BA (Hons) - Filmmaking

Filmmaking, in both historical and contemporary contexts, is regarded as one of the most powerful and persuasive forms of media. Its successful creation depends on the effective development of visual, aural, and narrative ideas and a keen understanding of audience - who it is and where it is. This course will equip you with the creative, conceptual, technical, and theoretical skills to communicate successfully your stories, fact or fiction, through the moving image. This course is designed for those who aspire to develop their practical and creative approaches to filmmaking, developing skills, knowledge, and abilities to work within a fast-paced and ever-changing industry.

This course aims to develop creative filmmakers; in order to do this, you will be exposed to a wide range of genres, practices, and production methods, and encouraged to think critically about the collaborative relationship between the various roles and stages in filmmaking. These include cinematography, directing, editing, lighting, production, production design and art direction, character and costume, scriptwriting, and sound across drama or fiction, documentary, and animation as mediums for expression.

Creativity, innovation and risk taking are actively encouraged, as is the development of an independent approach to filmmaking. The course’s location in a vibrant and culturally rich area of south London provides exciting opportunities to work alongside professional and aspiring actors and filmmakers and in doing so, you will develop technical competence as well as learning through working, whilst developing a contextual and conceptual understanding of the industry on a local, national, and global scale.

Course Structure:

Year One

You will be introduced to the fundamental creative, developmental, and practical skills associated with innovative filmmaking. Through individual and group project work, you will be introduced to a range of film practices, some of which will be new to you. Storytelling is at the heart of the course and foundations for the development of ideas, character, plot, and the visual story begin here with the full development and realisation of an idea for drama production.

Year Two

In year two, skills and self-awareness are further developed through factual filmmaking, animation, and experimental film and personal reflection. Work experience and professional practice are important features of the programme and critical and contextual studies actively push the boundaries and understanding of contemporary filmmaking.

Year Three

In year three, your work is very much focused on personal development and specialism. A team project is followed by a semester long personal project and preparation for entry to industry. You will also be required to investigate an area of personal interest through a series of research opportunities, culminating in the production of a critical journal.

This is a very practical course taught by a broad range of professional practitioners in brand new state of the art facilities using a broad range of HD digital cameras and support equipment.