Film and Television Production (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

This module provides tools in your reading of cultural texts. Focusing on computer games, animation and film, you gain an introductory level of understanding in the context of your chosen fields of study.
As well as looking at the historical and contextual overview of the history of animation, film and computer games, you also look at how we interpret these types of media historically and materially. You choose a text from within your area of interest and undertake an analytical review in the form of a case study.

You explore the basic technical components of the process of making video or audiovisual materials for outputs such as online publishing, documentary or drama. You are introduced to media languages and how to communicate clearly to target audiences.
The module is project based and you carry out writing, composition and editing of your own short video or online publication. You learn basic skills in risk assessment for technical equipment, filming, editing and using online resources.
Your assessment is the creation of a video in response to a brief and the submission of a written review.

This module aims to guide you through the production of a small-scale individual project defined in part by you, with guidance from the tutor. The final project aims to develop an individual working approach and good project management. You will develop original ideas and concepts for an appropriate project in your chosen field of study. These may take the form of a short story, artefact, report, campaign, comic, concept art or other appropriate form related to the arts and media industries.

Here, you apply acquired knowledge and skills to a selected project according to an area of your individual interest or specialism. This module provides an overview of professional graphic practice and enables you to reflect on your own learning and personal career aspirations. You review work from modules through your portfolio presentation and set goals for the next stage.

You explore learning skills for undergraduate study at University, providing you with a range of learning material and practical sessions. You develop your professional skills including teamwork, researching a topic, report writing and delivering presentations, as well as time management and learning practice.
You learn by a combination of lectures, e-learning material and support.

You are introduced to the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) at Teesside University, exploring e-learning material and reading lists, and student support and learning resources.

Your assessment is a portfolio based on set tasks, including research into set problems.

You explore a range of contemporary media theories and ideas in their broader historical, social, cultural, technological and economic context. You learn how these contexts can help us understand the power and influence of the media and how to begin to read the media through identifying codes and conventions.
Your assessment is a short essay that researches one area of media production.

You develop general digital production skills with an additional focus on post-production. You enhance effective practical, technical and aesthetical approaches required to create a variety of digital media artefacts across a number of platforms, with more relevance to the subject-specific disciplines. You have the opportunity to gain Adobe Accredited user status.

You are introduced to effective practical, technical and aesthetical approaches required to create a variety of digital media artefacts across a variety of digital delivery platforms. You learn a variety of sector specific and industry standard digital delivery methods and production techniques surrounding the acquisition, manipulation and operation of media production hardware and software applications. In addition to the supervised contact time, you also have access to freelance resources. You are assessed on two pass/fail components. Your first assessment is a series of practical exams that determine your proficiency across a range of digital media production disciplines. Your second assessment is a digital portfolio of work developed during the module.

This module looks at the ideas, concepts, and practicalities of developing a professional online presence. It takes a critical look at social media and considers how best to make use of existing online communities and tools. You design and create something that represents you in an online presence, using a range of available technologies and third-party applications (web authoring, blogging systems, social media, file sharing and networking systems), to act as a PR tool in promoting your career or specific media-related activities to a specified audience.

Media theory provides the foundations of understanding on how any form of moving image media communicates meaning. You explore what media theory is and further your understanding of a moving image text using canonical analytical codes. You are introduced to critical theory and the technical processes of writing analytical work such as essays. Your assessment is producing an essay, critically analysing a chosen moving image text through the application of media theory.

You write short narrative pieces for the radio and screen. You examine the way that stories have been recycled and reinvented over time, and develop an understanding of the common plot archetypes through exploration of various examples of screenplay structure, as well as gaining an understanding of the three key elements of theme, character and plot, and how to effectively combine these to construct unique and compelling scripts.

Learn the essential skills of professional studio practice working as part of a team to develop a client-led project from initial conception through to product.

Following your earlier learning within the Bootcamp module, this module builds on the foundations of group working, technical skills and the creative development of documentary content. You are encouraged to experiment, push yourself creatively and not be afraid to pursue ambition, excellence and innovation.

You focus on the production process rather than just the final product – this ensures that you are appropriately rewarded even if an ambitious project ultimately 'crashes and burns'.

This module culminates in you working as part of a production team to create a five to ten-minute documentary to a set brief. You submit this documentary for assessment.

You develop an understanding of how genre within the moving image media is formulated and constructed. You explore what film genre is and how you can further your understanding of a moving image text using genre conventions. You deepen your application of critical theory and further your ability to write analytical work. Your assessment is an essay critically analysing a chosen moving image text through the application of genre theory.

You work on industry-based projects that form part of your developing professional portfolio of work. You respond to time-based and/or live briefs in your allocated role within a professional network or team. You experience working within a professional network, reflecting your specialist area of media industry practice. For assessment, you submit a final product and a supporting research portfolio.

Explore your creativity in the creation, production and post-production of sound that is synchronised to video. Create material that requires Foley, sound design, automated dialogue replacement and music composition that is mixed to stereo and surround formats.

You focus on how directors and producers can work with actors and contributors to produce a successful film or documentary. You gain a practical understanding of the role of the director, including the theories and critical contexts of film direction and the legalities of working with ‘talent’ and participants in the film and TV industry. You learn about effective casting and directing techniques as well as understanding the necessary script analysis and preparation. You also learn about effective interviews – asking the right questions at the right time, or casting the right people, to heighten the central message or drama of the work. Assessment is a filmed scene or documentary short and accompanying supporting portfolio.

You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.

You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:

· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.

Working within a professional context, you respond to a live brief with an external client.

You develop your individual research interests in an extended essay to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a specific, relevant and contemporary issue that you choose. Given the contemporary or future nature of your enquiry, you are encouraged to do primary research with relevant industry professionals and/or commentators as well as draw on a wide range of sources in your research.

You devise an exit strategy from education to your first career destination. You develop a detailed strategy with clear and achievable milestones, targets and schedules, which will begin implementation within the module.
You also explore business planning, marketing and markets, brand and brand management, new and emerging forms of funding and distributing content. You explore both career development and project development so it's applicable if you are looking for employment or looking to build your own business or proposition.
Your assessment is 100% ICA.

You carry out creative development of a media content project of your own design that may be used as the basis for your final project. You develop a proposal for an original media content-driven project. You investigate and review related contemporary production practices, including current technologies and formats to identify appropriate channels, formats, audience and platforms for your work. You evaluate relevant contemporary output, as well as addressing relevant social, cultural, economic and ethical factors, in order to establish the scope for development for your project. Your research proposal should have a rigorous rationale.

Your assessment is 100% ICA:
8-10 minute timed presentation of your intended project to your peers and supervising tutor 70%

pre-production file with schedule, ethics form and written reflection 30%

You carry out a self-managed exercise of professional practice and critical evaluation. You work on your own or collaboratively to facilitate a major creative project, film, digital campaign or showreel showcasing production skills, demonstrating production planning, audio, video, web design, and associated technologies, while showing consideration for associated legal, social, ethical and professional issues. You explore and experiment with creative digital film TV or broad-cast production. The emphasis is on content and its creative treatment, originality and narrative structure as well as technical execution. You explore your chosen subject area in-depth, and in a critical presentation. You demonstrate the ability to analyse and synthesise what you have studied on the programme and its application in production of a substantive project, whilst also demonstrating professional, critical and evaluative skills, and awareness of entrepreneurial potential.