Have you ever wondered how films are made? Do you have an interest in discovering more about the roles of the director and producer, the goals of the film studio/ financiers? Do you think that you have what it takes to make an impact in the film industry? If yes, then Aberystwyth University’s degree in Film-making is the course for you. Unlock your potential with this exciting and innovative course and gain a practical insight into how the film business works. Upon completion of this degree, you will understand the long and complicated process of how a film is conceived, financed, shot, delivered and exploited.
Why study BA Film-making at Aberystwyth University?
Our exciting and innovative Film-making course examines the process of how a film is developed, financed, shot, delivered and exploited. The degree will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of all aspects of film-making.
As the name suggests, this is a practical course with a strong vocational ethos. Through producing your own original films, as well as working with camera, sound and post-production equipment in the department, you will gain valuable hands-on experience which will prepare you for a career in this exciting industry.
The course has been established by experienced teaching staff with over 35 years’ experience of completion and delivery of films within the film industry, and it is one of the few in the UK that has a professional association with the Production Guild of Great Britain.
As a film-making student at Aberystwyth, you will benefit from:
our internationally-recognised teaching team with a range of expertise in film and television history, theory and practice
our connections with key industry partners such as the BBC, S4C, BAFTA Cymru, Tribeca Film Festival (New York), Fiction Factory, Tinopolis, Edinburgh International Film Festival, National Broadcast Archive of Wales at the National Library of Wales
superb facilities and resources for practical work: HD television studio and gallery with green screen and auto-cue; digital sound studio with advanced multi-track recording; dedicated cinema, colour grading and dubbing suite; 10 dedicated edit suites with Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro; editing lab and workshop with 12 work stations; 50 professional HD cameras, including Sony and Canon; Sennheiser, Rode, Tascam and Marantz audio recording equipment; 16mm film equipment and darkroom
our close links with Aberystwyth Arts Centre, which hosts a range of events such as Abertoir Horror Festival, Wales One World Film Festival, and Cult Film Night.
By taking advantage of all this, you will be able to create films to a professional standard.
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.
Modules
Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.
* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh
Employability
The course is supported by an industry panel, people who have extensive experience in their field.
What employability options are available to you?
Students studying this course could pursue a career in the following areas:
producing
directing
assistant directing
camera work
post-production
working with the technical 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.
Learning & Teaching
What will I learn?
The breakdown below provides an outline of what you may study during the three-year degree scheme.
In Year 1 you will be introduced to the following:
film production
making short films
post-production and editing.
By the end of the first year, you 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 you will build on the knowledge gained in year one and will be encouraged to start working on your specialised area of interest:
The first semester of year two will concentrate on the fundamentals of the following:
cinematography - directing
sound recording - editing.
The second semester will concentrate on a film production project. You will be able to apply your knowledge in your chosen area and form production teams to produce a 10-minute short.
In the third year you will continue to build on the expertise learnt during the previous years with the addition of three further modules:
sales and distribution
sound design and dubbing - VFX and Grading
fiction film project.
The department is currently building a viewing, dubbing and grading theatre which will allow you to complete and screen your 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?
You will be assessed 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.
You could use all of these materials to generate a working portfolio to present to potential employers.
More information:
You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree scheme. The tutor 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.
