Creative practice research in filmmaking and screen production

Abstract

This issue interrogates understandings of creative practice in screen production research within the framework of a broad range of activities that includes production and distribution of feature films to documentaries and to experimental audio-visual film genres. Screen production research here also includes enquiry into the education of future film and television professionals. The term ‘screen’ has been popular in Australia for the film and television industries, being adopted as early as 2004 with the creation of the Australian Screen Production, Education and Research Association (ASPERA) and the formation of Screen Australia in 2008. In the United Kingdom, the analogous term ‘filmmaking’ is widely employed. This special issue on Filmmaking and Screen Production Research is a joint project between ASPERA and the Filmmaking Research Network (FRN), funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. Creative Practice Research in Filmmaking and Screen Production is an anthology which highlights the ongoing work of the FRN and ASPERA, presented here as peer-reviewed research papers and a report, each interrogating issues that are central to both organisations’ activities. ASPERA has been working with educators and researchers on consolidating screen production research particularly over the last five years in Australia. The ASPERA community has produced more than 50 scholarly traditional outputs since 2014 which have significantly contributed to new knowledge in the field. In addition, the 2017 ASPERA report Screen Production Research Reporting: An ASPERA Scoping Project captures disciplinary challenges regarding creative practice research reporting and evaluation in Australia’s academic landscape. It seeks to assist researchers and research managers to understand how screen production outputs might be evaluated, and subsequently recognised as research outputs. The report highlights findings that environments for creative practice research vary greatly between institutions and outcomes of this mode of research vary greatly across the sector. The report also speaks of the extent to which these differences impact on the practices of screen production researchers. A number have changed their approach to conducting research, while others have found ways to comply with national requirements yet still work on creative practice projects that may not clearly sit within the ‘research’ parameters set by their institution. A second ASPERA report was released in June 2018. The Measuring Excellence in Screen Production Research report details how ASPERA as a peak body recognises and measures research quality in screen production. It offers guidelines and principles to assist creative practice researchers working in screen production and also those that evaluate this research, and aims to specify levels of excellence in the discipline for an Australian research context. It is intended to promote discussion and debate, anticipating amendments that respond to a community of researchers and evolving research and industry terrains. These reports are available on the ASPERA website (www.aspera.org.au/research/research-resources/).