LEVEL 3 YEAR 1 TV, FILM AND CREATIVE PRODUCTION:

EXTENDED DIPLOMA (2023/24)

Tutors: Aimee Gourlay, Richard Simms, Gina Hele and Mel Edmonds

Final Major Project: Short Film

Unit 8: Developing a creative media production project

Launch Date: 26/02/24

End Date: 24/05/24
PROJECT AIM:
To produce an original 4–10-minute short film and promotional poster for a genre of your choice
1
PROJECT OVERVIEW
A short film is exactly what it sounds like. It's an entire film, but short. Short films can be of any genre or
method/mode of filmmaking. Short films are often screened at local, national, or international film
festivals and made by independent filmmakers with either a low budget or no budget at all. Short films
also play an incredibly vital role in Hollywood beyond simply cost-savings — they also help identify rising
or undiscovered filmmaking talents. That’s why it’s the perfect way to increase your visibility and provide
Hollywood suits with a sample of your filmmaking prowess.

Film genres are stylistic categories that organize films based on their codes and conventions. Media
theorist Graham Burton states ‘Genres are created through a process of repetition and recognition
leading to anticipation and expectation’. Furthermore, Steven Neale adds that ‘difference is absolutely
essential to the economy of genre.’ By considering and demonstrating the similarities and differences of
genres, you can create a film that will both engage and intrigue your audience.
Making a short film is also great practice to get hands-on experience in filmmaking and often the typical
first stage for new filmmakers. This project will provide you the opportunity to make use of the skills,
knowledge and understanding developed through the previous units to complete a creative media
project.

WHAT ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO DO?

In groups of 3 you must develop, plan and produce an original 4-10 minute short film for a genre of your
choice from a script written and produced by your group. You will also create a film poster to promote and
advertise your short film. All members of the group should produce their own edit of the short film and
poster and then decide as a group which versions will be used for the project submission.

Although you are working in a team, you will be assessed on your individual contributions that you will be
evidenced on your online journal and from observations by your tutors in class. You will be assessed on
four areas of criteria: Context, Research, Practical Skills and Reflection and Evaluation.

TASK LIST
1. Individual UAL proposal - You will write a clearly defined Proposal that articulates your ambitions
and plans for your short film idea and the Context behind it. DEADLINE: Wednesday 27th March
2024 @ 3:00pm

2. Research Presentation or Essay - You will prepare a presentation or essay that evidences your
understanding of the benefits of Research. DEADLINE: Thursday 18th April 2024 @ 4:30pm

3. Pre-production Folder – Each production group will provide Context for their project by compiling
and completing necessary pre-production paperwork submitted in the form of a pre-production
folder. DEADLINE: Wednesday 1st May 2024 @ 3:00pm

4. Short film and Promotional Poster - You will evidence your Practical Skills by engaging in
numerous workshops, experimenting with new filmmaking techniques and produce an original 4–
10 minute short film and promotional poster. DEADLINE: Monday 20th May 2024 @ 4:30pm

5. Individual Online Journal - You will undergo and document continuous Research to support and
develop your short film idea. You will regularly Reflect and evaluate your progress throughout each
stage of production and produce a final evaluation on the final outcome. DEADLINE: Friday 24th
May 2024 @ 4:30pm

2
ASSESSMENT AND GRADING CRITERIA
Thoroughly familiarise yourself with the assessment and grading criteria for this unit to ensure that the
evidence produced through the tasks you complete meet the criteria. If you are unsure about any aspect of
the criteria, please speak directly with your tutor as soon as possible.

LEARNING OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The student will: The student can:
1. Understand the requirements of a creative media 1.1 Analyse the requirements of a creative media
production project. production project.

2. Be able to use research methods to inform ideas 2.1 Review a range of research sources to support a
for creative media production. creative media production project.

2.2 Interpret research to develop ideas and

3. Be able to use skills, knowledge and
understanding in the completion of a creative media
project.
4. Be able to evaluate a creative media project.
effectively communicate to an audience.
3.1 Apply practical skills, knowledge and
understanding to complete a creative media project
within an agreed timeframe.
4.1 Critically evaluate a creative media project
against the agreed requirements and parameters.

