James Fair

Dr James Fair

  • Principal Academic In TV and Film Production
  • Weymouth House W205, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
UN SDGs:
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Biography

I am interested in alternative models of film production and the ways that they may provide economic and environmental stability. I am also interested in different values and qualities that can distinguish alternative filmmaking from dominant modes of production. I welcome PhD candidates who are also interested in these topics.

I demonstrated my work practically by shooting, editing and then screening feature films in seventy-two hours as part of major film festivals; ‘Watching & Waiting’ was screened at Galway Film Fleadh (2008) and ‘The Ballad of Des & Mo’ was in the Audience Top Ten at the Melbourne International Film Festival (2010). A third film, 'The Confusion of Tongues', was also completed in Birmingham in 72 hours (2014). In 2012, I completed ‘Saharan Diary', a feature documentary about the desert in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya.

I led the curriculum design upon Masters programmes in Raindance and Filmbase (Ireland) in 2011, as well as the BA (Hons) Film and BA (Hons) Photography programmes at Bournemouth University...

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Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDG:

Responsible consumption and production

"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"

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Journal Articles

Conferences

  • Fair, J., 2023. The local artisan: Are there values and qualities in other fields of ethical consumption that can be established as qualities in cinema? In: Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference 2023 29 August-1 September 2023 Royal Geographical Society.
  • Fair, J., 2013. The 72 Project: using filmmaking to empower networks and foster creative collaboration. In: MeCCSA 7-8 January 2013 Derry.
  • Fair, J. and Schoenfeld, C., 2012. New Methodologies for Teaching & Learning in Film. In: Media Education Summit 11-12 September 2012 Bournemouth.
  • Fair, J., 2009. Rethinking the Filmmaking Production Models. In: Creative Industries and Creative Communities Conference 11 November 2009 Stoke on Trent.

Theses

  • Fair, J., 2017. A Different Understanding of Low and Micro-Budget Film Production in the UK. PhD Thesis. Staffordshire University.
  • Fair, J., 2006. The Impact of Digital Technology on the Filmmaking Production Process. Master's Thesis. University College Dublin.

Films

  • The Confusion of Tongues, 2014. Film. Grand Independent.
  • The Light of Day, 2014. Film. Galway Film Fleadh: Filmbase Presents.
  • Poison Pen, 2014. Film. Galway Film Fleadh: Filmbase Presents.
  • How To Be Happy, 2013. Film. Galway Film Fleadh: Filmbase Presents.
  • Keys To The City, 2012. Film. Galway Film Fleadh: Filmbase Presents.
  • Saharan Diary, 2012. Film. Solihull Film Festival: Grand Independent.
  • The Ballad of Des & Mo, 2010. Film. Melbourne International Film Festival: Grand Independent.
  • Watching & Waiting, 2008. Film. Galway Film Fleadh: Hello Camera.
  • Nightshift, 2004. TV. Channel Four: Channel Four/ Maverick TV.

PhD Students

  • Aneta Halina Postek-Mioduszewska, 2025. Exploring tensions between practitioners’ experiences of realism and formalism in animatronic-led virtual production and in-camera effects, (In progress)
  • Lizzie Sykes, 2024. The Art of Screendance: revealing a location led methodology Mapping the landscape of screendance, reframing it as a site based art form and identifying place as a source of active collaboration with dancer and filmmaker., (Completed)

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Unit leader - Ambitions, Creative Collaboration

External Responsibilities

  • Leeds Arts University, External Examiner (2024-2028)
  • UCLan, External Examiner (2022-2026)
  • Screenskills, Mentor (2021-2023), https://www.screenskills.com/developing-your-career/mentoring/
  • TARUC/ Coventry University, External Examiner (2018-2020)
  • Exeter/ London Film School, External Examiner (2018-2022)
  • Dublin Business School, External Examiner (2018-2022)
  • University for the Creative Arts, External Examiner (2017-2021)
  • Edge Hill University, External Examiner (2015-2019)
  • Speakers for Schools, Guest speaker (2012-2023), http://www.speakers4schools.org/speakers/james-fair/

Internal Responsibilities

  • Assessor, REF 2021 UoA 34 Internal Stocktake Team
  • Assessor and Mentor, Teach BU

Journal Reviewing/Refereeing

  • Studies in Arts and Humanities, Anonymous peer review, 03 Aug 2015

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • Environmental Thinking Institute: Reframing Film, Art and Music (19 Mar 2024)
  • Jury of 9th International Alexandria Short Film Festival (18 Jun 2023-25 Jun 2023)
  • Jury member of 21st Galway Film Fleadh short film awards (10 Jul 2011)

Conference Presentations

  • Practical Applied Research Conference, Mis/Adventures in Applied Research in Filmmaking: Who Pays the Piper?, 12 May 2022, Dublin Business School
  • MeCCSA, The 72 Project: using filmmaking to empower networks and foster creative collaboration, 07 Jan 2013, Derry
  • Media Education Summit, New Methodologies for Teaching & Learning in Film, 11 Sep 2012, Bournemouth
  • Creative Industries and Creative Communities Conference, Rethinking the Filmmaking Production Models, 11 Nov 2009, Stoke on Trent

Consultancy Activities

  • Developing a peer review process for BAFTA Albert Educational Partnership, Consultancy on Quality Assurance procedure. BAFTA
  • (UK-BJ) China-Europe Young Filmmaker Cooperation, A cross cultural film on sustainability. Xinhua Europe, Bejing Film Academy, 10 Feb 2020
  • FremantleMedia Writers summit, A presentation. FremantleMedia

Attended Training

  • Policy into Practice, 02 May 2022
  • Research Leadership Programme (For mid-level researchers), 29 Apr 2022
  • Tackling Harassment and Bullying at Work (Screenskills), 25 Apr 2022
  • Introduction to Mental Health Awareness at Work (Screenskills), 25 Apr 2022
  • Addressing unconscious bias: basic awareness in the workplace (Screenskills), 25 Apr 2022
  • Supervisory Development Training for Established Supervisors., 10 Mar 2022
  • Safe Management of Productions (PSP Approved), 03 Nov 2021, Production Safety Passport (valid until Nov 2026)
  • Leaders of Learning (Harvard EdX), 01 Jun 2020, Certificate of Achievement in Leaders of Learning
  • New Supervisors Training for PhD Supervision, 24 May 2018
  • Carbon Literacy (BAFTA Albert), 01 Feb 2017, Certificate 00004492/v1.5

Qualifications

  • PhD in Film Production (Staffordshire University, 2017)
  • PGCE in Higher & Professional Education (Staffordshire University, 2009)
  • MA in Film Studies (University College Dublin, 2006)
  • BA (Hons) in Television & Video Production (Bournemouth University, 2002)

Honours

  • Nominated for Inclusivity Award (Vice Chancellor's Staff Award, 2020)
  • Education for Sustainable Development (Centre for Excellence in Learning, 2018)
  • Education for Sustainable Development (Centre of Excellence in Learning, 2017)
  • Nominated and shortlisted for Academic Individual Achievement award (Vice Chancellor's Staff Award, 2017)
  • Education for Sustainable Development (Centre Excellence in Learning, 2016)
  • Excellence in Distance Learning (Staffordshire University Students' Union, 2012)
  • Podium Award (Bronze) (HEFCE, 2012)

Memberships

  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow (2020-),
  • Berlinale Talent Campus, Alumni (2013-),

Social Media Links

External Media and Press

Broadcast Interview