Film and Visual Effects Technology BSc (Hons)

The modules for this course can be found in the latest programme specification.

The programme is intended to equip students who wish to develop expertise in the creative, aesthetic, scientific and technical aspects of film and visual effects with skills needed to use the latest industry techniques and technologies.

Year 1

• Creativity and Imagination (20 credits) - core
  The module is intended to foster and develop students' ability to create new ideas and to develop appropriate creative strategies for making artefacts, media production, other forms of digital media production, or for self-expression.
• Moving Image Production (20 credits) - core
  To gain the skills required for basic video production in both single camera and multi camera situations.
• Introduction to 3D Computer Modelling and Animation (20 credits) - core
  To provide an introduction to the theory and practice of 3D computer modelling and animation.
• Introduction to Digital Visual Effects (20 credits) - core
  The module will explore the core techniques and tools of digital post production and visual effects so that students will start to be able to create realistic images and effects.
• 3D Character Animation (20 credits) - core
  To provide practical knowledge of 3D computer animation production processes in a project-based environment with particular reference to character animation.
• Application Programming and Development (20 credits) - core
  To develop understanding and skills in multimedia production techniques, to create an application, plug-in or interactive game.

At the end of Year 1, students will be eligible to exit with the award of Certificate of Higher Education if they have successfully completed at least 120 credits and achieved the award learning outcomes.

Year 2

• Script Programming and Technical Animation (20 credits) – core
  To learn the fundamentals and the concepts of 3D embedded scripting language to students with basically no programming experience.
• Cinematography (20 credits) – core
  This module provides an advanced understanding of the history and theory of cinematic moving image assembly and practical lighting techniques, in-camera capture methods and technologies, composition and motion.
• Digital Preparation Rotoscoping and Matte Painting (20 credits) – core
  The module will explore the core techniques and tools of digital preparation, rotoscoping and matte painting enabling students to create seamless composites.
• Look Development, Lighting and Advanced Rendering (20 credits) – core
  To attain a broad foundation in all aspects of the field of Look Development, to the level that students can start building informed but simple pipelines.
• Digital Compositing and Post Production (20 credits) – core
  To provide an understanding of issues involved with the final stages of film and visual effects pipelines including the creation of photorealistic computer generated images and the creation of computer generated visual effects.
• Technical Effects & Physics for CGI & VFX (20 credits) – optional
• Motion Capture and Digital Scanning (20 credits) – optional
  To attain a broad understanding of the processes of the motion capture sequence, from setting up cameras and capturing data through to editing and transferring capture data to industry standard animation packages.

At the end of Year 2, students will be eligible to exit with the award of Diploma of Higher Education if they have successfully completed at least 240 credits and achieved the award learning outcomes.

Final year

• Major Project Pre-Production (20 credits) - core
• Individual Project (40 credits) - core
  To integrate material from other modules into a major digital media project; to provide you with a platform for autonomous learning within your chosen area of specialism; to develop a self-critical, editorial awareness of one`s own body of work; to present that body of work in a visually impressive video; to develop presentation skills.
• Major Project Production (40 credits) – core
• Motion Capture and Digital Scanning (20 credits) – optional
  To attain a broad understanding of the processes of the motion capture sequence, from setting up cameras and capturing data through to editing and transferring capture data to industry standard animation packages.
• Facial Modelling / Animation (20 credits) – optional
• AI for Games (20 credits) – optional
  Introduction to real-time AI and the games industry.
• Effects Animation and Dynamics for VFX (20 credits) – optional
  To introduce advanced topics and concepts in the field of technical animation and make students aware of the appropriate use of simulation and effects, taking into account complexity, rendering, time, memory and resource overheads.
• Application Programming & Development (20 credits) – optional
  To develop understanding and skills in multimedia production techniques, to create an application, plug-in or interactive game.