Truth25 (close to home)

Studio brief

This studio has been designed to encourage the telling of stories which draw on personal experience and to allow students to “play” to their strengths by undertaking specialist roles. Students will work both in small teams and collaboratively in a studio-wide enterprise.

The studio outcome is expected to be 8 to 12 short films of approximately 10 minutes duration, thematically linked to facilitate presentation as a portmanteau feature film. Students will explore ways in which the resulting work can be promoted and disseminated.

The theme (as well as stylistic elements of production) will be decided upon by the Studio membership, though subject to approval by the Studio Leader, and is likely to draw on the personal, real world experiences of the students. The following can be a starting point for discussion: Lea Valley project, youth in the city, young love, tough love, growing up/becoming adult, off the rails, making your way, one special night, one crazy night…

Students will be asked to nominate the specialist roles they wish to undertake, a negotiated learning agreement will then define the scope and nature of each student’s participation. For example a student wishing to concentrate on cinematography may be expected to undertake this role across a number of films as well as committing to developing skills and undertaking appropriate research. If, as anticipated, a “skills” shortfall results from this approach students will need to be willing to undertake a secondary role.

All students will be expected to participate in the developmental process by offering critiques of emerging projects and considering these projects in the context of their own specialist role(s). however, it will not be a requirement that each student originates and develops an idea.

Suggested reading:

McKee, R. (1999) Story. London: Methuen.

Block, B. (2007) The Visual Story. Oxford: Focal Press.

Katz, S. (1991) Film Directing Shot by Shot. California: Michael Wiese.

Worthington, C. (2008) Basics Film-Making: Producing.  Worthing:  AVA.

Brown, B. (2002) Cinematography: Theory and Practice. Oxford: Focal Press.

Bordwell,D. & Thompson,K. (2010) Film Art. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Sonnenschein, D. (2001) Sound Design. California: Michael Wiese.

Murch, W. (1995) In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing. Los Angeles: Silman-James.

(a more comprehensive list will be made available at the start of the studio)

Suggested viewing:

Film:

The Low Down (2000) Directed by Jamie Thraves

Treacle Jr. (2010) Directed by Jamie Thraves

Fish tank (2009) Directed by Andrea Arnold

Kidulthood (2006) Directed by Menhaj Huda

Shell (2012) Directed by Scott Graham

Paris Je t’aime (2006) Directed by Olivier Assayas, Frederic Auburtin, Emmanuel Benbihy, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Isabel Coixet, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuaron, Gerard Depardieu, Christopher Doyle, Richard LaGravenese, Vincenzo Natali, Alexander Payne, Bruno Podalydes, Walter Salles, Oliver Schmitz, Nobuhiro Suwa, Daniela Thomas, Tom Tykwer & Gus Van Sant

New York I love you (2009) Directed by Fatih Akin, Yvan Attal, Randall Balsmeyer, Allen Hughes, Shunji Iwai, Wen Jiang, Shekhar Kapur, Joshua Marston, Mira Nair, Natalie Portman & Brett Ratner

Image Credit: “Listen” - Kassandra Powell, Graduating project 2012-13

Details

Course Film & Broadcast Production BA (Hons)
Tutor Peter Hewitt