Project BA Film and Media

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Hilary Smith (subject to change)
• Assessment: an 8000-word dissertation (100%), or a film script or TV episode script(s) of at least 60 minutes' screen time (75%) and a 2000-word evaluation essay (25%), or a practical project of agreed medium and scope (75%) and a 2000-word critical practice essay (25%)

The Final Year Project for the BA Film and Media provides you with an opportunity to explore a subject of your own choosing in depth and to work independently. You are can choose: (a) an academic project; or (b) a screenwriting project; or (c) a practical project.

The aim is for you to become more confident and competent in analysing a problem or question, gathering background information and presenting conclusions in a clear and well-organised manner. Another key objective is the development of competence in tackling work of greater complexity, becoming familiar with prior scholarship in the area, evaluating it, gathering a large volume of material or information, synthesising it and presenting information and arguments in a clear and accessible manner.

You will also develop an understanding of theoretical and methodological issues: what are the appropriate methods of conducting an investigation and what theoretical models should be tested out? This is also important for creative projects, in which you should demonstrate an understanding and awareness of appropriate formats and conventions and of how your work relates to these.

You select one of the following types of project:

Academic project

The academic project asks you to identify a problem or question and address it in an extended dissertation of 8000 words. You will develop familiarity with, and a critical evaluation of, the theoretical and methodological issues related to a defined research question.

Those electing to complete an academic project will need to conduct a detailed, yet focused, review of scholarly literature related to such theoretical and methodological issues. You will also likely need to carry out some form of limited data collection and/or analysis, which may include interviews, textual/visual/online analysis, ethnographic observations, or questionnaires, amongst other possible methods.

The highest-graded projects will be of a scholarly standard: information, arguments and conclusions will be presented in a clear, well-structured and accessible manner; there will be a sophisticated and focused engagement with relevant scholarly literature; a reflexive account of methodological issues will be provided; and formatting conventions, particularly related to referencing academic and other sources, must be applied appropriately.

Screenwriting project

The screenwriting project aims to demonstrate your ability to create, develop and write original script material and to reflect critically on this process. The project will take the form of (a) a film script or television episode script(s) of at least 60 minutes’ screen time, and (b) an evaluation essay on the development and context of the project. Scripts must be original material - adaptations are not permitted. The evaluation essay must be at least 2000 words and must address the following issues:

• consideration of relevant existing film/TV work and the project in relation to it
• an account of your aims for the project, factors influencing the choice of form, factors considered in developing the work and deciding how to communicate ideas
• critical review of your aims for the project, factors influencing the choice of form, factors considered in developing the work and deciding how to communicate ideas
• self-assessment of your personal learning experience
• critical reflection on the success of the script in fulfilling your intentions and communicating to the target audience.

If you wish to undertake a screenwriting project, you will need to have successfully completed the Level 4 and 5 Screenwriting modules.

Practical project

The practical project asks you to identify a subject to be addressed in an agreed form of practice-based work, and to accompany this with a critical practice essay. The medium to be used, and its appropriate scope, must be negotiated in advance with the programme director. Examples of the form a project might take, but are not limited to, include a short film (of approximately 5-6 minutes running time), a website, a feature article, or a magazine or newspaper mock-up.

If you wish to undertake a practical project, you will need to have completed relevant practical modules and/or demonstrate that you already possess the requisite technical skills. You must also have independent access to the necessary equipment to be able to undertake the project; individual training and supply of equipment such as cameras cannot be provided.

By the end of your final-year project, you will be able to:

• demonstrate an ability to engage and critically assess an interdisciplinary range of analytical and theoretical perspectives on media
• demonstrate an awareness of the media industries and their related contemporary and/or historical contexts
• understand and articulate theories at an abstract level, while engaging with practical, relevant applications and case examples
• research complex academic work effectively (for an academic project)
• research effectively using practical techniques, tools and technologies (for a practical project)
• write and/or communicate to an appropriate scholarly or professional standard
• develop an identity as a creative practitioner and/or analyst of media.