UAL AWARDING BODY GRADE CRITERIA – LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA

3
PROJECT BREAKDOWN

CONTEXT
FAIL PASS MERIT DISTINCTION

Work submitted fails to Work submitted meets all
meet one or more of the of the assessment criteria
assessment criteria and is and is of a satisfactory
of a poor standard standard
Limited understanding of Understanding of subject
subject context, lacking context used appropriately
clarity in aims and to make judgments,
purpose. describe aims and clarify
purpose.
Work submitted meets all Work submitted meets all
assessment criteria and is assessment criteria and is
of a high standard of a very high standard
Good understanding and Comprehensive
knowledge of subject understanding and
context used to make knowledge of subject
sound judgments, context used to
articulate ambitions and communicate complex
clarify purpose. concepts, articulate
ambitions and clarify
purpose.

1) Individual UAL Proposal – You will produce a project proposal of about 350 words, excluding the
project action plan and bibliography. The proposal will include the Rationale, concept and
evaluation of your idea.

Project proposals should not be so succinct that they do not address the requirements, nor should
they be excessively long and unfocused. Your project proposal should be sufficiently challenging to
ensure you have the best possible chance of meeting the grading criteria.

Submit your Proposal via upload on Teams Assignments.

You must also upload copy of your individual proposal to the Context section of your Online Journal

DEADLINE: Wednesday 27th March 2024 @ 3pm

2) Pre-production folder - Produce a Group Pre-production Folder to support the development of

your short film. Your folder should consist of:

Proposal Treatment Script

Shot List Storyboard Location Recces
List of Contacts/ Permission forms Risk Assessments
Contributors (Location and individual)
Contingency Plans Shooting Schedule Call Sheets
Budget (Industry and Equipment List
Actual)

Submit your folder via hand-in and upload a copy of each document to the context section of your Online
Journal.

DEADLINE: Wednesday 1st May 2024 @ 3pm

4
 RESEARCH
FAIL PASS MERIT DISTINCTION

Work submitted fails to Work submitted meets all Work submitted meets all Work submitted meets all
meet one or more of the of the assessment criteria assessment criteria and is assessment criteria and is
assessment criteria and is and is of a satisfactory of a high standard of a very high standard
of a poor standard standard

Little or no evidence Sufficient relevant Thorough and sustained Independently identified,

presented or information information has been research and investigation thorough and sustained
does not relate sufficiently gathered, documented and of relevant sources, research and investigation
to task. used in the development interpretation and of a range of relevant
of ideas. synthesis of information sources, insightful
used to inform, support interpretation and
and develop ideas. synthesis of information
used to inform, support
and develop ideas.

1) Research Presentation or Essay - You must deliver a 5-minute presentation or write a 1,500 word
essay that demonstrates your understanding of the purpose of performing a wide range
of Research for your Final Major Project.

Your presentation or essay must ultimately answer the question: What is the Purpose of
Researching for a Short film production?

In your presentation/essay, you should discuss the following:

• how research can influence and shape your short film idea and production.
• Consider the types of research Production, Content & Market and perform some of
this for your short film (this does not need to be complete research)
• You must define primary and secondary research and give your own examples of this
for your short film
• You must define Quantitative and Qualitative research and give your own examples of
this research for your short film
• Overall, you must conclude - What are the most important benefits of research? (i.e. It
gives you ideas, knowledge, inspiration, facts, helps you keep organised).
• To provide Context, you should refer back to your own Short Film idea throughout.

Your work must be presented in an academic style and you must provide a bibliography of your
sources using Harvard referencing.

Submit your presentation or essay along with your bibliography via upload on Teams Assignments.
You should also upload a copy of your presentation or essay to the research section of your online journal.

All presentations will be delivered to tutors on Thursday 18th April 2024 from 1:30pm

DEADLINE: Thursday 18th April 2024 @ 4:30pm

5
 2) Individual Online Journal - You should include a wide range of research to support the
production of your Short Film idea. You should have evidence of primary and secondary
research in three areas:

Content Research
• Historical Context and information about the short film format.
• Codes and Conventions - genre, narrative, characters, mise-en-scene etc.
• Background information on your chosen theme, plot, characters, locations etc.
• Style and Aesthetic - use of camerawork, sound, editing, mise-en-scene etc.
• Similar Short films and film posters
• Inspiration and influences - Similar films, directors, cinematographers, sound designers,
editors etc.

Market Research
• Primary Research – Questionnaires, Surveys, focus groups etc.
• Secondary Research – Quantitative data on existing short films, film posters, trends etc.
• A detailed outline of your target audience - demographics and psychographics
• Distribution – Format and Platform

Production Research
• Production techniques – Camera, Sound, Editing, SFX etc.
• Mise-en-scene – Locations, props, costumes, lighting, performance etc.
• Moodboards of your genre, style, characters, locations etc.
• Actors and Contributors
• Copyright Considerations

Remember to always consider and explain WHAT, WHY and HOW that research is useful.
(E.g. WHAT did you find out? WHY is it relevant? And HOW can it be useful for your short film
production?)

