Unit information: Short Fiction Film in 2021/22

Unit name	Short Fiction Film
Unit code	FATV20022
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Jimmy Hay
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	FATV10001 Filmmaking Fundamentals
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Film and Television
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will explore short films through a theoretical and conceptual consideration of the short form, and how this can be understood as distinct from long form, ‘feature’ filmmaking. The unit will screen a wide variety of short films, and approach them from theoretical perspectives such as - but not limited to - philosophy, issues of representation, film authorship, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, post-colonialism, and transnationalism. The unit will culminate in the production of a short film that responds to a production brief that relates to such issues. The unit will also consider the role of short film festivals, ‘proof of concept shorts’, and the short form’s position within industry processes of film production. In doing so the unit will foreground the importance of the short film as a creative and distinct form of cinema.

Aims

1. To gain an appreciation of the creative and conceptual possibilities particular to the short film.

2. To understand how industry perspectives on the short film have evolved over time.

3. To demonstrate a conceptual understanding of how themes and ideas can be practically realised in a filmmaking project.

4. To demonstrate skills in direction, cinematography, and sound recording.

5. To critically reflect upon practical filmmaking in a written reflexive account.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the short film as a distinct creative form of cinema;
2. appraise the role of the short film in contemporary industrial filmmaking practices;
3. illustrate an ability to transfer theoretical and conceptual understanding into practical filmmaking;
4. produce practical work demonstrating skill in operational aspects of film and television production technologies;
5. work constructively and creatively in a collaborative filmmaking environment;
6. evaluate and critically discuss their own work in a reflexive and analytical manner.

Teaching Information

Weekly seminar/workshop and screening.

Assessment Information

100% Practical Portfolio, equivalent to 4000 words

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FATV20022).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.