MA FILMMAKING

MODULE 1:
Term 1 Handbook

Autumn Term 2021

Level 7
Credits for module: 60

Module Leader and Term 1 Leader:

Rafael Kapelinski - r.kapelinski@lfs.org.uk
1. Introduction from the module 1 and term 1 leader

Welcome to LFS! This is the beginning of an exciting journey. Your Term 1 is going to be a very
intense but ultimately extremely rewarding time.

2. Module 1 aims

This module consists of Terms 1 and 2, which serve as an introduction to a landscape of

professional filmmaking, and the beginning of a process of enabling you to use filmmaking
practices both creatively and critically.

During terms 1 and 2 you will work in different professional roles on short film exercises to
introduce you to the workings of professional equipment, and, just as importantly, to professional
practices. The principal professional roles in Term 1 are director, camera operator and editor.
Additional roles include screenwriter, production designer, assistant director and camera
assistant. In Term 2 principal professional roles are: director; director of photography; camera
operator, and editor. Additional roles include: camera assistant, assistant director, gaffer. Where
projects do not have a dedicated producer, students within the unit will decide and agree how to
share and/or allocate producer responsibilities in order to support the exercises and the unit
appropriately.

Further aims of the module are to introduce you to the ways in which the different crew roles
represent complex responses to standards of technical quality, and also to the individual
requirements of particular projects i.e. In other words, the learning is designed to introduce you
to the pattern of aesthetic restriction and expansion represented by professional collaboration.

Accompanying your practical learning are lectures on the historical impact of technology on
content; directors’ strategies; contexts of film art, and on style analysis. These lectures are
designed to begin to provide students with the resources to invent and criticize in both the
technical and aesthetic ends of the spectrum.

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3. Module 1 learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for Module 1, which incorporates both terms 1 and 2, are as
follows:

By the end of the module Which teaching and Which summative

the student should be able learning methods enable assessment method(s) will
to.... students to achieve this measure the achievement
learning outcome? of this learning outcome?

Understand and reproduce • All • Students’ film work

professional practices and
skills at an introductory
industry standard in a range
of filmmaking roles.

Recognise and review the • Lectures • Students’ film work

issues arising during the • Film Production • Work and Research
creative collaboration of a • Project Supervision Journal
film crew in their practice, in
terms of increased aesthetic
and technical possibilities.

Discuss the outcomes of • Project supervision • Work and Research

their work, skills and • Cuts & Rushes Feedback Journal
collaboration, in relation to • End of Term Feedback
the surrounding history and Screening
contemporary culture of
cinema.

4. Module 1, Term 1: learning activities

Indicative workshops and lectures in Term 1 include:

Camera department resources

Seeing Light
Lenses
Exposure for stills
Light meter

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Motion picture camera and cine exposure
AATON practical demonstration
Camera department roles: DP and camera operator
Camera department roles: 1st and 2nd Assistants
Camera line up and shooting workshop

Workflow for film origination

Directing styles
Directing workshop
Casting workshop

Editing: Narrative and grammar

Avid practical
Rushes and cut screenings

Producing: Introduction to the role of the creative producer

Producing practicalities and logistics
Producing: risk assessment
Production conference

Introduction to screenwriting
Script conference

Introduction to production design

Term 1 Exercises

Formative exercises:

Weekend stills exercise

Practice shoot

Summative exercise:
16mm black and white mute, exterior location film, shot with available light, edited without effects.

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5. Key resources to support learning

Please find information on how to access Library Services here

Module 1 Suggested Reading list

Austen, Sue. Producing for Film and Television. The Crowood Press Ltd, 2019. Print

Bazin, André. What Is Cinema? Berkeley: U of California, 2005. Print.

Bordwell, David, Janet Staiger, and Kristin Thompson. The Classical Hollywood Cinema: Film Style & Mode
of Production to 1960. London: Routledge, 1996. Print.

Bowen, Christopher J., and Roy Thompson. Grammar of the Edit. Abingdon: Focal, 2013. Print.

Bresson, Robert. Notes On The Cinematograph. New York: New York Review Books; Main edition. Print.

Brown, Blain. Cinematography: Theory and Practice. Waltham, MA: Focal P., 2012. Print.

Egri, Lajos. The Art of Dramatic Writing. New York: Touchstone; Newly Rev. Ed edition. Print.

Grimas, Jonas. The Film Director Prepares. London: Jonas Grimas. 2016

Mascelli, Joseph V. The Five C's of Cinematography. Los Angeles, CA: Silman-James, 1998. Print.
MacKendrick, Alexander. On Filmmaking. London: Faber & Faber; Main edition, 2006. Print

Rumsey, Francis, and Tim McCormick. Sound and Recording. Oxford, UK: Focal, 2009. Print.

