BA (Hons) Screen Acting and Film Production

Developing the Art of Acting

This module builds on the “Introduction to the Art of Acting” module and continues to develop your actor movement, voice, and speech.

You will explore character study and acting methods and develop more in-depth scene work and camera work as you gain a sense of company through rehearsal.

This will act as preparation for a live studio performance as part of your summative assessment.

Digital Film Operations

This module is designed to provide a foundation ‘toolkit’ of practical skills to aid understanding of current creative media industries.

You will be introduced to a range of technical and procedural skills including audio, video, photography, web and digital design.

These skills will develop your understanding of the processes involved in the manufacture and delivery of audio-visual presentations within the creative industries.

Introduction to the Art of Acting

This module will focus on developing a sense of ‘company’.

You will take part in

• Movement work
• Vocal work
• Concentration and trust games

To develop an open and creative work environment.

This will allow you to engage with specific acting methods and a range of classical and contemporary play text and introduce some simple devising methods and practice. You will be introduced to working with cameras and the basic acting techniques needed for screen acting.

Poetry Film

This module aims to provide you with a wide-ranging knowledge of the different ways in which artists and filmmakers have challenged the narrative and stylistic conventions of mainstream cinema.

The module encompasses pre-production and planning, location filming, post production and exhibition. It aims to develop transferable skills in team work, collaboration and professional practice as students explore creative forms of expression through digital film production.

Screen Acting Introduction: History & Practice

This module serves as foundation training for developing a range of screen acting craft skills and an understanding of key screen acting theories and professional practices.

Screenwriting Structure

This module explores the importance of dramatic structure during the screenwriting process. You will be guided through the multitude of choices when considering how to identify, control and utilise structure during the planning and execution of film narrative.

The Devising Actor

This module embraces the idea of devising character for ‘screen-play story’. You will build on acting methods developed in your first year, embracing deeper research into character psychology, improvisation and creative writing.

Directing for Actors

This module provides you with the opportunity to explore the craft of directing actors.

Focusing on the relationship and communication established between director and actor, you will engage with analysis and practice throughout, as you consider the different styles and approaches used in the forms of cinema and television drama, and apply them to your own work.

Drama Craft

This module builds on the “Script to Screen” module and explores the drama techniques that apply primarily to drama production.

You will investigate topics including teamwork, cinematography, art direction and set construction, directing and sound design.

This module will develop your awareness in audio-visual technology and production health and safety.

Writing the TV Bible

This module introduces you to the process of development when creating a long form TV Drama series.

Throughout the module, you will contribute to the creation of a Drama TV “Bible”, a package of materials that is used to inform writers, producers and directors of a show’s particular production criteria. The module will give you the opportunity to explore the industrial context of such documents and how to generate story ideas for such shows. It aims to develop transferable skills in packaging and selling creative work.

Included in the Bible there will be individual episode outline documents. These will be exclusively developed by individuals within the group and will form a percentage of the overall personal final grade.

Production Management

This module addresses operational areas in filmmaking, as embodied in the role of the production manager.

You will deepen your specialist theoretical knowledge and skills in areas that are vital to successful drama filmmaking through thorough analysis, planning and application.

It introduces you to the knowledge and skills required primarily for the pre-production phase of filmmaking, whilst touching upon filming and post-production.

MoCap Dynamic Performance

This module provides you with both a technical overview and the performance knowledge of a typical film and multimedia motion/performance capture process for actors.

You will have the opportunity to develop a range of professional and procedural skill sets and expectations.

The module draws from a broad range of motion capture performance practice and aims to introduce and develop knowledge of the processes involved in the manufacture of a body motion capture artefact and the physical demands required for authenticity in a virtual environment.

Action Performance 1: Weaponry and Combat

This module will enhance professional practice by providing you with a range of specialist industry training in unarmed combat, sword fighting and firearms.

You will gain an assortment of practical skills and knowledge, essential for pursuing careers as professional action performers, or as actors wishing to deliver safe and convincing onscreen performances.

Short Drama

This module builds on your knowledge from the ‘Drama Craft’ module and explores recent technical developments in the fast-changing landscape of the media and creative industries.

In addition, you will be introduced to advanced filmmaking techniques as you adapt work written by students on the ‘Writing the Short Film’ module, giving you vital experience of working on real scripts.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a journal and a 15-minute group presentation.

Writing the TV Script

This module aims to introduce you to the process of development when creating a long form drama script.

Taking an original idea from concept to final draft, sessions will explore structure, style, theme and character, with attention to format. Emphasis on strong dialogue will be a key element to script development, whilst the difference between story and plot will be explored.

The importance of a ‘pilot’ episode will be recognised and what elements must be included when establishing a show’s selling point. You will also discover key pitching ideas on how to promote their script.

Audition Practice for Actors and Directors

This module introduces you to the essential skills and comprehension required to effectively compete within the entertainment marketplace.

Intensive practical exploration will equip you with all possible audition scenarios, audition techniques, and working under pressure.

You will explore a range of effective audition practices through a range of casting scenarios.

Such audition simulation will include auditioning for industry guest directors and casting directors, practice with single cam, and multi-cam environments, the solo recall preparation, in-the-room interview technique, fast text analysis, practice cold-reading, pressure learning sides in advance, improvisation, group workshops.

Action Performance 02 – Driving, Climbing & Horse Riding

This module builds upon the knowledge gained in Action Performance 01, providing the student with a good understanding of specialist skills in driving, climbing and horse riding. The module will introduce students to advanced training and knowledge, essential for delivering convincing onscreen performances, as they learn how to effectively develop their acting craft skills.

It will develop the student’s understanding of advanced screen action skills from a range of practical and theoretical perspectives. Students will focus on three key areas – working with action horses, climbing and action vehicles. Students will learn in-depth theory, set etiquette and a broad combination of techniques, activities and approaches designed to eliminate fear, stress and advance confidence for credible performance, within these specific areas.

The Audio Actor

This module aims to introduce and familiarise students with the various processes and techniques involved in working as an actor and voice over specialist within this potentially expanding area of the industry. The module deals with voice acting in many of its most prominent and contemporary forms including: character voice acting for animation and video games, dialect work, radio, overdubbing, ADR, and voice over for commercials.

Facial Performance for Motion Capture

In this module you will develop a range of performance, technical and procedural knowledge and an understanding of the core concepts of optical motion capture in the context of the Film, TV and gaming industry. Primarily focused on performance, the module utilises facial capture technologies and covers topics such as head mounted cameras, 3D face scanning.

Preparation for Acting Careers

Engage with a wide range of industry practitioners. You will have the chance to research the invited guests in anticipation for live Q&As about entering the industry or other related careers.

Final Creative Project

This dissertation level project acts as the culmination of your learning, as you build on the practical skills and subject knowledge you have developed throughout the course.

You will work to demonstrate your acquired performance and/or technical knowledge through the production of a creative portfolio that will develop transferable skills and help you identify potential commercial opportunities for creative practitioners.

Crucially, you are expected to work professionally to produce a range of visual and audio performance artefacts with high standards of content, presentation, and development.