Film, TV, Radio & Media Production BA

Introduction to Film, Television, Radio and Media Production

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 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.

Introduction to Filmmaking

Working in small groups, students may develop a studio based short film ‘adapted’ from one of the films 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.

Introduction to Television

Working in small groups, students may devise a television mini-series in a genre of their choice and produce short-form audio-visual content as part of this series concept suitable for TV broadcast. Each group will produce a 30-second advert for their TV series proposal that would meet a traditional commercial broadcasting advertisement slot.

Introduction to Animation

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.

Introduction to Radio

Students will learn about cultural history and the theory of radio, including the ways in which radio fits into the contemporary field of mass communications. Practical sessions will include demonstrating the industry-standard software and listening to a wide variety of radio texts, video documentary and group work will include digital editing of audio content, audio restoration, multitrack recording, mixing, and mastering.

Exploring Film, Television, Radio and Media Production

TV, Radio and Media Production students will build on the broad-ranging introductions to the core areas and apply their skills to a series of topics of practical projects underpinned by theoretical and critical study. These projects may include developing their knowledge of the TV News Bulletin format and advancing their knowledge of the radio studio environment and production facilities using on-air studio and recording resources to produce content for broadcast.

Students will be introduced to a range of different film movements and stylistic approaches from the early twentieth century to the present day, including the French New Wave, the British New Wave, the Hollywood Renaissance, and other avant-garde 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.

Filmmaking

In keeping with the ongoing emphasis in the theory classes on cinema and society, students will work in groups to produce short films projects based around ideas of setting and character. Students will learn intermediate skills in scripting, story development, scheduling, location shooting, editing, and postproduction, and in contrast to year one, the short film will be shot on location.

Television Production

Working in groups, students will devise an idea for an original television series to include pitching, scripting, budgeting the series, and delivery of a pilot episode. Creative work is informed by lectures and tutorials on the history and theory of television. Here, students may 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.

Radio and Media Production

Radio students will develop knowledge of the radio studio environment and production facilities using on-air studio and recording resources to produce content for broadcast using industry-standard software for audio post-production and multitrack recording.

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.

Contemporary Film and Television Theory

Students will study in-depth, contemporary developments in film and television. Topics may include contemporary British and Hollywood cinema, the national cinemas of countries such as Iran, New Zealand, and Japan. Students may 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.

Photography Practice

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 studio lighting, composition, post-production, and workflow.

Animation Practice

Students will work individually to produce an original animated film. There is a robust integration of practice and theory, with animation projects responding to critical discussions in the lectures and tutorials. Through animation, students will gain further practical skills in the key areas of development, timing, storyboarding, set design, lighting, composition, and pre & post-production techniques.

Short Film Production

Building on the practical introductions in the first and second 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. 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.

Documentary Film/TV

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 may 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.

Radio/Podcast & Drama 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 modern-day drama, radio magazine programme, documentary, fiction, through to other creative content. Students will gain skills in audio recording, editing, and mastering of their work to an advanced standard.