Film-making

Why study BA Practical Film Production at Aberystwyth University?

• Learn from leading industry experts who have worked on well-known films such as Quantum of Solace Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and part 2.
• This leading course and a first of its kind in Wales will allow you to discover how films are produced and the fundamentals of getting a film off the ground shot and delivered.
• We will invite industry professionals to host masterclasses in the department, and they will mentor you in your second and third year, providing you with exceptional networking opportunities that no other University in the UK can match.
• This course will prepare you for a career in the film industry.
• This course will cover the fundamentals of film making, and you will achieve an overall understanding of the business of film by following the film making cycle from the acquisition of the original rights to the underlying material, the legal and financing process through the period of pre-production and shoot to its completion, it's delivery, both physical and legal, the sales and marketing and distribution of the film.  In short, the course will provide the student with a unique overview of the whole of the film production process.
• We have constructed a viewing, dubbing and grading theatre which will allow you to complete and screen your films in a professional environment, ensuring that you can achieve the best result. 
• Our department has Superb facilities and resources for practical work in film and television: 3 Camera High Definition television studio and gallery with chroma key and auto-cue capability; 30 editing systems - Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro software; 50 industry standard HD cameras – P2 and AVCHD formats; DSLR and GoPro cameras available.
• Students on this course will have access to superb facilities and resources for practical work in drama and theatre: three rehearsal studios, each with flexible technical facilities; 2 large professionally-equipped studios with digital lighting rigs controlled via ETC Congo and Strand Lighting consoles, Yamaha and Soundcraft PAs, Sanyo AV systems and Strand lighting and two NXAMP; and costume and wardrobe facilities.
• The Sound and Screen archive at the National Library of Wales offers an unrivaled source of material relating to Wales and its people.
• The Aberystwyth Arts Centre is situated on the main campus and is a popular venue where you can enjoy performances and screenings of all kinds. 

Our Staff

All academic staff at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies are research active and/or involved in Knowledge Transfer projects and have either relevant academic qualifications at doctoral level or equivalent professional experience and expertise.

The course is supported by an industry panel, people who have extensive experience in their field and they will also oversee a mentoring programme for the second and third year students with industry specialists in the areas that they have decided to specialise in:

 The panel consist of:

 Julie Baines:  Producer 

 Simon West: Director

 Simon Moseley: Line Producer

 Sheila Fraser Milne: Completion guarantor

 Colin Nicolson: Production Sound Recordist

 Patrick Fischer: Creativity Media

 Mike King: Warner Bros.

 Suzanna Wyatt: Production accountant and former Head of Production at Pathe

 David Freeman: Editor

 John Stephenson: Director

 Allison Small: CEO the production Guild of the United Kingdom

 Sarah Kay: Financial controller

What employability options are available to you? 

Students studying this course could pursue a career in:

• Producing; 
• Directing;
• Assistant Directing; 
• Sound department; 
• Filming department; 
• Post-production;
• Tech crew.

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Click here to find out about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer.

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and YES (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three-year degree scheme.

In Year 1 we will cover the following topics:

• An Introduction to Film Production;

• An introduction to Cinematography and sound;

• An introduction to Post Production;

• An introduction to Editing.

By the end of the first year the student will have gained a working knowledge of the film production cycle as well as an introduction to the technical processes required for shooting a film.

 In the second year the students will build on the knowledge gained in the introductory year one and will be encourage to commence on their advanced specialised area of interest:

The first semester of year two will concentrate on the fundamentals of the following:

• Cinematography;

• Sound;

• Editing;

• Directing;

• Producing.

The second semester will concentrate on a film production project, which is the first of two practical production modules.  Students will devote the year working on their production, technical and artistic skills and will produce a 10-minute short film.  Students will be able to apply their knowledge in their chosen area  and form production teams to produce their 10 minute short.

Year three will continue to build on the expertise learnt in year 2 with the addition of 4 further modules:

• Visual Effects and grading;

• Sound design and dubbing;

• Sales and distribution;

• Music in Film;

• There will also be an advanced production module which will build on the experiences and skills gained during the second year production module.  Students will produce a 15-minute graduation film.  `We will then arrange a London screening for the films and invite agents and industry specialists to the screenings.

• There will be a mentoring programme and students will be encouraged and supported to find professional placements during the holidays.

 The department is currently building a viewing, dubbing and grading theatre which will allow the students to complete and screen their films in a professional environment.

How will I be taught?

You will be taught through a variety of lectures, seminars, screenings, technical demonstrations and group-based project work. The diversity of activity is essential part of our philosophy, and creates a uniquely exciting and productive learning environment.

How will I be assessed?

We assess our students through:

• Group devised productions;

• Individual film and video projects;

• Practical analyses;

• Production diaries and creative scriptwriting;

• Formal essays and examinations;

• Reflective journals, blogs, Wikis;

• Seminar presentations.

Additional assessments may include:

• Storyboards;

• Screenplays;

• Pitches;

All of these materials you could use to generate a working portfolio to present to potential employers.

More information:

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree scheme, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.

You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.