BA (Hons) Film and Television

Content

BA (Hons) Film and Television is aimed at students with a passion for cinema, television and moving image art forms which they want to develop through filmmaking and critical thinking about film.

The course gives you the opportunity to gain a grounding in a wide range of production methods and styles: from narrative fiction to fine art films and installations and from documentaries to multi-camera television drama.

You will be able to develop your own unique themes, style and portfolio as a filmmaker by collaborating on at least one film every term and experimenting in these different production styles.

We encourage students to experiment with a range of technologies for recording, editing and projecting film throughout the three years. We offer networked Final Cut Pro HD editing and Protools/Logic sound systems and a high-quality preview projection theatre.

Our students participate in a programme of engaging film theory seminars with film screenings. The focus of these seminars is on the ideas and philosophies that have informed both filmmakers and film critics of the past and on new discourses for film criticism and practice in the future. In Year 3 of the course, you can develop your own interests in film culture by writing a dissertation on a subject of your choice.

Unlike other film undergraduate courses in the UK, we give you the opportunity to receive professional workshops and tutorials in a specialism other than directing. In your final year of study, you can choose between six specialisms: directing, producing, sound design, cinematography, editing and first assistant directing.

The course offers you a unique opportunity to collaborate on film projects with students from other relevant courses in the College, such as animation or graphic design; previous student films have used an original soundtrack composed by students from BA (Hons) Sound Arts and Design. You can also collaborate with students from other Colleges in the University, for instance, set design, fashion design and make-up design at either Wimbledon College of Art, Chelsea College of Art or London College of Fashion.

You will also be able to participate in a wide range of guest talks from filmmakers and artists from all over the world. Lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials are led by a vibrant mix of award-winning filmmakers, published academics and film critics. Course mentors, advisors and workshop leaders include critically acclaimed professionals from film, television, music video, commercials and the art world.

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Monday 24 September – Friday 7 December 2018

Monday 7 January – Friday 15 March 2019

Monday 15 April – Friday 21 June 2019

Course units

In common with all courses at the University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Film and Television qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.

Units summary:

• Introduction to Professional Practices in Film and Television (20 credits)
• Sound, Image, Story: The Foundations of mise-en-scene (20 credits)
• Media Cultures 1 (40 credits)
• The TV Studio: Drama and Factual Programming (20 credits)
• Documentary (20 credits)

This first establishes your foundation of visual, technical, theoretical and communication skills related to the study and practice of film and television and associated media, you will complete the following:

• Practice-based projects
• Practical and technical workshops
• Essays, critical analyses and presentations in response to the contextual studies programme

Units summary:

• The Script (20 credits)
• Media Cultures 2 (40 credits)
• Collaborative Project (20 credits)
• Specialisms (40 credits)

The emphasis at this level will be to enable you to:

• Analyse and evaluate technical and aesthetic knowledge of film and television and associated media.
• Explore opportunities to specialise within film and television production, begin developing specialist skills and personal style and approach.
• Develop and enhance your ability to work creatively in the moving image and in sound.
• Analyse argument through essays addressing contemporary issues in film and television and associated media.
• Consolidate the ability to compose a written paper and give a seminar presentation based on research and argument.
• Understand the varied employment opportunities in the relevant industries through contact with a range of industry professionals.
• Analyse and evaluate issues outside film and television through the elective unit.
• Acquire the study/research skills necessary for this stage of the course.
• Work as an assistant in Year 3 projects.

Units summary:

• Dissertation (40 credits)
• Major Project (60 credits)
• Media Cultures 3: Enterprise (20 credits)

The emphasis at this level will be to:

• Work both independently and collaboratively in the production of major works both practical and theoretical.
• Develop a personal creative approach and style within a specialist skill on a major group project.
• Judge the appropriate strategies required to research, plan and present effectively.
• Apply an appropriate level of technical resolution to the completion of a production.
• Critically evaluate the relationship between theory and practice, articulated through the major project and dissertation.
• Analyse your personal and colleagues' contributions to the production project.
• Focus on career and postgraduate opportunities.
• Time-management, budgeting, inventorying and documentation coordination.
• Present coherent arguments, theories, ideas, concepts and visions.

The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example, because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.

Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.

In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.

We will update this webpage from time to time with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, use our online course enquiry form.

BA Film and Television Programme Specification 2017/18 (PDF - 109KB)

Staff Course Leader

Ceri Higgins

Patricia Diaz

Mark Clompus, Rob MacGillivray