Home Courses Stage and Screen BA (Hons) Screen Acting and Film Production
students acting with fake swords

Train in acting for the screen and learn the art of contemporary filmmaking

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W600
3 years Full Time
Bognor Regis Campus

Top 40

UK University

The Guardian University Guide 2024

Gold

rated university in the Teaching Excellence Framework

TEF 2023

7th

best university in the South East

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

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Overview

Develop your screen acting skills as you learn contemporary film production practices

Our BA (Hons) Screen Acting and Film Production course allows you to build an exceptional understanding of film production practices and industry technologies as you develop your screen acting skills.

Develop the skills you need to thrive as a screen actor

You will undertake traditional acting training and study a range of techniques including Stanislavski, Adler, Meisner, and Strasberg, as you explore topics including classical and contemporary performance texts, acting methods, physicality, character psychology, and improvisation.

Expand your acting skillset

In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore the history, theory, and cultural relevance of screen-based content, and investigate a range of topics with optional modules.

Study areas include:

  • Motion capture
  • Horse riding
  • Action driving
  • Climbing
  • Weaponry and combat acting
  • Screenwriting
  • Audition practice
  • Audio acting, voice over, and ADR

Gain an in-depth insight into the world of film production

You will develop contemporary tradecraft skills offered by the advances in digital technologies, as you deepen your specialist theoretical knowledge and skills in areas that are vital to successful digital filmmaking.

Explore topics including:

  • Digital equipment operation
  • Directing
  • Cinematography
  • Production management
  • Freelancing and resilience
  • The inner workings of the film industry

Perform throughout your studies

You will have exclusive access to a wide range of additional acting and performing opportunities within the department, with numerous drama, performance and voice related projects completed every year by fellow students, staff, and professional associates.

Learn from award-winning and experienced staff

You will feel the support of our team of highly-qualified professional practitioners and industry figures, including award winning directors, producers, actors, writers, editors, and composers from the fields of film, TV, and games.

Join our collaborative community

You will collaborate with dedicated crafts people and makers from across the industry to gain real world experience and work with aspiring filmmakers, writers, and animators from across the Department of Creative Industries.

Feel prepared for your career

You will develop the creative and employability skills you need to thrive needed in your acting career after you graduate with the help of industry focused modules that explore the role of agents, auditions, and freelancing.

The department runs regular field trips to international film festivals, professional film shoots and industry conventions, and you will be able to develop an early career profile on IMDB (Internet Movie Database) by working with professional associates and on staff projects.

On this course you will:

  • Gain a comprehensive screen acting training, with options to expand your skillset as a performer.
  • Explore a wide range of digital film production practices, techniques, and technologies.
  • Learn from award-winning and experienced staff from across the creative industries.
  • Develop your employability and networking skills ahead of your career.
  • Have opportunities to perform throughout your studies.
  • Become part of a collaborative community and work with students from other courses.

Partnerships

As a part of the Department of Creative Industries you will benefit from our industry partnerships with companies including HyperX, DXRacer, Twitch, ARRI, and AVID, and be able to access to industry standard software such as Nuke, Maya and Houdini.

The Course

Learn the craft of screen acting and digital filmmaking practices

Year One

In your first year, you will begin to develop your key acting skills around movement, voice, and speech, as well as study the wider history and context of the discipline.

In addition, you will explore the fundamentals of digital film operations, screenwriting structures, and project planning.

Year Two

In your second year, you will continue to develop your core acting skills as well as look to develop wider elements of your performance skillset, including specialist focus on action acting, motion capture, and character psychology.

You will also begin to build your degree around your own interests, as you select from optional modules that explore screenwriting, production management, and additional focus on dramatic productions.

Year Three

In your third year, you will work towards your final project, which allows you to work across a range of areas to demonstrate your acquired performance and/or technical knowledge through the production of a creative portfolio.

You will also explore more advanced elements of action performance techniques and develop your employability options with modules in freelancing and building your own online portfolio of creative work.

This list is indicative and subject to change.

Select a year

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 & 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

Optional

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

Optional

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

Optional

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

Optional

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

Optional

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

Optional

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

Optional

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

Optional

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&A’s 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.

Teaching and Assessment

Feel the support of our expert and experienced staff

Teaching

You will be taught by a range of experts in screen acting and digital film production including professional filmmakers and experienced practitioners, with extensive and successful careers in the industry.

You will build your subject knowledge and practical experience through small seminars, lectures, workshops, practical classes and tutorials, which help encourage theoretical and critical debate and develop your practical skills.

Smaller class sizes to help your development

Our commitment to smaller class sizes allows you to feel more confident to discuss your ideas in a supportive environment and allows your tutors get to know you and how best to aid your development.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a range of creative and practical assignments including:

  • Short films
  • Audio tracks and podcasts
  • Video essays
  • Creative portfolios
  • Presentations
  • Reflective writing

Experience

Discover industry standard software and equipment

Discover our £35 million Tech Park

Our Bognor Regis Campus boasts the £35m Tech Park and brings together science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics courses on one state-of-the-art site.

