Course details
Term one
Practice & Context: History of Experimental Film
- You will be introduced to the key work, ideas and debates in experimental film, linking these filmmaking and critical practices to contemporary issues in visual and material culture.
- You will learn the critical, analytical and evaluative skills needed to prepare you for the development of your major project and to start to situate your practice and your filmmaking voice.
- As part of this unit, you will research a topic in experimental film practice that speaks to your personal interests and enhances your understanding of both your practice and its contexts. You’ll present your findings as a portfolio of visual research work that aims to support the development of your practice.
- The specific content of lectures, seminars and workshops will vary from year to year in order to reflect changes in subject approaches and discourses. A variety of artists and teachers will contribute to the teaching of the unit to ensure that you are exposed to current debates and practitioners.
Making Techniques
You will be challenged to develop your curiosity, knowledge and technical ability within your own filmmaking process. A series of practical workshops will offer opportunities to explore various methods and approaches used in contemporary practice.
Term two
Project Development & Distribution
- This unit is built around the creative, organisational and technical processes of the first steps in developing your major practical project. You will embark on this with a project proposal and development plan.
- You will also be expected to research and evidence an understanding of dissemination strategies for contemporary moving image media working with people and institutions outside of the university. Your research experience of onsite and online events, festivals, street art and gallery installations, will enable you to refine your projects contextual setting and contemporary site.
Term three
Final Major Project
- In this unit, your investigation and interrogation of critical discourse, practice and research will contribute to the formulation of your major project, continuing from Project Development & Distribution. Your voice as an artist and filmmaker and the context your work creates are the key attributes of your final project.
- You will be expected to reach beyond the current boundaries/notions of ‘experimental film’ and look forward to developing technologies and dissemination strategies in the pursuit and realisation of your project. Developing agility and versatility alongside your practical skills, continuing to develop your reflective practice with an informed and decisive approach. This practice will address the intellectual, aesthetic, social and technical processes involved.
- The unit will also prepare you with learning and skills development around your preparation for a career in the creative industries, exhibition of the final work will be undertaken in a venue/setting appropriate for the form, ending the course being confident in your position as a filmmaker and artist.
