Film and Moving Image Production

The moving image is one of the most powerful and compelling of the visual arts. It is vitally important that the conceptual principles, practical techniques and surrounding issues that define its creation are thoroughly understood and appreciated by those that create it. The Film and Moving Image Production (formerly Film and Video) course starts by offering you a thorough grounding in these areas and sets up a number of relevant ongoing career paths.

VIEW STUDENT WORK

To view examples of the work of NUCA Film and Moving Image Production students visit www.filmandvideo.tv.

LEVEL ONE

Whatever your background Level One will provide you with a broad introduction to film, video and sound production. You will encounter many practical techniques including pre-production, storyboarding, script development, HD camera work, lighting, film grammar, narrative conventions, genre, non linear editing, visual effects, sound recording and design, motion graphics and professional and contextual studies.

Alongside the learning of these technical skills you will also start to develop your conceptual and creative thinking. You will follow the whole process from short script to storyboard to screen. Along the way you’ll hone key skills and knowledge in the areas listed above.

An exploration of the relationship and integration of sound design with the moving image will be undertaken and we will identify the key themes in a number of forms and genres (e.g. documentary, horror, science fiction or experimental film). You will develop a short production in one of these areas and compare your ideas of those established themes within that genre.

LEVEL TWO

Level Two will see you further developing your intellectual and creative abilities while consolidating your technical expertise through a range of projects which enable you to consider audience and context. You will begin to personalise your learning as you pursue your areas of interest or specialism.

You will bring your enthusiasms to joint projects with your fellow students and embark on a major assignment to showcase your chosen specialism.

Contextual Studies explores historical and theoretical issues surrounding the medium and offers you a platform to clearly articulate a personal viewpoint as applied to film and video.

Concepts of video art, sound art, interactivity and the relationship of work to audience are introduced at this stage. You will also consider the online image where specialist techniques, interactive possibilities and unorthodox agendas deviate from mainstream production.

You’ll develop work for a number of online or networked platforms using, for example, Flash, blogs, podcasts, and video on demand. The influence of these emerging contexts on traditional film and video making is explored.

Finally you will produce your own industry-relevant showreel and portfolio of your work. On successfully completing Level Two you will be awarded the Foundation Degree in Film and Moving Image Production. You can then apply to continue your studies for an additional year (Level Three), which on successful completion will enable you to graduate with a BA (Hons) Degree.

LEVEL Three

Level Three enables you to develop and enhance your skills, knowledge and specialism through learning, with support of specialist teaching staff and your peers.

You will be able to research, develop and produce a final major production; scripting, storyboarding and preproducing a substantial short film or portfolio of moving image work, to be taken into full production and concluded through post-production and final evaluation. You are able to work in a range of fiction, documentary or other film and video forms by negotiation with your tutor.

Alongside your final major production you will write a Research Report, which explores contextual and thematic relationships between film theory and practice.

Level Three aims to prepare you for further study or for professional practice in a range of film and video specialisms.

WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL

The course uses advanced high definition video resources for all productions, offering students up-to-date skills and knowledge, through innovative and contemporary projects.

Many of our students have gained exciting work placements for example with the BBC and undertaken live projects working on the MTV Staying Alive campaign as well as creating viral videos for a number of national companies.

Students have had films selected for a range of festivals, online and offline and have shown work at Latitude Festival Film Arena and Glastonbury Festival.

Students who successfully complete their undergraduate studies are also able to progress to a range of MA courses at NUCA in particular MA Moving Image and Sound.