ABOUT THE COURSE
With a wide range of high-end film equipment, a passionate teaching team and a reputation for producing well-rounded graduates, film production at Solent University will help prepare you for life as a film production professional.
Solent University’s Media and Film Studies subject area was ranked 15th in the Guardian University League Tables 2019.
The making of a film is a very complex art form requiring a variety of skills and expertise including creativity, passion, commitment, technical expertise, team working, vision, and research skills. This degree gives you the opportunities to develop these specialist skills through a creative, practical yet academic curriculum built on real-world film production practices.
You will be supported to develop a range of filmmaking knowledge across key roles including writing, directing, cinematography, sound, editing and producing, whilst also having the chance to specialise in some of the key creative roles involved in the making of films. You will also have the opportunity to produce many short films and a final year graduation film, all designed to put your knowledge into practice.
Your core knowledge will also be complemented by units in Film Marketing and Fundraising, which will help you to learn how to raise money for your films and distribute them to festivals and beyond.
Solent's media academy is a hub for creative students, with three green screen TV studios, a large visual recording studio with capacity for 200 seated audience members and a range of radio and music production facilities. Our large edit suites feature Mac Pro computers and the full Adobe Creative Suite for editing, colour grading and special effects.
This degree will equip you with the core skills and knowledge to be a better filmmaker, to understand cinema critically and creatively, and to be challenged and grow as an individual.
YOUR FUTURE
Involvement in live briefs, industry research, different types of writing and presentation experience, as well as bespoke career advice, will enable you to feel fully confident to enter a wide variety of professions within the creative industries upon graduation.
Suitable roles for graduates include:
Cinematography department:
- Cinematographer
- 1st AC
- Clapper Loader
Sound department:
- Boom operator
- Sound recordist
Editing department:
- Picture editor
- Assistant picture editor
- Post-production runner
Post-sound department:
- Sound designer
- Mixer
- Sound editor
- Foley artist
Production roles:
- Production manager
- 1st / 2nd / 3rd AD
- Production assistant
- Runner
- Producer, assistant producer
- Director
- Runner/PA
- DIT
INDUSTRY LINKS
The course team has close ties to City Eye and Southampton Film Week, and you’ll have access to a varied programme of masterclasses and high-profile guest speakers.
Previous speakers have included: Maisie Williams Game of Thrones; Paul Smith, executive producer of Slumdog Millionaire; Tom Rolf, editor on Taxi Driver and Heat; Frances Parker, editor on Game of Thrones; Sir Alan Parker, director; David Gamble, editor on Shakespeare in Love; Michael Apted, director of Prince Caspian and Gorillas in the Mist; Brian Tufano, cinematographer on Shallow Grave and Trainspotting; Paul Franklin, visual effects on The Dark Knight and Inception.
PLACEMENTS
The course offers many opportunities for work experience to hone your practical skills in a professional setting. Recent examples include working with CityEye to assist in the organisation and management of the annual Southampton Film Week, filming at Glastonbury and other summer music festivals, creating promotional videos for local charities, and paid placements at Diegesis magazine.
Critical reflections on professional development and work experience opportunities are credited as part of the assessment for the third year unit Professional Practice Portfolio.
Guidance and advice in finding suitable work experience is provided on this unit, as well as in termly course meetings and individual progress tutorials from the first year onwards. Support is also available from the University’s careers service, Solent Futures.
Students also have the opportunity to gain work experience through Solent Creatives and Solent Productions, the university’s in-house creative agency and production company, which help source work experience opportunities (paid and unpaid).
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