BA (Hons) Filmmaking

If you are yet to make an enquiry to study with the University of Plymouth and are interested in securing a place for September 2020, you can pre-register for Clearing to receive priority treatment on results day.

Read our Clearing advice

• Self-Shooting Producers / Directors
• Film Crew
• Film Directing
• Careers in Pre-Production
• Careers in all aspects of Production
• Artist/Filmmaker
• Commercial Filmmaker
• Online Filmmaker
• Content Creatives
• Advertising Creatives
• Careers in Post-Production

• A course driven by creativity where you learn filmmaking by making films.
• Practical filmmaking informed by industry awareness.
• Small teaching groups throughout the three years allow for bespoke and individually tailored feedback and support.
• Develop a high level of technical and creative skills which are fostered at an individual level throughout the course.
• Explore the scope of career opportunities through practise.
• A course where individuality is nurtured and celebrated through crew-based films and individual projects.
• Work on dedicated modules that encourage creative risk-taking.
• Embrace public audiences and develop projects beyond the University.

• Year 1

• Explore production and creative research in the practice of filmmaking, studio shooting, sound for film, factual and fiction filmmaking. In your modules this year you will create a minimum of seven film outputs - either long tasks or standalone films.
  

  Core modules

  • FILM401 Screen Dialogues

    This module will introduce key concepts and contexts in contemporary Filmmaking. Students will explore and question issues of representation and ethical practices through a series of short practical tasks. The module will explore how theory and practice interlink as well as giving the students a grounding in relevant methodology.

  • FILM402 Film School

    The aim of this module is to enable students to build a solid foundation in technical operations, production processes and craft skills across sound, editing and cinematography. Students also develop a working understanding of the roles, responsibilities and protocols involved in professional film production. Alongside this, they explore different forms of content, critically analyzing how stories across factual and fiction genres are enhanced by using appropriate theories and techniques. An underlying aim of the module is to enable students to make the transition into higher education and start to take responsibility for their own learning.

  • FILM403 Drama

    This module is an opportunity to examine, analyse and practice storytelling for the screen. Through close analysis of key concepts, contexts and methods from a practitioner’s perspective, students will acquire a deepened understanding of narrative, directing and film language, through a variety of audio-visual processes and techniques, grounded in relevant methodology.

  • FILM404 Documentary

    The module introduces forms through which we (as subjects) construct (and are constructed by) representations of truth and reality. Students produce a substantial piece of practical documentary work. The choice of subject matter is open but the realisation should exist as an original document through gathering and analysis of primary (and sometimes source) material.

• Year 2

• Explore the social and cultural histories and contemporary debates around film production. Pitch work in a commercial and professional framework and explore new individual film ideas. In your modules this year you will work on a minimum of seven creative projects and films.
  

  Core modules

  • FILM501 Filmmaker 1

    The aim of this module is to enable students to build strong understandings of production through practice. Students will consider different theories about the production process and examine a variety of forms of production from around the globe whilst developing their own short project with a clear aesthetic approach. The area of work chosen to explore will be defined by the student and will be negotiated after a pitch. Students may undertake any form of moving image including (but not exclusively) drama, documentary, experimental, or TV studio based major project. Each project will be developed using industry standard protocols such as scripts, pitch documentation, pre-visualisation and pre-post-production processes. Students will also develop scripts and ideas that will be put forward for production in the second production module “Production 2” in the second semester. Students position their own project in terms of genre and audience, and consider the industry context of film festivals, financing, sales, marketing and distribution. Alongside, they are introduced to advanced production methods as well as a range of advanced technical equipment, undertaking technical workshops as necessary to build a range of specialist skills and techniques in order to achieve the project brief.

  • FILM502 Filmmaker 2

    The aim of this module is to develop further the students understandings of production through practice. Following on from Production 1, students will have developed ideas and projects that they may now wish to develop into complete projects. The area of work chosen to explore will be defined by the student and will be negotiated after a pitch. Students may undertake any form of moving image including (but not exclusively) drama, documentary, experimental, or TV studio based major project. Each project will be developed using industry standard protocols such as scripts, pitch documentation, pre-visualisation and pre/post-production processes.

  • FILM503 Explorer

    This module encourages and supports students to explore a new craft skill without any limitations to areas of study or field of ideas. Focussing heavily on process rather than product, students define their own set of rules for exploration and document the journey through three stages: Critical Thinking, Creative Exploration, and Modern Filmmaking. This will result in a presentation of their research, findings and new craft-based skill.

• Final year

• You will create a portfolio of final film projects, working individually and crewing work of others. This will be supported through professional expertise that prepare you for your own defined future career.
  

  Core modules

  • FILM601 Film Production

    Working both independently and collaboratively students will conceive, develop and produce a short film. The format, style and intended audience will be determined by the students’ understanding of their particular interest in and understanding of the evolving form and function of the role of film in a divergent culture and convergent platforms.

  • FILM602 Dissertation

    Students will research a subject area within film and television in considerable depth, developing their own methodologies in researching, collating and synthesising data and concepts in order to present arguments clearly and persuasively. The outcome will be a piece of written work with illustrations, links, bibliography, notes and appendices as appropriate.

  • FILM603 Beyond Film and TV

    Digital technologies have transformed the production, distribution and exhibition of film and television in the 21st century. In light of this development, this module examines the changed contemporary media landscape, opening up interdisciplinary dialogues between histories, practices and theories. It considers professional, social and cultural contexts, emerging cinemas, platforms, technologies and environments.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BA (Hons) Filmmaking programme specification 6889

UCAS tariff

112 - 128

A level
A minimum of 2 A levels, General Studies accepted.