On the edge of practice: reflections on filmmaking pedagogy in the age of Creative Industries

This paper seeks to reflect on teaching film production in UK universities and students’ political agency; especially in relation to issues of social-class and cultural difference – issues that are not only still pertinent in the UK, but seem to be gathering greater urgency in face of contemporary social and political challenges. The paper scrutinizes the curriculum design of film production courses, which in the past two decades was driven by the Creative Industries agenda that was ushered around 2000 by the New Labour government. Informed by neo-liberal market-orientated approach, such agenda prioritised skills development and links with the industry, over pedagogical goals such as facilitating political debate, the development of critical thinking and the fostering of students social, political and creative agency.
Discussing examples from the curriculum of the BA Film Production course at University of Portsmouth, we proposes adopting an alternative approach to filmmaking pedagogy, which challenges the dichotomy between practical modules and contextual studies.