Aims and Fit of Module

The module builds on the  students’ skills and knowledge of digital media production established at Level 1 and aims to develop their critical understanding of documentary production. The module emphasises the relationship between theory and practice by exploring the documentary form through existing concepts such as audience, representation, and reportage.


Production work is single-camera based and students are encouraged to shoot on location.  Students will develop production skills such as planning, organisation, production management, camera, lighting, sound and post production techniques. As part of a small production team, students devise, research, schedule, script, shoot and edit a documentary video of 5 to 10 minutes duration.


Through lectures, screenings, workshops and exercises, the module aims to develop students’ critical awareness and understanding of conceptual and contextual issues of the documentary form and how these relate to their practical work.

Learning outcomes

A	develop and broaden their practical skills in digital media production;

B	develop their knowledge of research and production techniques in relation to documentary production work;

C	understand the nature of pre-production, production, and post-production work in relation to documentary production;

D	be able to critically evaluate their individual role in documentary production within the wider context of media industry practices and constraints;

E	be able to criticise their own production work in the context of documentary production as a whole.

Method of teaching and learning

The lab/ practical mode of delivery has been replaced by seminars.  The module leader is working with groups of students and with individuals in seminar settngs, getting them to think of the observational mode of documentary film-making so that they can make individual films, wherever they are.  This is going to increase the seminar time and will also have implications for assessing work, as the assessment will move from group wok to individual films.  But the module leader has indicated that he is happy to make this adjustment.    In making these adjustments, no learning objectives will be affected.