Tab Content: Course Overview

You will have a combination of lectures, screening and workshops to help you develop the theoretical knowledge that you will need to put into practice when working on the project in week 3. The lectures provide you with an understanding of the formal and technical composition of films in order to allow you to undertake detailed analysis, from the level of close scrutiny of individual images, and their interrelation with the soundtrack, through to the narrative assembly of shots and scenes. Through the analysis of a range of examples, you will become familiar with the key formal and semantic conventions of cinema.

The practical workshops develop your skills to work with cameras and digital film equipment as well as developing post-production and editing skills. Every student is given the chance to write a short script following guidelines. Working in a group, students will select a script to pitch and produce. Students in a group all share the same mark for the completed film. In addition, you will write an essay to critically reflect on and analyse the production process, the formal and aesthetic decisions made and reflect on the completed film.

Week 1

• Lecture: Cinematography and the shot, and mise-en-scène, plus a film screening
• Seminar: Discussing the topic and the film
• Scriptwriting workshop
• Practical camera and sound workshop
• Post-production workshops

Week 2

• Lecture: Editing and film sound, plus a film screening
• Seminar: Discussing the topic and the film
• Lecture: Pre-production to production
• Practical camera and sound workshop
• Post-production workshops
• Pitching session and informative feedback on each project

Week 3

• One-to-one group meeting to finalise the plan for the film project
• Production and post-production of project
• Presentation of the completed work
  

Intercultural and social experience

Throughout the three weeks, you will be accompanied by Lancaster Student Ambassadors who will help you settle into Lancaster, showing you around campus and answering your questions. They will also lead evening social activities and weekend trips, giving you plenty of chances to make new international friends.

A 2 night trip to London is also included in the programme.