| BA(Hons) Documentary Video |
 |
 |
 |
|
Why choose Documentary Video and why at SMU Through the continual production of short film projects during the degree course, you will have the opportunity to develop a personal approach to non-fiction filmmaking. You will be free to explore the many different approaches to documentary, from observational direct-cinema style work to more journalistic reportage, and from personal, self-reflexive pieces to those that adopt the conventions of mainstream narrative cinema. More about the course The course emphasises technical skills, critical awareness and creative vision, with students receiving training and guidance in current industry practice. The course is 80% practical, complemented by 20% theoretical study. Significant staff contact time is available, through one-to-one tutorials, seminars and workshops, and you would benefit from the University's large stock of the latest video production and post-production equipment. The University has a good reputation for preparing graduates for technical, production and creative careers across documentary film and television production. There is also the opportunity to obtain Avid authorised certification. Course structure & content The Faculty has excellent industrial links and there is a regular programme of visiting speakers and professionals. Live projects are an integral part of the course and these help you to engage with professional bodies before you graduate. All work is project based and all assessment is based on 100% coursework. As well as formal lectures there is also a programme of individual tutorials throughout the three years. The first year projects are designed to help you think critically and creatively about fundamental principles of filmmaking - whilst at the same time developing skills learned in the workshops - through the production of original works. Year Two, you are expected to further develop their own ideas and approaches in more ambitious pieces of work. You will be encouraged to consider notions of the objective and the subjective, of the complexities of intervention and observation, and of the potential for documentaries to explore the personal and polemical. Year Three, a time to create major projects to an advanced standard over an extended period. Projects are supported by individual tutorials, feedback sessions and advice throughout the year. You will be prepared for future careers through modules dedicated to marketing, self-promotion and the exhibiting and distribution of work. Across all three years, theory modules inform and augment practical work. In the first year, you will learn key methods of the academic analysis of filmmaking through a combination of lectures, seminars and written assignments. In the second year, more complex subjects and analytical approaches are taught, again, through lectures, seminars and assignments. In the third year a dissertation is written, based upon self-directed research, that explores an aspect of documentary filmmaking history, criticism or practice with relevant, detailed academic analysis. Facilities & Resources The department has excellent facilities and equipment for digital film and television production. A fully-equipped TV studio with production gallery and green screen facility gives you the opportunity to shoot interviews, dramatic reconstructions, panel discussions, special effects and rostrum work. For location production, students can use a wide range of DV, HDV, DVC-PRO HD and XD-CAM camera kits, along with Kino, Arri, and Dedo lighting kits and sound recording equipment. Professional track & dolly and steadicam systems can also be used to create fluid camera movements. For post-production, the University has 24 Avid Media Composer seats, using both Apple Macintosh and PC, and is the first academic Avid Authorised Training Partner (AATP) in the UK. (Avid is an industry standard editing system, used by professionals within the film and television industries worldwide). In addition, many computers are equipped with Final Cut Studio, After Effects, Photoshop, Shake and Combustion. The department has large plasma screen TVs and digital projectors for screenings. Beyond this specialist equipment, you will also have access to an extensive range of facilities including an excellent library, open-access computer suits and optional workshops in other areas within the art school. Student experiences & Employment opportunities A graduate from the BA (Hons) Documentary Video degree programme will be ideally suited for employment as an independent documentary filmmaker, editor, camera operator, sound recordist or other production professional in the film and television industries. " I found the course to be an excellent vehicle to gain professional video and filmmaking skills through lectures teaching us invaluable knowledge and guidance from their professional backgrounds. I now feel confident to apply for jobs in the video, TV and film industry and I actually have key skills I can offer a prospective employer." "Since my degree course, I have gone on to become a cameraman. I have won an award at the New York Documentary Film Festival for a documentary I shot and edited on British prisons. Since then, I have gone on to shoot worldwide in a variety of locations, from the Arctic to the jungle to the Sahara, and USA and South America. I have filmed all three series of Jack Osbourne Adrenaline Junkie and have also filmed Bring Back Dallas and Bring Back Star Wars, with Justin Lee Collins" UCAS Codes, Entry requirements, How to apply, Open days & Fees UCAS Code: W600 Study Options: 3years Full Time/6 years Part-Time Information on Entry Requirements, How to Apply and Open Days can be found on our main Faculty Page Information on Fees can be found here Contact
|