Film BA(Hons)

Why study BA(Hons) Film at University College Falmouth?

BA(Hons) Film Studies course leaflet (2.39 MB)

Passion. Originality. Choice. Film at Falmouth is where you start showcasing your talents and planning your future. We know what you need to get on in this most competitive of industries and our course is carefully designed to equip you with the flexibility and knowledge to build your future career.

From screenwriting to journalism, directing to film history, at Falmouth flexibility is our watchword - you decide how your course develops.

University College Falmouth is part of the Cornwall Skillset Media Academy network - a UK-wide group of institutions identified as centres of excellence in creative media education and training.

What will I get out of the course?

During your course, you'll study screenwriting, writing about film, design and production, as well as experimental cinema, documentary practice and the short film. You'll also get to grips with lighting, sound and post-production so you understand the relationship between theory and practice. All this will equip you with the skills to speak and write confidently about the creative and cultural contexts of your work and demonstrate your potential in the wider workplace of this fast-paced industry. 

"The supportive lecturers, great facilities and balance of theory and practice helped me make the most of my film degree. All that, plus a blossoming local film industry, made Falmouth a unique experience." Marie Foulston, BA(Hons) Film graduate and online coordinator for Soda Pictures

Tell me more about the BA(Hons) Film course

"I was keen to learn as much as possible about the technical side of filmmaking and Falmouth offered the option of a 70/30 ratio of practical/theory. When I graduated I had a good working knowledge of a number of cameras, editing software and design programs, all of which helped me get my first proper production job." Fern Beresford, Falmouth Film graduate and winner of a Bronze at The Smalls short film awards

By choosing to study for a degree in Film at Falmouth you'll:

• Benefit from being taught by our friendly and experienced staff of academics, film-makers, critics and editors.
• Develop a broad understanding of the artistic, social and historical importance of the medium.
• Learn key analytical skills through a complex study of film history, screenwriting, design and production.
• Take on key practical elements, from pre-production, lighting, sound and digital video to the intricacies of post-production in our industry-standard editing suites.
• Undertake an exciting learning experience enriched by lectures, seminars, workshops, visiting speakers and professional placements.
• Be based at the Tremough Campus, which features a Media Centre packed with industry-standard facilities.

Projects

• Our BA(Hons) Film students produce Rushes, an online film magazine that can be viewed here: film.falmouth.ac.uk
• Falmouth Film students won Best Film (Sam Palmer) and Best Idea (Rik Burnell) at the 2009 Cornwall Film Festival.

Work placements

Graduates Joey Beard and Paul Thomason worked as runners at the 2008 International Screenwriters' Festival

Press release: Taken by the International Screenwriters' Festival

Guest lectures

BA(Hons) Film offered a substantial guest lecture series through 2009/10, following previous visits from BAFTA award-winning documentary film maker, Molly Dineen, who screened The Lie of the Land as the inugural event of the Cornwall Skillset Media Academy, and film critic Andrew Collins, regular contributor to the BBC and Film Editor of the Radio Times, in addition to a Podcast pioneer with his weekly show with Richard Herring.

Beginning with Michael Wiese's Journey of an Independent Filmmaker, the series continued with talks from Men Who Stare at Goats writer Jon Ronson as part of the Cornwall Film Festival. Jon Stewart talked about his adventures in Britpop band Sleeper before offering an overview of his latter career as Music Supervisor for Nick Moran's Joe Meek biopic Telstar, and director Carolyn Corben spoke about her work in advertising and striking pop videos for Girls Aloud, Elton John and George Michael.

In 2010, guests included Paul Andrew Williams, the writer and director of London to Brighton and Cherry Tree Lane, composer Bhesham Sharma, Neil Waddington, producer at motion graphics specialists 44-16, and Guardian film critic Phelim O'Neil, who also co-directed the "Making of" feature for Duncan Jones' sci-fi film Moon. Neil Fox talked about his work as a filmmaker and director of Filmstock - an international film festival, and was followed by James Caddick, a director whose work includes promos for The Macabees, Lily Allen and KT Tunstall. Producer Mary Burke also visited the campus, following a BIFA win with Bunny and The Bull, and spoke about her career at the pioneering British production company Warp Films.

