Abstract
To embark on the making of a feature film is sheer madness. Yet some of us cannot help but be driven to engage with this form by adopting creative and managerial methods, routines, processes and discourses that help us navigate our way towards creating some kind of impact. In this chapter, I seek to describe and articulate an example of a film project as research, with a particular emphasis on looking at how documentation and critical reflection form the core methodology of the project. In the madness that is filmmaking, how can methodology and method be employed to provide the basis for rigour in the research enquiry?
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
As an assistant filmmaker, Mark Duggan was involved in all aspects of the ‘total filmmaking’ process, right from the screenplay stage through to the final screening—in particular the development process, the cinematography, the editing and the postproduction sound (see Knudsen 2016).
- 3.
See Knudsen (2016).
- 4.
See vlog 5 and vlog 17 at www.theravenonthejetty.com.
- 5.
See Reed-Danahay (1997).
- 6.
Writing a statement this short requires much scrutiny and my first draft here is just that: a first example draft based on REF 2014 guidelines. The Raven on the Jetty was first released in 2015 and was therefore not submitted for REF 2014; this is therefore not an actual submitted statement. The project will be eligible for a future REF 2020 exercise.
- 7.
While Christian church going may have collapsed in the UK, still in 2015, 52% of the British population believed in God or a spiritual greater power (https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/12/third-british-adults-dont-believe-higher-power/), despite the UK being ranked as one of the least-believing nations (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/12/uk-one-of-worlds-least-religious-countries-survey-finds). In 2011 more than 90% of Americans believed in God (http://www.gallup.com/poll/147887/americans-continue-believe-god.aspx).
- 8.
See The Courage to Doubt (Davidson 1983).
- 9.
Photography is an increasingly important part of my practice.
- 10.
I am working with a book designer and a book maker and their contributions add other dimensions to the project.
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Knudsen, E. (2018). Method in Madness: A Case Study in Practice Research Methods. In: Batty, C., Kerrigan, S. (eds) Screen Production Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62837-0_8
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