  • 300sqm film studio
  • 80 square-metre green screen stage for motion capture and Chroma work
  • Motion capture equipment
  • Professional standard post-production facilities and recording studios
  • Idea Labs
  • Animation Labs

Study Abroad

Explore the opportunity to study part of your course abroad

As a student at the University of Chichester, you can explore opportunities to study abroad during your studies as you enrich and broaden your educational experiences.

Students who have undertaken this in the past have found it to be an amazing experience to broaden their horizons, a great opportunity to meet new people, undertake further travelling and to immerse themselves within a new culture.

You will be fully supported throughout the process to help find the right destination institution for you and your course. We can take you through everything that you will need to consider, from visas to financial support, to help ensure that you can get the best out of your time studying abroad.

Careers

Prepare for a wide range of careers

This BA (Hons) Screen Acting and Film Production degree will prepare you for a range of careers, as you graduate ready to have an impact on the workplace.

This course could lead to a career in: 

  • Television and Film
  • Games
  • Animation
  • Radio
  • Advertising
  • Screenwriting
  • Producing
  • Directing
  • Teaching

Further Study

You could choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level.

Study options at the University of Chichester include:

  • MA Screen Acting
  • MA Composition for Film
  • MA Composition for Film, TV and Games
  • PGCE
  • PhD/MPhil

University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.

Course Costs

Course Fees 2024/25

UK fee
£9,250
International fee
£15,840

For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fee page.

For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.

To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.

Entry Requirements

Typical offers (individual offers may vary):

UCAS
104-112
tariff points from A levels or combination with AS / EPQ / BTEC/ Cambridge Technical.
A Levels
BBC-BCC
BTEC
DMM-MMM
Access to HE Diploma
Pass
IB
28 points
IELTS
6.0
with no element lower than 5.5.

Auditions

You will need to demonstrate your ability in acting in a performance audition. If you are applying for a Music or Musical Theatre joint course you will also need to demonstrate your ability in dance and/or singing.

Interviews and Auditions

Auditions and interviews usually run from January until March/April.

We aim to offer you a genuine dialogue during your application process. This gives you a sense of worth and achievement from the audition process itself; a sense of ownership for you during the process and, ultimately, is an opportunity for us to get a clear understanding of who you are, what you need, and how we can best prepare you for your degree.

We judge you on your skills, your potential, and your personality, not your background.

 

Booking Your Audition

If you are invited to audition you will receive an email asking you to book your audition date on ChiView. If you are unsuccessful we will email you to let you know.

You can usually choose between multiple days on ChiView at one time. If none of the current dates suit you please contact admissions@chi.ac.uk.

Once you have booked your audition, you will be able to access the audition guidance document on ChiView – just log into the ChiView portal, click on ‘Events schedule’ and then ‘View details’ to access the document, which will tell you how to prepare for your audition, what to expect on the day, etc.

If your situation changes and you can no longer attend your audition date, you should cancel your booking in ChiView by visiting your ‘Event Schedule’ and clicking ‘Cancel Attendance’. You also need to inform the admissions team by emailing admissions@chi.ac.uk, so we can send you a new audition invitation.

Using ChiView 

Sometimes if you are viewing your ChiView portal on a phone you will not be able to see the page correctly. If this happens you should try again on another device.

You may need to clear your browser history. 

If you are still unable to see the ‘View details’ button, please check that you have successfully booked your audition by clicking ‘respond to interview invitation’.

If all else fails please email admissions@chi.ac.uk with your query and applicant number.

Your Audition Day

Once you have booked your audition, please log into the ChiView portal, click on ‘Events schedule’ and then ‘View details’ to access the audition guidance document, which will tell you (amongst other things) what will happen at the audition itself, a basic itinerary of the whole day, parking information, etc.

In brief, there should be an introductory talk by the department, the chance to meet lecturers and other applicants, as well as your opportunity to perform for the audition panel.

After Your Audition

After your audition, the panel will discuss your performance and pass our decision onto the admissions team, who will update UCAS and email you with the outcome, whatever it might be.

  • We make bespoke offers: Your offer is specifically for you. If we offer less than your predicted grades, this will reflect the potential and quality of your audition and we’d like to take a bit of pressure off of you heading into your exams.
  • We don’t do unconditional offers: Unless you already have your grades (you are a mature student), we will always insist on certain grade achievements because we want you to succeed in all aspects of your academic life including your A levels, BTEC, etc.
  • If you do not get the grades you wanted: Don’t panic. You received an offer because you were good enough for the department at audition. On Results Day, just ring us on the clearing hotline, so we can discuss things with you.
  • We may offer you a different course: We may offer you a place on an alternative, relevant course within the department, rather than offer you the course you applied for. If this is the case, we will state this in your offer letter/email and update your course on UCAS. We will explain our reasoning, which will revolve around placing you on the most appropriate course where we think you will thrive.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply?

Click the ‘Apply now’ button to go to relevant UCAS page.

What are UCAS tariff points?

Many qualifications have a UCAS Tariff value. The score depends on the qualification, and the grade you achieved.

How do I know what my UCAS tariff points are?

Head to the UCAS Tariff Points web page where you can find a tariff points calculator that can tell you how much your qualification and grades are worth.

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