, cinematography, sound, and post-production with an emphasis on storytelling, staging, performance, and collaboration. The course aims to foster group working, equip you with diverse creative approaches to narrative filmmaking and support you in producing work that is culturally relevant. |
| Course description |
Throughout the course you will collaborate in groups toward the creation of a short narrative film involving dedicated performers, scripts, and dialogue. Several activities will contribute to the development of each project, which may include workshops on performance and directing actors; script and character development sessions; a pitching and greenlighting process; specialised cinematography, production design and sound workshops.
During the course, you will share progress on your project with peers and tutors, obtaining regular formative feedback through group discussion and critiques. Engaging with the seminars and assigned reading material will build familiarity with current debates and theories relating to narrative film. Participation in workshops will support the development of new creative approaches and specialist technical skills. You will analyse practical experiences encountered during the course in relation to these concepts and in consideration of your wider filmmaking journey.
The study of narrative has a long history, and 4 3-hour seminars in weeks 1-9 will examine significant concepts within film studies and related disciplines to help you consider structure, form and meaning in your work and to inform your application of practical approaches. A series of 6 3-hour practical workshops will run in the first half of the course between weeks 1-8 providing an opportunity to design and apply practical techniques that relate to key elements of performance and storytelling. Tutorials and technical consultations in weeks 3-7 will guide you through a process of refinement and implementation as you progress from an initial concept to develop and plan the short narrative film which also forms a central element of assessment. Fieldwork is required in weeks 9-10 as your film goes into production and each group collaborates with performers at a chosen filming location or in a studio with tutor supervision.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Film and TV 2B: Visual Aesthetics in Cinema (DESI08152)
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Some minor costs such as travel expenses may be incurred during the collaborative film project, which will be shared equally amongst group members. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Students must major in filmmaking and demonstrate they have met all learning outcomes for the second year of the BA Film & TV degree. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2025 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 6,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 18,
Fieldwork Hours 24,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
316 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course has 3 assessment components:
1. Project proposal (8-10 pages) Week 5-7 (30%)
2. Collaborative narrative film (4-6 mins) May exam diet (30%)
3. Production file (15-20 pages) May exam diet (40%)
Component 1 outlines key creative and logistical plans for a collaborative narrative film involving performers. This assessment is assessed equally against LO2 and LO4.
Component 2 is a short narrative film created in collaboration with other students. This assessment is assessed equally against LO1 and LO3.
Component 3 is a production file that documents and reflects on your individual contribution to the film. This assessment is assessed equally against LO2, LO3 and LO4. |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback:
Feedback is regularly communicated through the course. This takes several forms, including verbally through group sessions and crits in weeks 2-4, 5-9 and 11. where work and ideas are discussed with both peers and tutor. Formative feedback will be given on your project proposal during tutorials and seminars. This will be delivered verbally through critique and discussion with course tutors alongside verbal peer feedback from fellow students.
Verbal feedback will be given by course tutors on the production file and at key stages of the collaborative film through individual and group tutorials. A work-in-progress screening of the collaborative film will also provide opportunity for verbal peer feedback from fellow students.
Summative feedback:
The summative feedback for component 1 will feed directly into components 2 and 3 as students receive guidance on the scope and approach of their project that can be applied during its realisation.
Students will receive individual written feedback and grades on their summative submissions, which will be provided via LEARN VLE as per university regulations. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Work together to employ the initiative, technical expertise, organisational skills, and flexibility required to successfully film a narrative sequence with performers.
- Apply processes of individual research and reflection within a wider practical and conceptual exploration of filmmaking.
- Respond to contextual circumstances (such as technological developments, critical debates, and ethical questions) as part of a creative process.
- Engage in critical debate and an exchange of ideas throughout the development and realisation of a collaborative project.
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Reading List
Anderson, Linda. (2005). Creative Writing: A Workbook With Readings. Abingdon, UK: Routledge and The Open University.
Batty, Craig. and Waldeback, Zara. (2019) Writing for the Screen: Creative and Critical Approaches. London: Bloomsbury.
Cohn, Lee Michael. (2021) Directing Actors: A Practical Aesthetics Approach. Abingdon: Routledge.
Geuens, Jean-Pierre. (2000) Film Production Theory. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.
Hoser, Tania. (2018) Introduction to Cinematography: Learning Through Practice. Abingdon: Routledge.
Mackendrick, Alexander. (2004) On Filmmaking. London: Faber & Faber. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students on the course possess and/or wish to develop a number of key attributes and skills, both on a personal and a professional level.
Outlook and engagement:
While developing and refining written film narratives, you will further your curiosity and engagement with the key issues facing contemporary society. Moreover, your processes of casting and collaborating with performers will engage local communities and draw on the experience of diverse individuals.
Research and enquiry:
During the preparation and realisation of your film project, you will engage in conceptual and technical enquiry that will build new creative problem-solving abilities. Taking a specific role within the collaborative film project will involve independent research into your creative discipline that enhances your critical thinking skills and ability to handle complex production situations.
Communication:
Through the articulation of creative ideas in visual, oral, and written form, which engage with narrative principals across filmmaking processes, you will become a more effective communicator. Similarly, during the production of a collaborative film project you will develop new approaches to interpersonal communication and effective teamwork. |
| Special Arrangements |
Only available to BA Film & TV students and visiting students majoring in film or a closely aligned discipline. |
| Keywords | film,narrative,performance,cinematography,script-development |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Nevill
Tel:
Email: anevill@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Aidan Cole
Tel: (0131 6)50 2306
Email: acole33@ed.ac.uk |
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