MA Documentary Film

Content

Get to grips with the entire documentary film making process on this comprehensive course, which blends theory with practical experience.

MA Documentary Film leads on exploring the full range of the documentary genre and modes of production that have brought about recent innovation.

The digital revolution means new ways of directing, producing and showing documentary films in broadcast, independent and web 2.0 media. You will learn the entire process – taking on the roles of producer, director, camera operator, sound-recordist and editor.

You can expect to be grounded in documentary direction, camerawork and editing - the key artistic and technical skills for a successful production team. Each year students take their work from LCC onto the competitive British and international documentary filmmaking circuit.

You will enhance your career prospects gaining valuable skills, vision and opportunities including guidance on pitching for funding and commissions.

In return, you’ll need to be committed and passionate about your study and practice and be ready with strong ideas. You will also need to be open to constructive and supportive criticism so that you’re able to push boundaries in your thinking, writing and reflection, alongside the making of your films.

The course culminates in you making a short documentary film (15-20 minutes). From identifying characters, stories and locations to shooting and editing with a particular visual style, you will be the complete author of your work. Artistic, investigative, observational and activist film ideas are all welcome. These can be developed for the context that suits your work best – from broadcast to independent or gallery exhibition.

MA Documentary Film explores the traditions of international documentary film while offering modern documentary production facilities at LCC. Training includes shooting and directing on high-definition cameras and editing in Adobe Premiere. Practice is integrated with the theory so that filmmaking is critically and conceptually analysed within the historical and practical context of documentary film.

Haven’t found the information you’re looking for? Want to ask us a question about this course?

Enquire

24 September 2018

Course units

Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves six units, totalling 180 credits.

Units summary:

• Documentary Process and Practice (20 credits) - This unit introduces documentary film making to equip you with the core skills of documentary film production.
• Documentary History and Theory (20 credits) - This unit seeks to position documentary production within a historical context.

Units summary:

• Documentary Process and Practice, (continued)
• Documentary Practices: Taster Film and Pitch and Critical Context (40 credits) - This unit further develops skills in camera work, producing, directing and editing, now in a more exploratory and individually authored context.
• Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

Building upon your study in the first unit, you will have the opportunity to study the ramifications of contemporary theoretical debates, documentary history and theory in relation to a chosen approach and research methodology.

Units summary:

• Documentary Practices: Taster Film and Pitch and Critical Context (continued)
• Documentary Practices: Ethics and Methodologies (20 credits)
• Major Project (60 credits)

This term allows you to develop your own specialist interest in documentary through the completion of a Major Project, involving the production and direction of an individually authored documentary film, accompanied by a research dossier, a proposal and a treatment.

Units summary:

• Major Project (continued)

If you are unable to continue or decide to exit the course, there are two possible exit awards. A Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the first 60 credits and a Postgraduate Diploma will be awarded on successful completion of the first 120 credits.

MA Documentary Film Programme Specification 2017/18 (PDF - 83KB)

Staff Course Leader

Ken Kirby

Iris Wakulenko, Dr Katerina Loukopoulou, Zadoc Nava

Nancy Platt

Professor Brian Winston (Photographer and Documentary Filmmaker)

Guest speakers include leading British documentary filmmakers, Christopher Hird, Phil Agland, Kim Longinotto, Molly Dineen, Jon Ronson, Hito Steyerl, Jane and Louise Wilson and LCC Alumni returning to show work commissioned by BBC TV and others.