FILM PRODUCTION - 2025/6
Module code: FVP1008
Module Overview
This module starts the students journey into creating media with professional video equipment . The students will learn professional operational skills working with sound and vision and they will be introduced to pre-production and planning to optimize their final production.
The students first learn how to evaluate the health and safety risks of filming on location and how to apply control measures to reduce the risk factor. The students experiment with a range of camera, microphone and lighting techniques in the workshops and will put them into practice in the assignments. During the module the students will be introduced to permission documentation, legal consent and copyright issues that need to be completed for a production that will be broadcast.
There is a lot of opportunity for creative ideas to be included in your final production and the technical tips and tricks shown in the workshops can lead to a strong narrative final production
Module provider
Music & Media
Module Leader
PRATT Susan (Music & Med)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 4
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 10
Independent Learning Hours: 99
Lecture Hours: 22
Seminar Hours: 10
Guided Learning: 1
Captured Content: 8
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
FVP1014 Video Fundamentals
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- Roles in TV and Film
- Pre-production in practice
- Health and safety for filming
- Camera sensors and types of cameras
- Lenses and apertures
- Camera settings such as white balance, shutter speed, format etc
- Lighting design
- Sound recording skills
- Programme development and the application of storytelling
- The application of digital video standards
- Logging
- Editing basics and post production
- Programme critique and critical analysis
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | HEALTH AND SAFETY | 20 |
| Coursework | 5 SHOT RULE | 20 |
| Coursework | EDITING AND LIGHTING | 20 |
| Coursework | FILMED PRODUCTION | 40 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to give students the opportunity to apply their understanding of the production process and develop operational skills with the professional filming equipment. The equipment can be booked out through the online university system, once a risk assessment is completed. So students have plenty of opportunity to improve their operational skills for the assignments.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- Coursework 1 – Health and Safety Risk assessment
- coursework 2 - 5 shot rule
- Coursework 3 – Lighting, sound recording and editing.
- Coursework 4 – Film production which will be an individual production but each student is expected to assist on other films
Formative assessment:
Formative assessment and feedback will be given to individual students, as required, during in-class exercises, and in practical workshops and during critiques.
Students are encouraged to submit early for feedback and tutorial sessions before the deadline.
Feedback
Students receive written feedback on their coursework and verbal feedback on their practical work throughout the module, particularly during workshops.
Module aims
- Develop the students programme production skills
- Introduce the student to professional camera, lighting and sound skills for location programme production.
- further develop the students editing and post production skills
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Know how to complete a risk assessment and know about other documentation for the production process | KPT |
| 002 | Demonstrate professional camera skills and location lighting techniques and understand and apply the theories behind camera operation | KCP |
| 003 | Demonstrate good sound recording and sound editing for film production | KC |
| 004 | Produce a professional edit showing an understanding of editing rules and principles and an analysis of good quality sound and vision and storytelling. | KCT |
| 005 | Problem solving | T |
| 006 | Group work | T |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to develop the students production process and location filming skills. The teaching and workshops take you through the theory of camera, lighting and sound techniques and then put them into practice in the workshops, giving the student the opportunity to experiment with professional filming equipment in a supervised and supported environment.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- Lectures
- Workshops with broadcast equipment to put into practice theoretical knowledge and to develop operational skills
- Seminars to develop production skills
- Reviews of work and feedback in seminars.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: FVP1008
Other information
The Department of Music and Media is committed to developing graduates with attributes encompassing employability, digital skills, global and culture awareness, sustainability as it relates to media production and broadcast engineering and, finally, resourcefulness and resilience.
Employability: In this module the student begins to learn the professional pre-production process and the operation of professional broadcast equipment. Both aspects give the students industry skills which can be useful in future employment in broadcasting. Even if the student is not going to work on the craft skills themselves if they understand the challenges for these roles they will they will have a better knowledge of what their colleagues are trying to achieve which will be useful as a broadcast support or design engineer
Resourcefulness and Resilience: Practical skills can be difficult to master and often take trial and error to perfect. This module gives the students the opportunity to learn in a safe supported space, giving them the time to try out different camera techniques, lighting set up and sound recording skills. These sessions give the students the space to try things out, get it wrong and improve on their techniques developing self value and resilience. In addition when the students are working on their assessments projects often do not go as planned and these scenarios develop the students’ resourcefulness to make the best of what ever factor that has not gone as planned
Digital capabilities: Students continue to use a range of online and stand-alone digitally-enabled and industry-standard tools. These include software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Davinci Resolve, Pro Tools and other industry software that can be used in post production. Students learn to set up the recording formats and settings for using professional video cameras, to use specialist equipment required in broadcast environments and will have to media manage their projects to deliver the final productions in the exact delivery formats. Students will access learning materials through Surreylearn the virtual learning platform where material is available for them to develop their knowledge and professional skills. Additional tutorials may be delivered over teams or similar ensuring the students are accustomed to online environments.
Sustainability: Student are encouraged to use low power lighting to conserve on greenhouse gases and work efficiently on set so that lights are not unnecessarily left on. Students are encouraged to consider the environment as part of their production planning.
Global and cultural capabilities: Students will develop an awareness of the demographic of their proposed audience, demonstrate cultural awareness of how their production could address different demographics for the purpose of the production aims. The module will nurture awareness of the narrative to clearly reflect cultural viewpoints. Also to be aware on location of any sensitivities that may need to be included in production planning.
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Film Production and Broadcast Engineering BEng (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.