Module Aim: 

This module establishes the fundamentals you will need to understand and analyse films throughout your degree. You will explore notions of film form, narrative and cinematic technique, including cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing, sound, and post-production.  

Indicative content: 

• Understanding film codes, e.g. mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, sound, music, performance, special and visual effects

• Analysing of short and feature film narratives

• Writing film commentary and analysis

• Exploring A/V editing and voice over practices

• Attending lectures, screenings, seminars and IT workshops

Module Aim:  

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of a broad range of key international film movements. You will develop your research, writing and communication skills, and apply your learning by delivering a session to a school audience.  

 Indicative Content:  

• Key film movements (e.g. Expressionism, Realism, Surrealism, New Waves, New Cinemas) 

• Research skills (methods, sources, theories, tools) 

• Essay writing skills (referencing)  

• Presentation skills (use of PowerPoint) 

• Applied Project (with a live brief) 

• Professional Development and reflection on learning 

This module prepares you for the global study of cinema throughout the course, and introduces you to the idea that your film knowledge can be applied in an employment setting.  

Module Aim:  

On this module, you will explore and decode the formal ‘poetics’ of film from a range of key perspectives, such as the construction, appreciation, and interpretation of cinematic realism, space, world-making, and affect.  

Indicative Content:  

• Study of a range of classic and contemporary films  

• Analysis of cinematography, sound, editing, and mise-en-scene 

• Consideration of genre, style and technique 

• Exploration of historical contexts and developments 

• Interrogation of theoretical concepts, debates, and issues 

This module will further develop your confidence in research, critical thinking, writing and communication, which will help prepare you for the next levels of study.    

Module Aim:  

This module provides you with an introduction to some key critical frameworks for thinking more deeply about film. You will develop practical skills in debating and argumentation and will use your developing knowledge to critically reframe a programme of films to appeal to contemporary and diverse audiences.   

Indicative content:  

• Frameworks for historical, critical, and theoretical understandings in film studies  

• Critical thinking and reading skills 

• Research and writing skills 

• IT workshops in InDesign 

• Introduction to film programming and audience engagement 

This module will work alongside the Approaches to Film Analysis module to develop foundational knowledge and skills, which will be developed and utilised throughout the rest of the course. 

Module Aim:  

You will develop your writing and digital skills by working collaboratively with your peers to create an online film publication. This module will further enhance your film knowledge, writing skills, audience engagement, expertise, and employability.   

Indicative Content:  

• Enterprise Residency Project 

• InDesign 

• Excel 

• Critical film reviewing 

• Film journalism and reporting 

• Blogging, podcasts and other forms of writing specific to the online world 

• Film marketing and promotional materials 

On this module, you will develop your critical engagement with film and social justice to become responsive global citizens. You will explore key social concerns, their position and voice within the film industry, as well as broader interdisciplinary and global contexts. Through your assessment project, you will be encouraged to create real world change, instigate debate and raise awareness of contemporary global issues.  

Indicative Content:

• Knowledge of human rights-based topics 

• Study a range of perspectives to develop curiosity, personal voice, and argument 

• Global issues such as human rights, displacement, migration, racism, climate justice, etc  

• Ethical approaches and practices, including accountability and equality, diversity and inclusion

Module Aim:  

In this module, you will examine how stories are told on screen across a variety of different media, with particular emphasis on film and television. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of narrative theory and genre theory, as well as a variety of storytelling practices and genres. The module will focus on storytelling from the perspectives of industry, creative practitioners, audience and scholarship. 

Indicative content:  

• Key narrative concepts, e.g. acts, story, plot, narration, focalisation, narrative time 

• Cross-media adaptation 

• serial storytelling, TV series, serials, mini–series 

• Multi-media franchises 

•  Myth and genre 

•  ‘Cult’ status and fan followings 

• Role of writers and directors 

• Texts and contexts 

Module Aim:  

This module introduces you to a diverse range of films from around the world. You will discuss films as cultural products of particular locations and contexts, and engage with the notions of national, transnational and diasporic cinemas.  

Indicative content:  

• Close examination of a national cinema and discussion of how a certain national cinema brand (or discourse) is formed. 

• Exploration of different notions and forms of transnational cinema  

• Group presentations 

• Embedded digital skills 

This module develops your knowledge from the L4 Film Movements and Audiences module, and prepares you for L6 Film Programming, Film Research Project, and Specialising in Film modules. 

Module Aim:  

This module combines a specialist area of Film Studies with an exploration of how the same topic is disseminated in professional contexts. You will have the opportunity to develop your expertise by producing work that is aimed at the Film Studies higher-education community and another for wider educational or cultural dissemination. The module will feature case studies, appropriate to final-year degree level. 

Indicative Content: 

• Specialist case studies in film studies 

• Critical analysis of educational syllabi and publishing guidelines 

• Devising study materials 

• Preparing and delivering lessons  

• Editing work 

Module Aim:  

This module will develop your advanced knowledge and understanding of film programming in the context of film exhibition and distribution. You will develop your research, communication and professional practice skills as you undertake a project brief for an employer. 

Indicative content:  

• knowledge of film programming as a form of industry, artistic, and cultural practice 

• exploration of film programming practices eg, film festivals; independent and arthouse venues; specialist retrospectives; feminist curation; documentary; archives and decolonisation; alternate realities; volunteer-led cinema   

• frameworks for thinking about film and film programming    

• experience of film marketing, audience development and community outreach 

This module develops on skills from L4 Thinking About Movies; Film Movements and Audiences; and L5 Film Journalism   

Module Aim:  

You will undertake an advanced investigation of a particular topic in film, which aligns to your developing interests and specialisms. You will be supported to develop your independent learning, and to develop and practise the research, writing and presentation skills necessary for research at this level. 

Indicative Content:  

• Research and present (written or video essay) a research project on a specialist subject in film

• Develop and extend your work from Moving Image Reseach Project 

• Build on material taught throughout the course by investigating a topic of your choice   

 This module will be taught through introductory lectures, group workshops and self-directed study under the guidance of a nominated supervisor

Module Aim: 

This module will provide you with advanced level research skills and training and support you to choose and develop a substantial piece of enquiry-based independent research, through which you will develop your critical and analytical skills. 

Indicative Content: 

• Conceptualising research questions 

• Research methods  

• Literature reviews 

• Planning and structuring a research project 

• Developing a proposal 

• Advanced academic writing 

• Referencing and bibliographies 

• Research ethics 

This module will be taught through introductory lectures, group workshops and self-directed study under the guidance of a nominated supervisor.