معرفی
Rafe Clayton is a Senior Lecturer in Media Practice at the School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds. He serves as Academic Lead for Employability and Placements, module leader for the MA program, and PhD/MA dissertation supervisor. With a career spanning academia and filmmaking, Clayton's work bridges theory and practice, having trained at the BBC and received awards for filmmaking, including a 2021 screenwriting prize.
- MA - Film and Moving Image Production
- PGCE - Lifelong Learning
- BA - Politics
His research focuses on post-pandemic cultural changes, particularly screen-time impacts and vertical framing in media. As Principal Investigator for the New Uses of Screens in Post-Lockdown Britain study (funded by Research England's Policy Impact initiative) and co-investigator for the British Families in Lockdown study, Clayton examines screen dependencies and their societal implications. His two publications on vertical film theory contribute to emerging academic discourse.
Clayton's parliamentary advisory roles on screen time, digital communication, and education policy highlight his influence on national guidelines. He directs the National Student Film Awards through NAHEMI, reviews for publishers/funders, and serves as external examiner. Key themes across his 2025-2022 publications include screen-time thresholds, pandemic-induced behavioral shifts, vaccine hesitancy, and vertical filmmaking aesthetics.
- 2021 screenwriting award
Clayton supervises PhD and MA students, emphasizing practice-based research. His collaborations span Leeds Trinity University and UK parliamentary committees, addressing digital equity and education policy. Current projects explore declining school attendance, digital dependencies, and vertical video's role in democratizing screen media.
He leads initiatives like the New Uses of Screens in Post-Lockdown Britain study and co-investigated the British Families in Lockdown project, both analyzing pandemic impacts on screen behavior. As NAHEMI executive member, he promotes student filmmaking innovation.
