FLM2503 Screen and World Assignment Brief 2024-25 | Middlesex University

Assignment Brief

This is a Critical Praxis essay: “praxis” means the combination of theory and practice. You are being asked to research one of the areas of film theory studied on this module as part of the pre-production for a creative filmmaking project.

You are being asked to THINK CRITICALLY about your approach to film practice. In what ways would an idea explored in film theory help to shed light on the issues faced in making a film? This might relate to:

• Elements of storytelling and aesthetics, such as the film’s visual style or genre.

• Questions of ideology and representation, such as social or political themes in the film,or the representation of class, race and gender/sexuality.

• Ethical considerations around casting and working with actors, working with specific communities or locations, or your role as a filmmaker engaging with the world.

You should write an essay explaining how key decisions in your creative approach to making a film are informed by specific ideas from film theory. For example, ONE of the following:

cinematography and realism; or casting and gender theory; or production design and genre. All of the topics we study on the module speak to these areas in a variety of different ways that you would need to consider in detail during a film production. For the purposes of this assignment, you will need to narrow your focus to ONE key film theory topic and a limited number of aspects of the proposed film project.

You will be selecting a synopsis from a pool of pre-existing projects – so this assignment will be asking you to respond creatively to another filmmaker’s initial idea. This will involve bringing your own creative perspective to the project in terms of what the film will look and sound like, but it will also require you to bring your intellectual perspective as a critical thinker.

• What contexts and questions does the synopsis suggest?

• What problems might there be in the synopsis? How would you address them?

• What critical perspectives would you bring to the film that aren’t necessarily suggested on the page?

STEP 1: 

Access the selection of synopses for short film productions on the module page: https://mdx.mrooms.net/mod/folder/view.php?id=3150188

You should select ONE synopsis that you intend to work on (i.e. that you would be interested in preparing for production).

QUESTION: What academic research will you need to do to THINK CRITICALLY about your preparation for this film?

STEP 2:

Decide on your creative approach to making this film, including a title for the film.

N.B. This element accounts for only 25% of the overall essay (~500 words) so you should not spend significant time planning a film production. Only broad strokes regarding key elements of style, genre, and themes are required. What does the title say about the film you’re making?

STEP 3:

Consider the topics studied on this module (e.g. semiotics, masculinity, queer, postcolonialism, etc.) that could be used a lens to think about the production. Pick ONE topic that you would research in relation to style, genre or theme to prepare to make this film.

N.B. This element accounts for 75% of the overall essay (~1500 words) and should take up the majority of your time working on this assignment.

You should then carry out academic research on your topic in order find AT LEAST THREE good quality scholarly texts (i.e. monographs, edited collections or journal articles) and ONE reference film to be discussed in the essay.

You should demonstrate your research by including in your essay direct quotations, properly formatted and cited, from the texts you have read. You must not paraphrase sources.

The reference film can be ANY film of your choice. It should be relevant to your chosen film theory topic and the essay should include analysis of the reference film to demonstrate this.

You are encouraged to draw on your emerging specialisms to inform your approach to preparing and researching the film production, but this is not necessary. You might discuss another aspect of filmmaking, or a more general approach to the film.

Assessment Learning Outcomes:

LO1: Demonstrate understanding of the complex relationships between aesthetics, theory, and filmmaking;
LO2: Analyse the political, social, cultural and ideological contexts of film;
LO3: Relate a range of criteria on specific practical, ethical and philosophical issues (such as equality, diversity and inclusion) to film
LO4: Demonstrate research skills by comparing media, ideas and critical approaches;
LO5: Produce convincing arguments by surveying competing and contradictory information and ideas to develop points of view;
LO6: Apply interdisciplinary critical frameworks to the analysis of screen media.