Film BA(Hons)

Year 1 

In year 1, the course will deal with classic and contemporary debates from film theory and examine a range of genres. 

Modules

• Filmmaking Fundamentals

  In this module you will accrue and develop key competencies in filmmaking that will underpin the practice strand of your degree. Teaching will take primarily through workshops with weekly formative tasks. Technical inductions of key equipment will be contained within the teaching which will cover areas such as camera operation, field and studio sound recording, basic light principles, and an introduction to offline editing. You will be assessed on short filmed task that will demonstrate proficiently core filmmaking practices.

• Introduction to Film Theory

  This module introduces the fundamental approaches and theories of the analysis of film. Drawn from seminal texts in film studies and using case studies, the module will provide you with the knowledge to base your understanding of cinema upon. At the same time, you'll develop study skills including academic writing, research and referencing.

• Making a Film Manifesto: Practice, Art, Industry

  This module explores the work of British and international filmmakers whose work influences contemporary cinema. You'll reflect on the relationship between knowledge and creativity through film, analysing the ideals, approaches and motivations that underpin such filmmaking, and exploring  the conceptual and contextual implications that such work provokes.

• Production and Practice Management

  This module will introduce you to the collaborative processes and practice of work in group production. You will learn key roles within a production, develop a planning process and understand the workflow of a production. Formative and summative assessment for the module is designed around collaborative, team-working skills along with social skills, personal and group organisation and professionalism. Furthermore, the delivery and standard of a completed filmed project will be assessed a central indicator of group outcomes.

• The Digital Cinematic

  This module introduces theoretical debates related to film in the digital age. The rise of digital technologies has challenged the physical use of celluloid as the essential underpinning of the cinematic. Furthermore, the emergence of the internet, smart phones, social media and many other digital phenomena are revolutionising the production, distribution and exhibition of film. In this module you will explore the meaning of film and cinema in the digital context.

• Ideas to Stories: Beginning Screenwriting

  Students will be introduced to approaches for generating ideas to develop into stories suitable as short films. You will learn the form of the screenplay, including the role of visuals, scenes and formatting. By the end of the module, you'll have an increased understanding of the type of stories that make engaging short films and will have produced two scripts.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 2 

In year 2, you will expand your use and knowledge of digital production and post-production techniques and consider the essential features of the film festival experience. You will be able to choose from option modules to tailor the course to your interests, including the professional practice work placement module.

Modules

• Writing the Short Film
• Digital Post Production
• Making the Short Film
• Contemporary Film Theory and Analysis

Options*

• Work placement and professional practice
• Identities and the Screen
• Videogame Cultures
• Creating Reality: Documentary Filmmaking
• Hollywood Cinema: From Blockbusters to Indiewood
• Practical Cinematography
• Writing for Film and Television
• Philosophy on Screen
• Film Festivals

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year 

In your final year, you will work on a major project and the final year dissertation.

Modules

• Project Development and Professional Practice
• Research Development
• Film Sound: Theory into practice
• Major Project
• Film Research Project

Meet the team 

Dr Holly Chard, course leader

Holly is a media historian whose research focuses on the American media industries from the late 1970s onwards, with an emphasis on Hollywood cinema. Her recent publications explore the career and films of writer-producer-director John Hughes, seriality in nineties Hollywood cinema, professional wrestling stardom in the 1980s, and child stardom in the 1990s.

Holly’s research interests include: histories of Hollywood cinema, family entertainment, popular music and ‘synergy’, teen-oriented media, stardom and celebrity, the politics of representation in film and television comedy, conceptualizing film authorship, and media historiography. Read Dr Holly Chard's full profile.

Other staff teaching on the course include: Robert Greens, Phil Connolly, Jenny Linton, Aris Mousoutzanis, Ewan Kirkland, Douglas Mcnaughton and Emma Withers.

Dr Holly Chard

Facilities

Our comprehensive film facilities include cameras, lighting, sound and full service post-production tools - everything that you will need to realise your ideas.

Our Apple MAC labs have industry-standard software for visual/sound editing and screenwriting, including Adobe Creative Suite, Pro Tools, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve and Final Draft. We are an Avid-authorised training centre for Media Composer and Pro Tools (the industry’s preferred editing platform).

We continually add to our impressive list of technical hardware. Currently we use Black Magic and Sony 4K Cameras, Sound Devices audio equipment as well as a wide array of professional lighting and grip equipment. Our production equipment can facilitate location film production of every type and genre including music video, documentary animation and drama production.

Our teaching spaces at our Edward Street building are equipped with 4K interactive screens, iMac 5K Retina 27" workstations and includes a high spec Dolby Atmos 4K screening room.

Take a tour of our Edward Street building and see the foyer, atrium with computer facilities, gallery area, shared workspaces and photographic studios.

Student work 

Our film students have produced a showreel of clips demonstrating some of their brilliant work. All content is produced by students and contains some sexual imagery, alcohol use and threat.

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Campus where this course is taught

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