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Creative Film Dissertation

Module description

This module gives the opportunity to pursue a sustained piece of independent visual media film production of your choosing, in the form of EITHER a short film OR a video essay. You will have the chance to develop both your imaginative and critical abilities through the completion of this audio-visual work, alongside a critical commentary. In both cases, you must submit an individual film, with your own edit, even if you have worked on the film as part of a team. In the case of the video essay, the critical commentary should concern a topic closely related to the video essay and should include a self-reflexive discussion of the creative research process as well as evidence of appropriate research. In the case of the short film, you should submit a critical commentary including a self-reflexive discussion of the creative research process, and a justification and explanation of the creative decisions taken using appropriate critical sources.

You will have a chance to discuss ideas with your peers and in supervisions with a single member of staff allocated to your project.

Module pre-requisite:

• Video essay: Successful completion of video essay during year 1 or 2 modules, or previous relevant filmmaking experience. In the latter case, prior work must be submitted beforehand to ascertain suitability as determined by the dissertation supervisor.
• Short film: Previous relevant filmmaking experience. Prior work must be submitted beforehand to ascertain suitability as determined by the dissertation supervisor

Module aims - intentions of the module

• To provide the opportunity, at the end of your BA programme, to produce a sustained piece of creative audio-visual work. A project is chosen by you, in consultation with an academic member of staff, and thereafter you complete the work, along with a related self-reflexive essay, under appropriate academic supervision. The module therefore develops qualities of independence, active learning, research and writing.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a capacity to produce a piece of creative visual work, as agreed by supervisor
• 2. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of your chosen genre and styles of film making/critical commentary

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Present persuasive arguments in both visual and written formats
• 4. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of a variety of theoretical positions and ideas

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Through writing the critical commentary, demonstrate appropriate research and bibliographic skills
• 6. Through producing the film or video essay, demonstrate advanced skills of creative expression and use of audio-visual technology

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will include some or all of the following elements:

• You will submit a proposed dissertation title before the Christmas break. Supervisors will be assigned by the beginning of the second semester. You should have a written plan of your dissertation ready for discussion at the first meeting with your supervisor. It is then your responsibility to arrange  three further 30-minute supervisions during the term. Supervisors will read and comment on up to 2000 words of written drafts or up to 2 mins of visual material, or any agreed combination thereof.
• Responsibility for the selection and development of a topic of research is left to the individual, though you are invited to discuss it with one or more members of staff. There is no specific training in film-making or video-essay making and you will have to demonstrate prior ability by meeting the conditions of the module pre-requisite.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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

To be developed by you in consultation with your supervisor.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11244