Please download the Course Specification below for a complete overview of BA Film and Screen Business modules.
Tell a Story: Screen Sense
You will explore the history of the creative screen industry, including looking at the different perspectives on storytelling that exist. As part of this module, you will learn how to structure and format a script, and to develop ideas for the screen.
Tell a Story: Craft Skills
This module will give you a basic overview of the tools, crafts, techniques, and skills that are needed for screen grammar and different screen formats. You will explore the use of digital video equipment with your storytelling, as well as the impact of directing, camera, sound, editing choices on the final product. As part of this module, you will begin to consider the role and operation of key departments on set.
Tell a Story: Production
During this module, you will incorporate your learning from the previous modules to make your own production. As part of this, you will find an audience, consider how your choice impacts the filmmaking and storytelling decisions you need to make, and tell them a story.
BA Film and Screen Business students take the Tell a Story modules alongside students on BA Content, Media and Film Production to encourage collaboration and networking across the programmes.
Change Hearts: Screen Industry
This module will begin by considering the history and current business practices of the screen industry. As part of this, you will explore the use of audience studies, research, and project management skills, as well as recognising the importance of budgeting, scheduling, and financial planning. This learning will be combined with an exploration of dramatic storytelling principles.
Introductory Business Skills
In this module, you will get to know the different business functions in the screen industry, such as the roles required of production managers and business managers. You will come to understand employment, team management, marketing, and sales practices, as well as financial management practices and funding models. Other areas of the business of the screen industry include uses of business planning and project management techniques, market research, segmentation, and analysis.
Change Hearts: Entrepreneur
During this module, you will incorporate your learning from this semester to create a business proposal, or produce a production which uses the emotional power of storytelling to change an opinion, attitude, or behaviour.
Change Minds: Screen Industry
You will learn about the history, business practice, content, and technology commonly used in the screen industry. This includes audience aggregation and targeting, and verbal or digital promotion methods. You will explore how different types of research can be used and applied to the industry, as well as the visibility of commercial ideas and concepts that portray brands and express an identity.
Business Management
Learn about intellectual property and copyright. You will learn about legal and ethical requirements, codes of practice and documentation, producing budgets, and other financial resourcing projections. As part of this, you will explore how to create and manage marketing and sales plans, and how you can create copy to market and support productions.
Change Minds: Entrepreneur
In this module you will deploy project management, financial, marketing and technical skills by researching and creating a business plan or producing a piece of advertising or branded content designed to alter consumer opinion and behaviour.
Entertain Me: Screen Industry
You will look at the evolution of industries and audience relationships, including how these go together with key storytelling conventions and dramatic principles. You will also look at commissioning, funding, project management and distribution across platforms and territories, and secondly, the resolution of problems through the use of resources and outside research, including a variety of methods.
Production and Project Management
During this module, you will work on planning, selecting, and procuring both resources and people. This includes organising, supporting and managing teams, including communication and quality of work, as well as the planning and managing of production operations, schedules, and expenditures.
Entertain Me: Entrepreneur
In this module, you will incorporate your learning from this semester and use different methods of research, business, and project management skills and industry awareness in the production of a short film, TV pilot or feature film excerpt or trailer or the building of a comprehensive pitch deck and business plan for a film or television series.
Becoming Influential: Screen Industry
Delve into the creative forces, democratic business practices, and economic drivers of the screen industry through the example of cross-platform story production and delivery. This will include an exploration of a sustainable vehicle for audience connectivity, loyalty, and brand communication, allowing for further discussion around new business opportunities of evolving production and distribution technologies.
Strategic Business Thinking
In this module, you will consider entrepreneurial and strategic management principles in the screen industry, including growth policies and change, sustainable business models and ethical research, audience development and sustainability, and securing finance. As part of this, you will begin to explore the impact of business and production activities on both society and the environment.
Become Influential: Entrepreneur
In this module, you will use strategic management principles, business techniques, entrepreneurial skills and organisational and management skills in relation to the production of and/or planning and distribution of a new or innovative digital project for TV or online platform which could build an audience or achieve long-term viability.
Be an Entrepreneur: Screen Industry
Begin to explore your own autonomy, independent thinking, and entrepreneurism through the design and development of a concept-driven project, business plan, or venture. This will include reliance on previous learning such as advanced communication, independent and collaborative working, and a high-level knowledge of audience engagement and research skills (both qualitative and quantitative).
Be Entrepreneurial: Project
Integrate a wide range of key business, strategic management, communication, leadership, team-work and production skills to research plan/schedule, finance, produce and/or distribute a graduation project using original research.
This project aims to successfully meets creative and strategic objectives, maximise (potential) audience engagement, responds to opportunities and meets the requirements of intended screen platforms, evaluate achievement of creative intentions, team objectives, professional practice standards, and preparation for employment.
We include a diverse range of teaching methods which include:
- Productions
- Seminar-style Group Teaching
- Tutorials
- Practical Group Work
- Formative Feedback through Critiques, Pitches, Screenings, and Reflective Sessions
- Work-integrated Learning
- Authentic Assessment
We use a wide range of assessment which include portfolios, performances, research, presentations, and reflective work. Please download the Course Specification below for more information.
