£40 student price/£80 full price - book here

Hybrid course: join us in-person or online via Teams (link will be sent out to participants before course begins)

This short course explores the innovative practice of Video Essay creation as a cutting-edge development in film criticism, whereby lovers of film can use film itself in order to deepen their appreciation and analysis of cinema and the moving image. The video essay uses digital video editing techniques to create a new type of investigation, which offers an extra emotional dimension produced through the blending of words, images and sounds.

Film scholar and video essayist Dr. Darren Elliott-Smith (University of Stirling) will guide students through the forms, origins and influences of the video essay, drawing on noteworthy examples before inviting students to work on short projects of their own. The course will be run in a relaxed and informal environment. It will include short lecture-based workshops to begin an understanding of video essay techniques and practices; short practical digital tasks where the basics of video editing will be implemented; the production of your own short video essay (5 mins). 

No prior video editing experience necessary. Students may benefit from having had some knowledge and appreciation of film/cinema criticism. Students may bring their own hardware/software for practical editing - we recommend iMovie or Clipchamp for beginners. For those that need equipment, provided please let us know in the form when booking your ticket. Any further questions about equipment please email sam@creativestirling.org for more info.

Full dates for the course are Sep 21st, Oct 5th, Oct 19th, and Nov 2nd.