BA (Hons) Practical Filmmaking

Our first BA is designed for students who want to continue their in-depth study of pure filmmaking. This is the most intensive and practical programme of its kind for prospective filmmakers in the UK. It’s designed for students wishing to kick-start their career in the film industry. You will gain a comprehensive range of practical production skills focusing on creative development, writing, directing, production and editing. In addition, you will develop critical analysis skills, an understanding of film history, and an appreciation of film genres and styles.

The programme is taught through a combination of practical exercises, project work, small group teaching and individual tutorials. You will have access to industry-leading facilities enabling you to grasp up-to-date skills on cutting edge kit. You will benefit from close daily contact with our staff, who are leading professionals in their subjects areas and who work for the some of the UK’s finest film production companies.

Using your awareness of visual storytelling to write, direct and edit your own projects, you will develop in-depth knowledge of key production and filmic techniques as well as a critical understanding of theoretical approaches to film.

All BA students take the core modules of the first year. In year two, they share three common modules and choose an option to specialise in.

Year One - Core Modules

The first year for all BA students consists of the following modules:

Digital Video Production
A practical foundation in filmmaking designed to provide you with a working knowledge of film grammar, established industry conventions, the basic concepts and fundamental disciplines necessary in production, pre-production, team-building, digital cinematography, lighting, sound, Final Cut Pro and non-linear editing techniques.

Media Studies
An introduction to the key issues and debates that surround mass communication and the media. You will study film, television, advertising, the press and other forms. You will have an understanding of the role of the media in contemporary society.

The Moving Image
This module introduces you to the study of film and television. It is based around the themes of Film Language, Narrative, Genre and Stars. Understanding these areas of study will enable you to view, analyse moving image texts in an informed and productive manner.

Craft Skills One
An introduction to the art and technique of camera, sound and editing in the creation of moving images. You will study a full-range of areas from camera equipment to editing software, gaining proficiency in each craft area and understanding techniques for the moving image.

Writing for the Screen
This module explores the screenwriting process enabling you to gain a thorough understanding of narrative and its building blocks. You will write, research and develop your own original screenplay and learn how to access your creativity and improve your craft.

Applied Digital Technologies: Theory and Practice
An introduction to a key set of digital manipulation and creation tools to allow you to get an overview of the impact these technologies have upon the art and technique of filmmaking. You will develop a core set of software skills that will serve as a foundation for your development.

Documentary: Theory and Practice
You will gain a unique and powerful understanding of the documentary form by making your own short documentary film with the guidance of an experienced documentary filmmaker and by looking at movements and theories in the documentary tradition.

Identity and Difference in the Moving Image
An investigation into 'race' and ethnicity in film and television. You will gain an understanding of the fundamental issues in representation by analysing a wide range of film and television programmes some mainstream and some marginal, all of them tackling fundamental issues in representation.

Small Screen Production
You will gain a comprehensive understanding of producing content for the small screen – from the internet and mobile phones to TV. This course takes students from script to screen, covering technical, production and creative skills.

Year Two - Common Modules

Common Modules

During the second year, all students take the following modules as well as their specialisation.

Analysing Film, broadcast and new media
An investigation into narrative and scriptwriting theories‚ approaches to the analysis of film, television and new media content. You will gain an understanding of the construction of narrative and what constitutes storytelling that is vital for writing in every area of media production.

Professional industry practice

By gaining insights into professional industry practices, including basic organisational, political and economic structures necessary for the production of moving images, you will be better prepared for understanding the industry and placing yourself in it after the programme.

Planning production and project management
This module gives you theoretical and practical experience of the methods used in planning for the creation of moving images. You will focus on budgeting, scheduling and other elements of project management in the moving image industries.

BA Practical Filmmaking Option Modules

Option Modules

These modules are taken in the second year of BA Practical Filmmaking along with the second year common modules.

Directing Fiction & Drama
You will develop your own individual directing style by exploring creative preparation of Script Analysis, Casting and Rehearsal; working with Actors on set; understanding Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding; the importance of Editing. Designed to improve your fiction directing skills for any screen.

Craft Skills (2)
This module provides more in-depth training for HD camera, editing and sound. It equips you with a full range of technical skills and theories at an advanced level that are at the heart of the craft of narrative (and non-narrative) techniques for the moving image.

Movements and Genres
An investigation of film movements and film genre that will help you identify and understand groupings of films that emerge out of particular historical, political and aesthetic contexts. This module will enhance your sensitivity to areas which create meaning in film.

Feature Film Production
Working collectively with your class, you will create a feature film. You will be involved in every step of the production from writing and development, casting and pre-production, working on the film’s shoot (which will involve the 4K RED camera) and providing creative input into post-production.

Experimental Film & Video
A hands-on examination into the varied and new uses of moving images. Focusing on ‘breaking-the-rules’ filmmaking you will produce your own project which will be response to what you have learned about avant-garde filmmaking, video and installation art, interactive television.

Production experience:

o Two fictional films and one documentary that you have written, directed, produced and edited and four other fictional films and two documentaries on which you will have assisted or recorded sound.

o At least two additional films on which you will have collaborated with a small group of filmmakers.

o A feature film which you will have made together with your fellow filmmakers.

o In excess of 20 exercises and projects which you will have written, directed, filmed, sound recorded and edited.

o Experience of performing key roles on other students’ shoots, to build your CV:

Directing: Director, Assistant Director, Script Supervisor, Continuity Supervisor

Producing: Producer, Assistant Producer, Floor Runner

Cinematography: Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Camera Assistant, Clapper, Gaffer

Sound: Sound Mixer, Boom Operator

Editing: Editor, Assistant Editor, Sound Designer