More information and interviews with many of these lecturers can be found at film.falmouth.ac.uk

Guest Lecture series: Molly Dineen (streaminig audio)

Professorial lecture series

Falmouth's Professorial lecture series aims to produce an engaging and challenging public programme that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of our staff, students and alumni, our research collaborators, our industry partners, our local communities and other supporters. Recent lectures relevant to students in the School of Media include Andrew Chitty and Emily Bell.

Andrew Chitty

Seven myths that drive the digital economy

Andrew has been a pioneer in the converging worlds of TV and digital media since the mid 90s when as Editor of BBC2's The Net he was responsible for the BBC's first website and virtual world. Since 1998 he's built Illumina Digital into the UK's leading cross platform production company winning a raft of awards including 4 BAFTAS, 8 RTS Awards, The UN award for e-learning and even a Golden Ladle for the world's best cookery site. In 2008 Illumina joined All3Media, the UK's largest independent production group.

Andrew has been active in policy and industry groups, co-authoring OFCOM's paper New Options for Public Service in the Digital Age and has advised Lord Stephen Carter as a member of the ministerial steering board for the Digital Britain Report. He is a council member of PACT, trustee of TRC Media in Glasgow and a past board member of Skillset. Andrew is currently Chair of the National Skills Council for Digital Media.

A video of Andrew Chitty's lecture can be viewed online here

Download the transcript of Andrew Chitty's lecture (175.81 KB)

Emily Bell

Back To the News Future: Journalism 10 Years from Now

Director of Digital Content for Guardian News and Media, Emily set up www.mediaguardian.co.uk in 2001. www.guardian.co.uk has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Webby for Best Newspaper on the web in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Oxford graduate, Bell is one of the rising stars coming through from a younger, more web-focused generation of senior media figures.

A video of Emily Bell's lecture can be viewed online here

Facilities

Our Media Centre and Learning Resource Centre include:

• 17,000-title TV and film library
• 106-seat cinema
• Pro-Tools HD recording studio and production rooms
• A newsroom with an IRN news feed and 43 workstations
• Three radio control rooms
• TV studio
• Well-stocked equipment store with a range of P2 cameras
• Digital Production Suite with audio editing and graphics software with professional scriptwriting and editing software
• Digital Animation Suite with 30 workstations equipped with industry specialist software, specialist desks and lighting for animation drawing

Course outline

Level 1

• Professional Practice 1&2
• Approaches to Film
• Post-War World Cinema
• Criticism, Analysis & Theory
• History of the Moving Image

Level 2

• Documentary Advanced Screenwriting 1 or Sound Design: Theory
• Experimental Cinema, Advanced Screenwriting 2, Sound Design: Practice, Writing About Film or Script To Screen
• Audience, Archive or Work Placement Case Study
• Postmodernism, Film & New Media

Plus two options, for example:

• American Cinema
• Black Cinema
• Women & Film
• Film & National Identities: British Cinema

Level 3

• Research Practice followed by Dissertation
• Professional Development Portfolio
• Professional Practice Portfolio

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum

HelpMe Forum

For further information about BA(Hons) Film at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 214368.

Career opportunities

Graduates from BA(Hons) Film will be equipped with the transferable skills needed for a variety of careers in film, the media and other professions centred on communication, creative enterprise and critical thinking. Career opportunities include:

• Director
• Producer
• Researcher
• Film critic
• Journalist
• Screenwriter
• Arts administrator
• Postgraduate study

Course entry requirements

A minimum of 220 UCAS points, equivalent Level 3 qualifications or relevant experience. Applicants may be invited to interview and asked to present written work so we can assess your abilities, skills and potential to succeed at this level of study.

For further information about BA(Hons) Film at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 214368.

Interview dates and selection process

Interviews will commence in late January and continue throughout Spring.

The interview will include a campus tour, individual interview and a group talk. Applicants can show print-based portfolios at interview but this is not an essential requirement.

Location: Tremough Campus

Related courses

• Broadcasting BA(Hons)
• Journalism BA(Hons)