Alex Crowton

Teaching

I teach across all 3 undergraduate levels with expertise within experimental and documentary film production and Independent and Entrepreneurial Media Production.

I teach on:

• MA Media Production
• BA Film and Television Production
• BA Media Production

As an educator I have 12 years of teaching experience and curriculum design, having spent 5 years at Staffordshire University contributing to the Media (Film) Production course and 4 years course leadership experience at Teesside University leading the Film and TV Production course. I am currently the course leader for MA Media Production.

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an External examiner for Birmingham City University.

Research

I am currently in my fourth year of a practice-based PhD, my research centres around the aesthetics of 'Woodchuck Cinema' and an emerging practice within 'materials psychogeography'. Recent and current projects include: This is Sparklehorse (2022) - documentary feature. In praise of the Garage (2021) - documentary short, and I am currently working on a phylogeographic film about materials, class and my industrial heritage called 'Tube' slated for completion in late 2022.

Professional Activities

I have produced and directed films about the artist(s)/ producer/ composer/ musicians: Jack Nietzsche and Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) myself and co-director: Bobby Dass won the Best Feature Film award for: The Sad & Beautiful World of Sparklehorse (2016) at the 2017 Skyline Indie Film Festival. During the pandemic I worked with director Tracy Willits on the Documentary Pip, Pop, and a pandemic (2021). I have recently released a feature length documentary: This is Sparklehorse (2022) In Praise of the Garage (2021) which premiered at the Aesthetica short film festival in November (2021).

I have worked extensively with people in the criminal justice system and with marginalised groups; as a filmmaker and facilitator on a variety of projects including work with: 'Geese Theatre Company', ‘Cineclub’ (patroned by Lars Von Trier) and Sonic DB: Music technology in Prisons; for which I received a Royal Television Society award for: ‘Change the Way/ One life to live”: Music video (2007). I regularly host panels for Doc'n Roll Film Festival, Aesthetica Short Film Festival and I am an External Examiner for BA Media Production at Birmingham City University.

Films

Lost Legends: Jack Nietzsche (2009)

The Sad and Beautiful World of Sparklehorse (2016)

In Praise of the Garage (2021)

Pip Pop & a Pandemic (2021)

Tube (2022)

This is Sparklehorse (2022)