MA Film Making

University of East Anglia UEA

Working alongside academic tutors and industry mentors you will produce a selection of short, filmed projects that increases your filmmaking experience and hones your professional image. You will use this material to develop a comprehensive online portfolio of film material showcasing your talents, and an eye-catching showreel ready for sharing with your developing networks. Your processes and production will be guided by intensive workshops with group and individual tutorials from your academic tutor and industry mentors. The portfolio will also develop professional documentation practices such as, behind the scenes development work and an artist statement which establish your individual practice and expertise for public consideration. The module runs all-year and provides many opportunities to generate high-level content, pursue external projects, establish a track record in your favoured genres and formats, and polish skills bespoke to your career.

Working alongside academic tutors and industry mentors you will produce a selection of short, filmed projects that increases your filmmaking experience and hones your professional image. You will use this material to develop a comprehensive online portfolio of film material showcasing your talents, and an eye-catching showreel ready for sharing with your developing networks. Your processes and production will be guided by intensive workshops with group and individual tutorials from your academic tutor and industry mentors. The portfolio will also develop professional documentation practices such as, behind the scenes development work and an artist statement which establish your individual practice and expertise for public consideration. The module runs all-year and provides many opportunities to generate high-level content, pursue external projects, establish a track record in your favoured genres and formats, and polish skills bespoke to your career.

You will produce a showpiece film ready for festival submission which will enhance your personal portfolio and inform the next steps of your professional career. This final festival ready film can further your development and be used as showreel materials for use in launching your career. Festival Film allows you to conceive, develop, and create your own film making project aimed at a film festival that you will identify. Working as an individual or as a group with the support of your academic tutor and our Media technical team, this module will build on your filmmaking expertise and experience to produce a final showpiece suitable for festival submission. The final films will be presented as a part of a showcase with those of your cohorts in a student-organised festival.

Through this module, you will develop a range of digital and academic skills that are key in leading a successful research project. You will learn about resources and how to use them effectively, from your lecturers but also from colleagues from our Library, Careers services and writing support advisers. You will learn how to design a project plan, explore resources, organise research, and present findings and references. An important part of the module will be about developing digital media skills, including AI training and introduction to media technologies such as recording, editing and website design. Finally, you will learn how to make the most of your work by articulating the skills and experiences you have developed to enhance your career opportunities.

Great movies begin with great scripts. This module introduces the key elements of building the dramatic script, with a focus on developing the skills necessary to produce a strong dissertation project. The module will focus on short scripts, looking at the common structures and approaches that define the genre. It will introduce basic screenwriting technique, including pitching, scene form, story structure, dialogue, action, and character. All students will learn professional screenplay format and make use of screenplay formatting software. Students will make use of a range of supplemental texts. Primary texts will cover an array of short film styles and genres, as we look at compelling short films and well-crafted screenplays. Secondary texts will include Linda Hutcheon’s work on adaption, David Ball’s writings on dramatic action, Peter Bloore’s research on screenplay development, as well as Lajos Egri and Aristotle on dramatic structure. We’ll also look at works by so-called screenplays ‘gurus’, such as Kevin Dancyger, Syd Field, and Philip Parker. In addition, students will make use of the UEA/Creative Skillset online course “An Introduction to Screenwriting.”

This module provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in working with one of the film festivals run by or in conjunction with our school. The module covers topics such as audiences and producers, as well as debates about programming, curation, canonicity, film education, genre, and the role of film festivals within the global film industry. We study specific case studies and students will gain practical and vocational experience that draws on our work with festivals such as The Green Film Festival (Dr Karina Aveyard), Norwich Queer International Film Festival (Dr Sarah Godfrey) and Norwich Film Festival (Professor Keith Johnston).

20 years ago, digital media such as YouTube videos and Podcasts were niche user generated content. Today, they are intrinsic to the media landscape and a growing number of digital content creators are household names. Anyone can make a YouTube video or a podcast, but creating content that stands out requires skill and vision. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, how can we make impactful digital media with real staying power? In this module, you will develop your own digital media content. You will learn the necessary storytelling and technical skills to produce compelling and professional digital media. You will also learn how to navigate the digital media marketplace and produce content that finds an audience, grows that audience and can be monetised.

This module enables you to put the skills you've been mastering on your course into practice in the real-world workplace, in the media, creative or cultural sector, or with government or a non-governmental charity organisation. With the support of Careers Central, you'll research the industry context and then source your placement. The placement itself will be a minimum of about 80 hours in length and will be carried out alongside your other studies. Accompanying taught sessions will give you industry insights and support your professional development. You'll then have the chance to reflect on your placement, exploring how it has deepened your sector awareness or helped you to identify other career development prospects and needs. Overall, the module offers you an ideal opportunity to put your learning into practice, strengthen your network of industry contacts and enhance your career.

This module introduces you to the business of developing and making films and TV drama in today’s film and television industry: essential for anyone interested in working in the business after graduation. You’ll research and understand how films are financed, how budgets are built, how TV series are commissioned by broadcasters, and how independent production companies develop scripts all the way through to production and delivery. In our seminars each week we’ll look at a different aspect of the financing and development process, from script development to attaching acting talent, marketing and distribution. You’ll create an your own idea for a film or TV drama project and work towards pitching it live to ‘executive producers’ at the end of term. You’ll create a pitch deck covering everything from the original concept to the directors and actors you’ll hire, and decide which broadcasters or funders you’ll approach and the platforms you’ll screen on. A good introduction to the UK film and TV industry, giving you tools you can use as you enter the industry in any country.