The BA (Hons) Film Production course embraces innovative methods of teaching and learning that correspond to the needs of the creative industries and replicate the practice within them where possible but that also encourage students to research, play and experiment across the wider curriculum.
Innovation and digital fluency:
As a creative course, you have the opportunity to study and practice a myriad new film making practices. Digital fluency is a vital part of our student experience on this course and embedded throughout the modules in the way teaching is delivered, in online community building as well as in production and professional practices. Furthermore, a second year module, Exploring New Forms of Film Practices (5048MAPA), is dedicated to innovative film making practices: This module includes knowledge and skills in innovative film production tools and techniques, including 360 filming, interactive storytelling as well as augmented and virtual realities. The ability to innovate is a strong part of the course ethos and students are encouraged to experiment across a range of dynamic and fluid digital platforms.
Embedded employability: The course embeds employability throughout: from industry specific skills and practices being taught, to careers development, work experience, personal development planning and the development of your own outward-facing professional portfolios and professional networks. All students have the opportunity to engage in a Professional Enhancement Year between the 2nd and 3rd year of the course. In the final years practice-based film projects, we aim for you to produce high-quality, significant work that can be shown to prospective employers. The course seeks to minimise barriers which may hold you back and arrange opportunities for networking and industry experiences in all three years
Research-inspired teaching: Course content is influenced by staff members’ research, both traditional and practice as research. Staff members from across the University with relevant research will be invited to deliver teaching and students will be encouraged to attend appropriate conferences, symposiums and film festivals, both internally and outside of the University. You will have opportunities to engage with ongoing projects which will bring an added dimension to student learning. The course will have an emphasis on experiential and participatory learning which enhances students’ curiosity as well as research and communication skills.
Intercultural and International engagement: Students are encouraged to engage with global issues, with course content showcasing global work from different film traditions and genres and demonstrating differences in global practice, preparing students for global careers. Gaining intercultural awareness is inherent on this course as students will work in diverse groups, work with peers on this course who come from many parts of the world, have the opportunity to participate in international field trips in all three years (subject to availability), have the opportunity to engage in an an International Enhancement Year and engage in Collaborative Online International Learning.
Creativity and Enterprise: Creativity is inherent to this course as you gain greater knowledge of how to develop their own creative practice, it is embedded particularly throughout the practice-based production modules. Creativity will also be an aspect of course delivery, which is community focused and based around working together as a community of practice. You are also encouraged to think outside the box, be entrepreneurial and engage in bold initiatives. The Professional Practice focused modules will also cover issues around entrepreneurship.
Community contribution and engagement: Creative practitioners often work in the community and with the community and you will be encouraged to do so as well. Students are required to collaborate on university and wider community projects in various ways, but particularly in the production of visual media for those projects. The course also enables you to understand the social responsibilities of working in the media industries and how this can impact on the wider public as well as diverse and minority groups in society. Ethics training to understand, and be responsive to, working with people and in a diversity of settings is a valuable part of the student learning on the course.
In terms of discipline specific elements of personal development planning, you will embark on a skills training programme which spans all years of the course. You will only get access to equipment from the Media Loan Shop as and when they have attended workshops and are able to demonstrate enough knowledge and skills to operate the equipment safely. Furthermore, the Professional Practice modules at each level will encourage and enable you to start considering their own personal development goals, their specialist interests and the sectors of the industry they are particularly interested in. These modules will offer one-to-one and/or small group tutorials, where students can discuss their own career goals and strategies for meeting these goals with tutors. Workshops offering personal development training are part of our wider curriculum through the University’s Talent Team. This is further supported by visiting speakers from industry.