Film BA(Hons)

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Year 1 

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

Modules

• Introduction to Filmmaking

  This module is about developing key competencies in filmmaking that will support the practice strand of your degree. You'll explore areas such as camera operation, basic light principles, an introduction to offline editing and technical inductions to key equipment. There will be assessments based on correct handling and use of camera, sound and lighting equipment.

• Key Concepts in Screen Studies

  This module will introduce you to major concepts used for the analysis of screen texts, by drawing on elements from the disciplines of film studies, media studies and cultural studies. Each week you will focus on one particular concept, such as narrative, editing, cinematography, ideology, representation and so on. You will be encouraged to consider the ways in which these concepts are useful in analysing different screen media.

• Introduction to Screenwriting

  Students will be introduced to approaches for generating ideas to develop into stories suitable as short films. You will explore screenplay formatting and the role of visuals and scene creation to assist in the writing of two short screenplays. 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.

• Film Production Management

  This module introduces 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.

• Film Editing

  This module will help you to gain experience of industry-standard non-linear editing tools alongside learning how to apply film grammar conventions to your own work. Postproduction workflow including file management, colour correction and sound design is introduced. Both the technical and artistic aspects of the role of Editor will be explored.

• Hollywood Cinema

  Explore the commercial and cultural dimensions of contemporary Hollywood cinema. Through an examination of relevant approaches, theories and concepts from film and media studies, you will reflect on how Hollywood movies are the products of both globalised, capitalist media industries and American culture. Throughout the module, you'll explore how and why Hollywood films are produced, distributed and marketed, analysing how these motivations influence the form and content of specific movies and their commercial paratexts.

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
• Film Sound
• Making the Short Film
• Contemporary Film

Options*

• Identities and the Screen
• Creative Writing for Performance
• Creative Use of the Camera
• Film Festivals
• Industry Placement  
• Practical Cinematography
• Writing for Feature Film and Television
• Screen Genres

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

Final year 

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

Modules

• Graduate Film Project
• Film Research Project
• Graduate Film Development
• Directing the Screen
• Research Development

Placements

The second-year work placement gives you access to industry experience with local and national partners from film and media. We work with you to make sure that your placement reflects your interests and career ambitions. On this module we also help you create a digital showreel and CV. 

Taking a short-term placement in a relevant organisation enables you to:    

• apply your learning to real life situations and challenges  
• get an insight in to how businesses and organisations function  
• develop existing skills and discover new ones
• explore career options  
• make professional contacts  
• build confidence and organisational skills.

Our media students have been on placement with:

• Ricochet
• Creative Assembly
• BBC Good Food and Olive Magazine
• Absolute Radio
• Brighton and Hove Green Party
• Lowkey Films
• Drop4Drop
• Integrity Music Europe
• YDN Radio
• Life Water
• Electric Square
• ITV Potato
• Renewable World
• Deluxe
• ILOVEDUST
• Bauer Media
• Brighton Dome
• Brighton Fringe.

Meet the team 

Johnny Lochland, course leader

Johnny is a writer and director of short films, music videos and feature film projects, making work that often represents the LGBTQ+ community. He's screened around the world, specifically at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (now the BFI Flare), Cannes and New York. Read Johnny's full profile.

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

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.

Student work 

Our film degree 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.

Course fees

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

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