Studying at York
Film and Television Group Projects: Pre-Production - TFT00083H
- Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
Module summary
In this module, you will explore the initiation and development of a group-based project in single-camera film or multicamera television. You will form part of a team, while researching and working on your own specifically assigned role, across the pre-production phases of a screen-story pitched and voted on by your cohort of students. The roles available will cover the key creative and logistical areas required for the delivery of a succesful short film or short TV series. You will explore the nature of your role in its professional,contexts - creative and technical - and apply that knowledge to the specific demands of the project to which you are assigned under the guidance of executive producers, and role-specific mentors.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
During the course of this module, you can expect to:
- Evaluate the potential of screen stories, either as pitches or as commissioned projects, so as to contribute to their effective realisation
- Explore a key screen role in film or television in terms of its professional expectations, technical competencies and creative contribution to a project's realisation
- Apply your knowledge of a key role to the specific demands of a commissioned project, exploring its creative, technical and logistical priorities.
- Work as part of a team, to develop a project creatively and logisitically.
- Develop job interview skills, interpersonal skills, and negotiating skills as you apply to positions on screen projects and then pursue your creative and logistical objectives in pre-production.
Module learning outcomes
At the end of this module, you will be expected to:
- Demonstrate active research into the creative, technical and logistical demands of a key screen production role, while relating that role to others in a creative team.
- Develop your technical or logistical skills and demonstrate how they might be applied creatively and practically to the preproduction planning of a specific and assigned creative project
- Present production plans in compelling and professional-standard formats which clearly articulate your own creative objectives, and technical / logistical procedures
- Demonstrate team-working and creative negotiation skills, promoting and contributing to team cohesion and common purpose.
- Demonstrate an ability to promote your own creative, technical and logistical talents in job interview.
- Show a relevant understanding of the key practical considerations - both on-set in relation to access to resources - that contribute to a successful preproduction phase in a creative project.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
This is embedded in both the executive producer and mentor sessions across the duration of the module.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.
Indicative reading
Quinn, E. and Counihan, J. (2006). The Pitch. Faber and Faber.
Katz, S. (1991). Film Directing Shot by Shot. Michael Wiese Productions.
Simon, D & Wiese, M. (2006). Film and Video Budgets, 4th edition. Michael Wiese Productions.
Singleton, R. (1997). Film Scheduling, 2nd edition, Lone Eagle.
Proferes, N. (2008). Film Directing Fundamentals, 3rd edition. Focal Press.
Frost, J. (2009). Cinematography for Directors. Michael Wiese Productions.
Weston, J. (1999). Directing Actors. Michael Wiese Productions.
Murch, W. (2001). In the Blink of an Eye. Silman-James Press.
Wyatt, H. and Amyes, T. (2003). Audio Post Production for Television and Film: An introduction to technology and techniques. Focal Press.
Yewdall, D.L. (2003). Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound. Focal Press.
Zettl, H. (2008). Television Production Handbook, 10th edition. Wadsworth Publishing.
Millerson, G. (2009). Television Production, 14th edition. Focal Press.