Nic Blower
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Email
nblower@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 874456
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Location
5NW.5.3, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
Nic is a filmmaker and senior lecturer, whose practice-as-research spans both documentary and fiction. At the University of Essex Nic lectures and supervises students in fiction and documentary filmmaking from undergraduate to PhD. As an industry specialist Nic has worked extensively for the BBC and Channel 4, producing and directing documentaries and drama documentaries. His critically acclaimed film 'Transplant 'followed both sides of the organ donation story, a first for UK television. His work has taken him around the world, filming in Lebanon, Palestine, Nepal and the US. His subjects have included neurosurgery in 'The Brain Hospital' for BBC 1, social housing in the series 'Neighbourhood Watched' for BBC 1, missing people in the 'The Day They Disappeared' for BBC 1 and forensic science in the film 'No Ordinary Murder' for BBC 2. Nic’s approach focuses on deep access, combining Direct Cinema and cinéma vérité. His fiction short film 'Periphery' won awards at Buxton Film Festival and Lakeshorts Film Festival in Canada. Whilst at Essex directed and produced 'LIFTED' (2019), an award winning documentary about military veterans with PTSD. In 2021 he produced 'WE'RE IN THIS TOO' a documentary filmed by four young people (aged 14-15) as they negotiate their wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdowns. 'WITT' won a LAIRA Research Impact Award, the Best Creative and Cultural Impact Award at the UoE, received an Honourable Mention at the BAFTSS Practice Research Awards, and was selected for the UoE Film Festival of Social Sciences at Firstsite Colchester.
Qualifications
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M.A. Film Studies University of Essex, (2012)
Appointments
University of Essex
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Senior Lecturer ASER, Literature, Film & Theatre Studies, University of Essex (1/9/2018 - present)
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Documentary and fiction film practice
As a practice-as-research filmmaker part of my research interests lie in the methodologies that enable overlooked communities and peoples to be recognised. In broad terms I am interested in subjects that explore mental health and wellbeing, health and human rights.
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Contemporary Texts and Contexts (LT109)
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Documentary Filmmaking (LT225)
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Advanced Documentary Production (LT322)
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Documentary Filmmaking 1: Foundations (LT886)
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Documentary Filmmaking 2 (LT887)
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Film Studies (Creative Practice)
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 3/6/2020
Degree subject: Film Studies (Creative Practice)
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 2/3/2020
Degree subject: Film Studies (Creative Practice)
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 6/7/2018
Publications
Journal articles (1)
Blower, N., Speak to us: Upcycling the video diary to amplify the voices of young people in the Covid-19 Pandemic. Studies in Documentary Film
Conferences (1)
Hammond, A., Lowry, R., Blower, N., Poerio, GL., O'Gorman, R., Chiu, F. and Warsap, G., Documenting The Hidden: Uncovering The Lived Experience Of Young People In Post-COVID 19 Essex
Media (5)
Blower, N., ‘Documenting Tales of Spring and Winter: Gender, Histories and Intergenerational Exchange in Global Theatre’. Video
Blower, N., 'This Moment and the Next' (Stories from the Stead project). Video
Blower, N., 'Resident Diaries' (Stories from the Stead project). Video
Blower, N., Poerio, GL., O'Gorman, R., Lowry, R., Hammond, A. and Chiu, F., WE'RE IN THIS TOO (Documenting The Hidden) documentary film. Video
Blower, N., LIFTED. Video
Grants and funding
2023
Stories from the Stead Impact Extension Workshops
University of Essex (QR Impact Fund)
2022
Donor Conception and Identity Disclosure: what happens when people trace their donor through social media or genetic testing?
British Academy
Stories from the Stead
North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group