Sijll, Jennifer Van. Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must
Know. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2005. Print.

Truffaut, Francois. Hitchcock Truffaut. London, Faber & Faber; Main edition. Print

Ward, Peter. Picture Composition for Film and Television. Oxford: Focal, 2003. Print.

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6. Communication
Information will be communicated via the Virtual Learning Environment or VLE (Moodle) and via
email. Please therefore check your LFS email regularly and please use your school email address
in all correspondence with staff and students.

The class schedule is hosted on Celcat https://celcatweb.lfs.org.uk/calendar

7. Assessment

Your point of assessment for Module 1 is at the end of Term 2 and constitutes 2 components:

WORK AND RESEARCH JOURNAL [WRJ] - 50%

FILM ASSESSMENT – 50%

1. WORK AND RESEARCH JOURNAL [WRJ] - 50%

The Work and Research Journal is 1 of 2 components for your assessment for Module 1, and
forms 50% of the overall mark.

The journal provides you with the opportunity to reflect on the learning you have gained during
both Term 1 and 2. It is a platform to explore the key points of your practical and academic
experience, augmented by your own research, to develop a deeper insight into your skill,
aesthetic and critical development.

In terms of the assessment of your filmmaking practice we are particularly interested in how you
demonstrate the following abilities:

• Your ability to deal with complex film issues, both skill and aesthetics related, and
come up with exciting, original and personal solutions.
• Your ability to plan and carry out this work in the difficult and changing conditions of
actual film production
• Your ability to enhance your own and others’ creativity through collaboration.

The WRJ requirement is 8,000 words +/- 10%

Assessment Criteria for the Work and Research Journal

The assessment criteria and ratio of how the marks are reached for this component are as
follows:

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Component 1: Work and Research Journal – Assessment Criteria

Reflection & Analysis (50%)

Merit Pass Fail

Assignment demonstrates In- General reflection and some Lack of reflection and analysis of
depth reflection and analysis of analysis and reference to and reference to theories,
and reference to theories, theories, concepts and concepts and practical learning
concepts and practical learning practical learning experience experience from the course. Lack
experience from the course. from the course. Discussions of discussion and supported
Insightful, well supported and viewpoints are viewpoints. No use of examples.
discussion and viewpoints. supported. Appropriate
Clear and effective use of examples have been used.
examples.

Insights & Evidence (25%)

Merit Pass Fail

Assignment shows strong Assignment shows evidence Assignment shows little or no

evidence of ideas presented of ideas presented and evidence of ideas presented and
and insights gained throughout insights gained throughout insights gained throughout the
the course and exercises. the course and exercises. course and exercises. Implications
Implications of the insights Implications of the insights of the insights gained are not
gained are thoroughly outlined gained are outlined and sufficiently outlined and/or
and discussed in detail and discussed; appropriate discussed; appropriate
appropriate conclusions are conclusions are drawn. conclusions have not been drawn.
drawn.

Structure & Language (25%)

Merit Pass Fail

Writing is clear, concise, and Writing is mostly clear, Writing is unclear and
well organised with excellent concise, and well organised disorganised. Thoughts are
sentence and paragraph with good sentence and incoherent. There are numerous
structure. Thoughts are paragraph structure. spelling, grammatical, or syntax
expressed in a coherent and Thoughts are expressed in a errors.
logical manner. There are no coherent and logical manner.
noticeable spelling, There are only few noticeable
grammatical, or syntax errors. spelling, grammatical, or
syntax errors.

Although the submission for the Work and Research Journal is at the end of Term 2, you are
expected to undertake sustained, independent work on your journal throughout both terms.
You are able to submit pages to your personal tutor for feedback to support your development
of the journal.

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 2. FILM ASSESSMENT - 50%

The summative filmed exercises from term 1 and 2 comprise the 2 nd component of your
assessment for Module 1.

Term 1: 3-minute 16mm black and white mute, exterior location film.
Term 2: 1-3 minutes long, 16mm colour location film with post-synchronised sound.

Assessment criteria for summative filmed exercises:

You will be assessed on the adherence to the summative exercise briefs for terms 1 and 2, with
particular reference to the following learning outcomes:

Understand and reproduce • Students’ film work

professional practices and
skills at an introductory
industry standard in a range of
filmmaking roles.

Recognise and review the • Students’ film work

issues arising during the • Work and Research
creative collaboration of a film Journal
crew in their practice, in terms
of increased aesthetic and
technical possibilities.

In module 1 the film component is graded pass or fail.

Full assessment details and submission guidelines for both components are available from your
term tutor.