Film, TV, Radio & Media Production BA
UCAS Code: W601|Duration: 3|Full Time|Creative Campus
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Liverpool has a long and distinguished history of Film, TV and Radio production with a reputation for pushing the creative envelope on many occasions. This creative innovation continues in Liverpool to this day with its embracing of the latest in digital media production. Film and TV production in particular is of very significant economic importance to the city and its surrounding region.
Liverpool Hope has enjoyed a very strong tradition in Film Theory and Production; this new programme – which will have a convergent use of creative media production at its heart – will build upon this excellence.
Areas that you will study will include areas such as: Film, TV, Radio and Media Production (podcasts etc.) - underpinned by innovative approaches to analytical and theoretical enquiry.
Study activities might include areas such as the devising of an original film, television series or radio drama – including the pitching, scripting and budgeting stages on to the delivery of the pilot or taster episode, through to the creation of promotional blogs and podcasts. We believe that such a diverse approach to learning is the best way to prepare students to pursue a wide variety of careers in the creative industries, by giving them a well-rounded learning experience underpinned by both creative and critical practice.
- Study in the most filmed-in city in the country outside London.
- Our local partners include FACT, one of the leading independent cinema venues in the North West.
Course structure
The course will be delivered by way of Lectures which will present core repertoire themes and historical context. These will be supported by small-group seminars and practical workshop sessions to develop the necessary theoretical and production skills and techniques. These will be underpinned by student-led tutorials.
Assessment and feedback
Assessment will be by way of creative projects, presentations and contextual essays. These will grow in complexity as the course progresses.
Curriculum overview
This course will allow you to develop your:
- Film, tv, radio and mixed-media production skills
- Hone your analytical skills of a broad variety of film, tv and radio genres
- Capacity to create an original, film, tv or radio drama episode
- Techniques for the production of other digital media production
- Knowledge of the business management of the film, tv, and media production industry
- Complexities of planning, budgeting, scripting, shooting and producing (pre and post) creative media content whether for film, tv and radio
- Analysis of film, tv and radio genre from a number of perspectives
- Relevant techniques for digital creative software programming and coding
- The historical evolution of Creative Digital Media
- The business management, marketing and administration of Media Production
- Convergent nature of creative digital media platforms and how they are allowing for a much more interdependent working environment
These areas of study will increase in complexity and challenge as the programme advances.
Year One
Introduction to Film, Television and Media Theory
Students will explore and interrogate the key theories and concepts that underpin film, television and media studies. They will learn how to ‘read’ narrative film and television, and will study foundational elements such as narrative form, cinematography, editing, and music. They will also look at concepts of authorship, genre and stardom, and explore the ways in which film and television represents themes of identity, gender, sexuality, race, and class. They will also explore the impact of digital connectivity and the twenty-first century rise of multimedia convergence culture.
Practical Filmmaking
Working in small groups, students will develop a short film ‘adapted’ from one of the films or TV shows screened as part of ‘Introduction to Film, Television and Media Theory’. In the process, students will learn how to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in areas of cinematography, editing and other basic principles of visual storytelling to their own practical work.
Animation Theory and Practice
This topic will involve the integration of theoretical and practical approaches to animation. Students will have the opportunity of producing a short animated film in a variety of different styles, including stop-frame, pixilation, cut out, hand drawn or clay animation. Practical work is supported by theoretical study, with students examining the history, aesthetics and cultural significance of animation in their weekly lectures and tutorials.
Year Two
Film History
Students will be introduced to a range of different film movements and stylistic approaches from the early twentieth century to the present day, including German Expressionism, Soviet montage, US silent cinema, the French New Wave, the British New Wave, and other avant-garde movements in international cinema. These will develop students’ knowledge and skill-set in a variety of cinematic techniques, and will feed into their practical filmmaking and media portfolios.
Introduction to Photography
This topic will explore the basic practical techniques in Photography. There is synergy between practice and theory with photography relating to discussions of lighting, depth of field and shot structure in lectures and tutorials. Working individually to produce an original portfolio, the students will be introduced to camera technique, studio lighting and framing.
Television
Working in groups, students will devise an idea for an original television series. Initial weeks are spent pitching, scripting and budgeting the series, while the latter part of the semester comprises production and delivery of a pilot episode. Creative work is informed by lectures and tutorials on the history and theory of television. Here, students would explore key debates surrounding topics such as ‘liveness’, flow, intimacy and ‘quality’, in addition to looking at the advantages and the limitations of television as a storytelling medium.
Media Production
Students will develop their skills as creative practitioners in a variety of media. They will learn how to write and disseminate original creative content online through the production of blogs, podcasts, video essays, and radio content, all of which will be underpinned by relevant theories on digital creativity. Students will also have the opportunity to devise and shoot a TV news bulletin.
Year Three
Contemporary Film and Television
Students will study, in-depth, contemporary developments in film and television. Topics will include contemporary British and Hollywood cinema, the national cinemas of countries such as Iran, New Zealand, and Japan. Students will also explore current tendencies in British and American television, including the trends towards ‘quality’ long-form series, serialisation, and multimedia convergence. In addition, students will have the opportunity to complete a research project on a topic of their choosing, or to write a screenplay.
Documentary
This topic will develop filmmaking skills learned in years one and two, challenging students to produce a short feature based on real-world events/issues. Alongside their weekly practical seminars, students will study the history and theory of documentary in lectures and tutorials. These theory classes feed into practical work by introducing students to key filmmakers and modes of documentary, as well as prompting them to consider the ethical implications of depicting actual people and events.
Short Film Production
Building on the introductions to live-action filmmaking and animation in the first year, this topic allows students to apply their new skills to an individual project. Here, students produce a short film as part of their practical workshops, and have the chance to work in a variety of media, including live-action and animation. This practical work will be supported by relevant critical and theoretical perspectives on contemporary developments in live-action cinema and animation in the lectures and seminars.
Radio/Podcast Production
Building upon the areas developed in the Media Production of the previous stage of study students will have the opportunity to produce a portfolio of original work in the area of radio and podcast work. These could cover a broad variety of content from documentary, fiction through to other creative content. Students will gain advanced skills in audio recording, editing and mastering of their work
Photography
Students will work individually to produce an original portfolio of portrait work. There is a strong integration of practice and theory, with photographic projects responding to critical discussions of Hollywood stardom in the lectures and tutorials. Through photography, students will gain further practical skills in the key areas of lighting, composition and workflow.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 28 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | 120 Tariff Points / Merit |
| Subject Requirements | All applicants will be required to attend an audition/interview. |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
Film, TV, Radio and digital media production is of significant economic importance to the City of Liverpool the North West Region and to the whole of the UK. It is also an area of expanding employment regionally and nationally.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
Work placement opportunities will be sought from the many Liverpool-based media production companies that Liverpool Hope University already has good working relationships with.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2023/24 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2023/24 are £12,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.