COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in Filmmaking offers a comprehensive and practical approach to filmmaking, emphasizing both creative development and industry-specific skills. Block 1, Developing and Selling Ideas, focuses on the commercial side of filmmaking, teaching students how to develop creative film ideas with attention to audience, financing, and the market. The module introduces students to the writer-director-producer triangle, pitching techniques, and the principles of raising finance. Students will learn how to turn a creative idea into a pitch deck, forming the foundation for their portfolio assessment.Block 2, Filmmaking Research and Practice, explores the essential aspects of filmmaking, including directing, editing, camera, lighting, sound, and production design. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the craft through critical analysis of directors and global cinema movements, particularly focusing on non-western film traditions. The module aims to provide both theoretical and practical filmmaking skills, preparing students for hands-on work in the later stages of the program.Blocks 3 and 4 shift towards more hands-on filmmaking through collaborative projects. Block 3, Pre-Production, focuses on managing a group project from conception to planning, including script breakdowns, budgeting, casting, and location scouting. Students will practice real-world filmmaking tasks such as shot listing and working with actors while balancing creativity and logistical constraints. This leads to Block 4, Production, where students bring their pre-production work to life, working in teams to produce and post-produce a short film, ready for screening.In Blocks 5 and 6, students have the option to complete a Film Dissertation Project or a Major Film Project. The dissertation involves producing a 15,000-word research project in Film Studies or Production, while the major film project allows students to develop a film, script, or distribution strategy, with a focus on project management, creative development, and industry considerations. Both options require critical reflection on the filmmaking process.