There will be a Mid-way checkpoint with your tutors to review your progress on Thursday 25th April 2024
Submit your Individual Online Journal by uploading an active link via Teams Assignments

DEADLINE: Friday 24th May 2024 @ 4:30pm

6
 PRACTICAL SKILLS
FAIL PASS MERIT DISTINCTION

Work submitted fails to Work submitted meets Work submitted meets Work submitted meets
meet one or more of the all of the assessment all assessment criteria all assessment criteria
assessment criteria and criteria and is of a and is of a high standard and is of a very high
is of a poor standard satisfactory standard standard

Limited range of Adequate range of Consistent and In depth understanding

processes demonstrated,
judgement and
execution of techniques
is poor.
processes, skills and appropriate processes, and aesthetic awareness,
knowledge skills and knowledge imaginative and flexible
demonstrated. applied to extend processes, skills and
Competent execution enquiry and develop knowledge applied in
and application of creative solutions extensive enquiry to
techniques used to develop creative
develop ideas. solutions.

1) Short Film - Working in a group of 3 you will plan, film and edit your own original Short film using a
script written and produced by your production group. Your film idea should include an original
narrative and style. Each member of the group should produce their own edit of the short film and
poster and then decide as a group which version will be used for the project submission.

Your film must also include the elements below:

• It must be a minimum of 4 minutes in length and maximum of 10 including titles and credits.
• It must convey clear codes and conventions of at least 1 chosen genre.
• It must include 2 characters - at least 1 actor should be sourced outside of your production group.
• It must include 2 locations - external and internal.
• it must also contain the use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound.
• It must contain at least 90% of original footage filmed by yourselves.

1) Film Poster - You will also produce promotional material in the form of a Film Poster which should
promote your short film. Your poster should include the typical conventions of a film poster and
match the genre, theme and style of your short film. All Images must be original and self-
produced.

You will have a designated production window for production of these products.
The production window dates are: Thursday 2nd May – Monday 20th May 2024
Screenings will take place Wednesday 22nd May 2024 from 9:30am
Short films must be submitted onto the Course Dropbox in time for the screening and your film poster
should be printed and mounted onto a mounting board for display.

Copies of your final Short film and film poster should also be put onto the practical skills section of your
Individual Online Journal as well as evidence of your involvement and process (experiments, screenshots,
BTS photos, drafts, edit reviews etc.)

DEADLINE: Monday 20th May 2024 @ 4:30pm

7
 REFLECTION AND EVALUATION
FAIL PASS MERIT DISTINCTION

Work submitted fails to Work submitted meets Work submitted meets Work submitted meets
meet one or more of the all of the assessment all assessment criteria all assessment criteria
assessment criteria and criteria and is of a and is of a high standard and is of a very high
is of a poor standard satisfactory standard standard

Insufficient evidence of Clearly communicated Effective communication Accomplished and

ongoing evaluation, lack evidence of valid of analysis and professional
of or only basic analysis evaluation and realistic interpretation, communication of
and little or no analysis independently independent synthesis of perceptive analysis and
justification for ideas. used to inform and information and interpretation,
develop ideas. application of reasoned demonstrating clarity
decision making to and sophistication in
inform development of thinking and maturity in
ideas. decision making to
progress ideas.

1) Production Diary - You should reflect and evaluate your progress regularly considering what you
learnt/did towards your project. There should be approx. 8-10 reflection points in this section. Your
reflections should be continuous, purposeful and evidence maturity in your decision making to
progress your ideas. You should ensure that your document reflections throughout the following
stages of your production:
• Idea Development and Research
• Pre-Production
• Production
• Post- Production

Remember it is useful to consider and explain WHAT, WHY and HOW you did some-thing.
(E.g WHAT did you do? WHY did you do it? HOW did/could it benefit you?)

2) Final Evaluation - Upon completion of your Short Film you will participate in a screening for all the
films, where you will receive and provide constructive feedback. This feedback will help you to
summarize the whole production process in a final evaluation reflecting upon the following:

• Did you meet all the requirements outlined in the brief?

• Did you meet your original intentions?
• Were you happy with the final outcome and why or why not?
• What was the constructive and positive feedback received by your Peers & Tutors?
• Based in this experience, is there anything you would do differently in the future?

There will be a Mid-way checkpoint with your tutors to review your progress on Thursday 25th April 2024
Submit your Online Journal by publishing it and uploading a link via Teams Assignments
DEADLINE: Friday 24th May 2024 @ 4:30pm