Film and Media Production – BA (Honours)

At a glance

Gain the first-class film production skills needed for a career in this exciting and competitive industry. Based in the heart of Sheffield’s thriving Cultural Industries Quarter, you benefit from internships and work experience opportunities with Sheffield-based independents like Warp Films and Studio of the North. On campus, you also benefit from a fully equipped purpose-built cinema and a professional studio to inform and develop your film making.

Key points• Take advantage of internships and placements at Warp Films, the BBC and Studio of the North.
• Gain work experience at film festivals including DocFest, Sensoria and Lovebytes.
• Benefit from a purpose-built cinema and a fully equipped professional studio.
• Learn from industry and independent practitioners and researchers, including award-winning staff.

What is film and media production?Moving image production is one of the most potent, persuasive and multifaceted forms of media. Film and media production is the process of making a film with three major production stages, the development of ideas and planning of a film (pre-production), the creation and shooting of the raw elements of the film (production) and the editing and assembly of the final film (post-production).

We look for students who are passionate about film and its potential, across a range of media. We encourage creativity, innovation and risk taking and the development of an independent approach and distinctive filmic voice.

The course focuses on three key areas of filmmaking, drama or fiction filmmaking, documentary filmmaking and experimental filmmaking.

The course is based in the heart of Sheffield's Cultural Industries Quarter, with excellent links to the thriving independent film industry, including ground-breaking companies such as Warp Films and Studio of the North. We are also a sponsor of Sheffield DocFest, which offers our students invaluable work experience opportunities.

We are a BBC partner organisation and this partnership offers students the chance to apply for placements, to get involved in BBC projects and to attend specialist workshops and training events. For example our students recently attended the BBC Writers Room scriptwriting workshops at Salford Media City.

We have an internship programme set up for our students with Warp Films. Final year students have undertaken crewing roles as work placements on Warp Films’ This is England 88 and 86 for Channel 4 and their recently released features Submarine and Tyrannosaur.

Our own cinema, The Void, offers Blu-ray DVD through a HD digital projector, 35mm projectors and a Dolby 5.1 surround sound system. We are one of the few universities in the UK to have such facilities.

In level one, we introduce you to core skills, theories and techniques. You then explore your media practice through individual and group project work across a range of genres and disciplines. You also take part in a location field trip and a residential filming trip.

In level two you select two areas of specialism from • cinematography • sound recording and design • post-production • directing, producing and art direction.

For more in-depth study you chose from experimental film, documentary or drama.
Level three focuses on developing your final project, a significant show-reel piece in your chosen genre. You form production teams to carry out creative and technical roles on each other's productions.

To improve your employability, you complete
• extensive career research and develop networks in your chosen area of the film and media industry
• attend a program of guest speaker sessions, where professionals from all areas of the industry come and talk to you about how to develop your career
• take part in networking trips to London and the Aesthetica Film Festival in York

Key areas of studyThis course offers a strong emphasis on practice based modules with a personalised path of study as you choose and build the modules that suit your interests and passions.

Award winning teaching team
The course teaching team are all practising media professionals with current film industry knowledge and expertise. Staff members include
• Editor Chris Hall for BAFTA winning Chris Morris's My Wrongs 8245-8249-117
• Virginia Heath director of Relativity – winner Best Short Film Award Berlin International Film Festival 2002
• BAFTA nominated director Annie Watson and producer Debbie Ballin – Knitting A Love Song 2004
• Esther Johnson, curator and award-winning artist and filmmaker – Yalda 2008, Celestial 2007, Tune In 2006
• Ron Wright, award winning sound designer – Jelly Dolly, winner Britspotting Berlin Film Festival 2004
• Susannah Gent award winning director – British Council award winning feature film 'Jelly Dolly' (writer, director and co-producer), Chicago International film festival Silver Hugo award winning short film 'Melvyn's Pencils'