Film Production

This is a hands-on degree in which you learn practical filmmaking alongside studying the critical and contextual aspects of film theory. You will be making short films using high-end camera and editing equipment both on location and in our digital media studios at or state-of-the-art digital media campus situated in the heart of MediaCityUK, the country’s biggest creative media cluster.

You will learn key film-making skills such as directing and producing, cinematography and editing, and choose from options in visual effects, audio post production, scriptwriting and production design. You will also learn key theories in film analysis which will help inform, inspire and contextualise your creative output as well as leading to essay writing.

Being based at MediaCityUK, there is a strong emphasis on working with industry with opportunities for engaging with real world and collaborative projects throughout the course and a core second year module devoted to helping you acquire the professional skills you need to launch your creative career.

In the second and third years this course offers students the opportunity to specialise in different aspects of film production – be that traditional scriptwriting, production and direction or contemporary film techniques in digital post production and VFX, and the creative application of green screen and motion capture technologies.

The global nature of film production is recognised both in the international content of the course and the opportunities for studying abroad. There will be a strong emphasis on collaborative project work throughout.

YEAR 1: In the first year the course provides you with a fast-moving introduction to a broad range of film production techniques. You will collaborate in groups to create films in a range of different styles. You will learn how to develop ideas into compelling stories, how to plan and run shoots, how to direct for single camera on location and multi-camera in the studio, how to get the best out of your camera, sound and lighting kits and how to edit and grade. You’ll also learn key concepts in critical film theory and explore and analyse the evolution of film.

YEAR 2: In the second year you build further on your filmmaking skills with longer and more challenging assignments, and have the chance to develop your own creative interests with a choice of options from the techy end of post production and film VFX to the contrasting skills of scriptwriting and working with actors. Everyone takes a module in professional practice which runs throughout the year and encourages you to seek work experience and start developing your professional networks. Learning about the theory of different film genres is combined with practical exercises in production.

YEAR 3: In your final year you develop your chosen specialist interests to advanced level, collaborate and innovate in producing film projects that cross traditional boundaries, apply theoretical knowledge of film distribution to promoting your own outputs and work on a major project of your own choosing to create film that will be your calling card to industry.