Theatre: Technical Arts and Special Effects

Content

On this course the learning of techniques takes place in the context of a discussion of values, meanings, philosophies, and ethics. Technical artists often work in collaboration with other creative groups or individuals such as film and theatre directors, designers, and performing artists and so their creative contribution depends on their ability to comprehend the intended meanings of their collaborators as well as having a confident grasp of how to communicate through a wide range of technical skills.

Course Highlights

• The course enjoys good relationships with several respected companies who regularly provide valuable work experience opportunities.
• Taught techniques include: metal, wood, creature costumes and effects, model making, modelling in clay, mould-making and casting using fibreglass, silicon, wax and plaster.
• The course has close links with waxwork company Madame Tussauds.
• Recent industry-link projects have included the design, fabrication and performance of a series of creature costumes shown in the feature film 'A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'.
• The course is close to several major Production Studios and has direct links to the central Effects Production departments.
• We have many Alumni who maintain links with the course and sometimes provide current students with work experience.

Structure

Year 1: You will be introduced to the workshops and technical staff and a variety of technical skills including: miniature model making, construction in wood and metal, moulding, casting, puppet fabrication and puppet performance. These experiences, while giving you the opportunity to develop your presentation skills on the completion of each project, provide a foundation for you to find your own special interests and visual language. There is a Contextual Studies programme, coordinated across the School of Theatre that runs alongside your studio practice.

Year 2: You will further develop your skills, resourcefulness and ingenuity during this year. You will study anatomy and observational drawing as a precursor to one of the core strengths of the course, sculpting from life. You will sculpt and cast a life size head or torso. Model animation for film has been popular with several students as an opportunity for creative interpretation, special effects, creature design and modeling. You will also prepare for your dissertation. You will take an elective unit, selected from a broad range of options to enhance your core subject of study.

Year 3: Your final year is an opportunity to discover the kind of creative activity that motivates and excites you. Conceiving and producing highly developed work for your degree show equips you for your future career. Your final year's study is negotiated by you with the help of your tutors. The Contextual Studies programme supports you in writing your dissertation, the subject matter of which can, if you choose, enhance and complement your practical work.