The Contemporary Film and Television Industries
| Module title | The Contemporary Film and Television Industries |
|---|---|
| Module code | EAF1507 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Linda Williams (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 120 |
|---|
Module description
This module will introduce you to the practices, structures and roles which make up the film and television industries today. It asks how these industries function by looking at the work of key organisations, influential industry bodies, and important individuals and players in the UK, Europe, Hollywood and other global industries since 2000. The module provides a foundation for studies of the film and television industries, and especially of contemporary practices, in the following years.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module is a primer in the workings of the contemporary film and TV industries, particularly the principles of the value chain. It will focus on and be anchored to exemplary case history texts. Students will benefit from direct experience of the London-based industry, Exeter’s connection with the London Film School, and an international trip, offering a global perspective on these dynamic industries. In addition to perspectives from visiting speakers the module includes field trips to the Berlin Film Festival, and a Studio tour and trip to the British Board of Film Classification in London.
The module aims to prepare you for more advanced work at Level 2 and 3 on the creative industries, contemporary cinema and TV, and is designed to enhance confidence and employability opportunities, connections and work-placements at Level 2 and 3.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the structures and operations of the film and television industries in the 21st century.
- 2. Apply your understanding of industry business and organisations to readings of key film and TV texts.
- 3. Demonstrate an understanding of how UK-based film and TV industries are part of and relate to a global media landscape.
- 4. Work with a variety of source and research materials, including trade press, web-based materials, electronic press kits, and academic resources.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Develop an understanding of film and TV texts as the product of industry structures and creative labour.
- 6. Use a variety of film/TV specific research materials and resources to write about, think about and discuss the contemporary industry.
- 7. Demonstrate a knowledge of current industry practices in the context of examples from film history.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Consolidate your new knowledge in the context of new learning situations, and communicate this through assessed and group work.
- 9. Present new knowledge in a compelling way through group work and collaboration with peers.
- 10. Demonstrate appropriate research and bibliographic skills, develop articulate, coherent and persuasive written arguments, and write accurately in clear prose.
Syllabus plan
The module will cover the value chain in the entertainment industries, the producer’s role, film and television production, film sales and marketing, distribution, exhibition, festivals, audiences, ancillary markets, and the relation of the UK and US film and TV industries to global industries (including mainland Europe, Bollywood and China).
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | 201 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 8 | Lecture 1 x 1 hour for 8 weeks |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 18 | Seminar 1 x 2 hour for 9 weeks |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 7 | Workshop: 1 x 1 hour for 7 weeks (6 x visiting speaker; 1 x BDCM) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 24 | Field trips: Berlin + London: 3 days at Berlin Film Festival (8 hours of learning activity per day = 24 hours, plus two overnight stays and travel time) PLUS 1 day London trip, with activities which will include a selection from/some of:-Visit to the global headquarters of Universal (3 hours); visit to the British Film Institute and Reuben Library (2 hours); studio visit (4 hours); BBFC visit (2 hours); IMAX cinema screening ( 3 hours); half-day symposium with visiting speakers held at London Film School (4 hours) (activites included will = 12 hours of learning activities plus travel time). |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 30 | Screening, 2 x 2.5 weekly for 6 weeks |
| Guided Independent Study | 78 | Seminar and workshop preparation (individual) |
| Guided Independent Study | 45 | Study group preparation and meetings |
| Guided Independent Study | 78 | Research and essay writing |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Presentation | In groups of (usually) 4, students prepare a group presentation of 10 minutes duration, developing the groups idea for a new production (a TV series or film) within the contexts of the contemporary industries, with PPT and a handout. The topic will be cleared with the module convenors two weeks before . The formative presentation takes the form of a Pitch | 1-10 | Verbal feedback from co-convenors. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation plus 1000 word individual written reflection. | 40 | In groups of (usually) 4, students prepare a 10-15 minute group presentation , building on the Pitch/Formative work. This will detail the groups idea for a new production (TV series or film), from initial idea to reception. Delivered with PPT and handout. The topic will be approved by module convenors before the pitch, and will use learning from the field trips, including materials. | 1-10 | Written and verbal |
| Essay (2000 words) | 50 | 2000 words. To include learning and research from the field trips. | 1-8,10 | Written and verbal |
| Class participation | 10 | Continuous | 1-9 | verbal |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation | Essay (1000 words) | 1-11 | |
| Essay (2500 words) | Essay (2500 words) | 1-11 |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
• Paul McDonald and Janet Wasko (eds) The Contemporary Hollywood Film Industry, Oxford: Blackwell, 2008
• Paula Landry & Stephen T Greenwald, The Business of Film: A Practical Introduction, London:Routledge 2018
• Tejaswini Ganti, Producing Bollywood: Inside the contemporary Hindi film industry, Durham: Duke University Press, 2012.
• Edward Jay Epstein, The Big Picture: Money and Power in Hollywood, New York: Random House 2006
• Angus Finney, The International Film Business, London: Routledge 2014
• Jason E Squire (ed), The Movie Business Book, London: Routledge 2016
• David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, “Part Six: Cinema in the Age of Global Media”, in Film History: An Introduction, New York: McGraw Hill 2019, pp. 652-722.
• PLUS further reading to be assigned at commencement of module.
• The King’s Speech (dir Tom Hooper, UK 2011).
• The Crown (Prod. Peter Morgan et al, Left Bank Pictures/Sony Pictures for Netflix)
• The Levelling (Hope Dickson Leach, UK 2017).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
• ELE:
• FIAF databases https://www.fiafnet.org/pages/publications/about-fiaf-databases.html
• Variety https://variety.com/
• BFI Reuben Library https://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/bfi-reuben-library
• Bill Douglas Cinema Museum https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/explore/search/
• http://proquest.libguides.com/screenstudiescollection
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 16/01/2019 |
| Last revision date | 21/02/2021 |
