BA (Hons) Film Practice students undertake all units together and build a community of practice. In the first 2 years, at least 1 unit of each block is practice-orientated, with a parallel unit focused on contextual study. The final year of the course is structured towards an individual dissertation and a group graduation assignment. While contextual studies classes are regular, most of your timetable will be orientated around your production schedule during the practice-based units.
Year 1
Laying the foundations of practice in documentary and fiction, you’ll be encouraged to try out several filmmaking roles to expand your skills technically, creatively and collaboratively. In contextual studies units, you’ll apply theoretical analysis to a range of films and your own work.
Introduction to Film Practice (20 credits)
You’ll be introduced to the discipline of filmmaking through the development of a collaborative documentary film. You’ll also develop a sense of belonging within our diverse and supportive community of practice, which will support your learning and studentship for Higher Education and professional development throughout your undergraduate studies.
Documentary Production (20 credits)
Working in teams, you’ll conceive, research, and deliver a short, non-sync documentary. You’ll be inducted to use equipment and software and take part in documentary filmmaking practices.
Contextual Studies 1: Classical and Modernist Film Forms (20 credits)
After examining the timeless conventions of classical narrative, you'll study the history of modernist aesthetic practices that, from the early 1920s onward, have provided an alternative to Hollywood's continuity editing and seamless narration.
Contextual Studies 2: Contemporary Film and Ideology (20 credits)
Shifting the focus to films made in the last 30 years, you’ll explore the intersection of film practice and cultural/political ideologies.
Fiction Production (40 credits)
In this unit, you’ll engage in the development of a fiction film narrative. You’ll undertake a filmmaking role, develop your skills, and meet the challenges of production in this more complex group film assignment.
Year 2
The emphasis of Year 2 will be on furthering your creative intent and storytelling through the synergy of contextual discourse and filmmaking practice. Production assignments will offer you the opportunity to further develop your skills for principal filmmaking roles, and you’ll also gain experience of additional roles. You'll have the opportunity to develop your employability by navigating the professional arena through work-based learning (WBL).
Contextual Studies 3: Creative intent and Genre (20 credits)
You’ll build your knowledge and understanding in the analysis of cinematic paradigms, narrative traditions and creative choices that shape fiction and documentary film.
Supervised Studio Production (20 credits)
You’ll be able to develop your practice skills towards a single-camera production. You’ll take part in workshops and collaborative production assignments.
Story (20 credits)
You'll have the opportunity to develop either a documentary proposal or short fiction script.
Open Production (40 credits)
You’ll form groups around an idea generated in the ‘Story’ Unit. Each group may pitch to go into a collaborative production with students from other courses and disciplines across UAL.
Work-Based Learning (20 credits)
You’ll have options to seek industry employers in the sector and/or to learn through an assistant role on a third-year graduate film.
Year 3
Year 3 offers the opportunity for you to consolidate your learning as you work in groups to produce graduation assignments throughout your final year.
Creative Development (20 credits)
You’ll have the option to develop work, such as a script, in preparation for the Major Project, or a stand-alone piece of work that may inform your creative approach to the Major Project.
Major Project (60 credits)
This is a comprehensive challenge that will demonstrate your skills and knowledge of creative and collaborative filmmaking practices on a group assignment.
Dissertation - Part 1 and Part 2 (20 credits)
Your Dissertation will offer you the opportunity to propose (Part 1) and develop (Part 2) a research-based argument around a chosen subject agreed with academic staff.
