BA FILM AND VISUAL CULTURE

The BA Film and Visual Culture is an innovative degree programme, which combines the academic study of film and other visual media with the creative production of individual pieces of work in specialised areas. By combining theory and practice, students are encouraged to enhance their understanding of cinema as a medium through the creation of practical work. The programme has been conceived with an emphasis upon vocational skills and employability; over the course of their studies, students will assemble a portfolio of work to enable them to compete for employment in their chosen field of the film industry. Emphasis has been given to entrepreneurial skills, and to the skills required to publish and exhibit work to audiences beyond the university.

Students will be invited to engage with a broad range of contemporary media (such as film, television, graphic novels and comics, internet and mobile publishing, interactive media and gaming), and to focus their major projects upon the areas of their choice. Over the course of the programme, students will be able to combine the theoretical and academic analysis of film and visual media, with practical and creative approaches. Students will have the opportunity to engage in all stages of filmmaking, from conception, through pre-production and production, and on to publication and/or exhibition. Over the course of these processes, students will gain an insight into those areas that they would wish to specialise in. By their final year, students will be able to opt for a major creative project in a production area of their choice; this could take the form of screenwriting, filmmaking, animation or game design, to name some of the options open to students.

This degree offers students the opportunity to gain insight into working in the industries related to filmmaking, and to gain the skills needed to work as entrepreneurs or as freelancers in this field.  There will be extensive academic study of visual media, and this theoretical work will be directly linked to practical and business applications throughout the programme. Practitioners from industry and local entrepreneurs with film businesses will be regular contributors to modules across the programme.  Students will be given the skills to express themselves professionally through their academic and practical work, and to develop confident, independent and creative approaches to projects.

Teaching is delivered via seminars, along with workshops and demonstrations. As they grow in confidence, students will work more independently culminating in a major creative project in their final year where they can fully express their understanding and skills.

The programmes proposed aims to specifically meet the following strategic priorities as set out in the universitys strategic plan:

	Achieving excellence in learning and teaching

	To provide distinctive, relevant research, learning, and employment led opportunities that are based upon academic excellence

The programme builds on existing staff expertise within the field of film and new media studies. The modules offered are not limited to traditional academic approaches but are designed to include a range of contemporary forms and genres, giving it a unique edge within the field.  Over the course of delivery practitioners from industry will be invited to contribute to learning and teaching.

	Developing the Knowledge Economy

To be recognised as a regional university that offers a distinctive range of professional skills that enhances innovation and promotes the knowledge based economy.

The School has worked with Skillset and industry experts in setting out the priorities for the sector which have been carefully built into the design of the new programme. 

	Promoting regionalism and institutional sustainability

To establish a regional Higher Education confederation in South West Wales that delivers a sustainable future for the provision of higher education through Trinity Saint David.

The School aims to meet the needs of the region through working closely with industry and partnership FEIs. 


BA NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION

The BA New Media Production is a multidisciplinary programme that equips students with specialist skills and knowledge in content creation for the contemporary media industry. 

Students will explore a variety of creative production methodologies such as mobile publishing; online filmmaking; blogging; animation; and interactive media as well as the underlying web technologies that define new media. With an emphasis on interactive narratives, the programme puts the user at the centre of the action. It is this interactivity and 360-degree vision that makes New Media Production so distinctive and compelling.

A hands-on programme, there is also a core theoretical strand, ranging from media theory, academic skills and contemporary issues, to research methodology and issues in the creative industries. There is an emphasis on employability skills, with specific opportunities for work placement and business development planning.

Teaching is delivered in hands-on workshops, lectures and seminars, where students are encouraged to develop their analytical, conceptual and practical thinking. Ideas will be developed through pitches, workshops and presentations, and expressed in the production work and written critical appraisals. As students progress through the programme they will produce increasingly complex work culminating in a final year Creative Project that will be their calling card when they enter the creative industries, further develop their expertise in postgraduate programmes or start their own business.

The programme proposed aims to specifically meet the following strategic priorities as set out in the universitys strategic plan: 

	Achieving excellence in learning and teaching;

	To provide distinctive, relevant research, learning, and employment led opportunities that are based upon academic excellence

The programme builds on existing staff expertise within the fields of film, screenwriting and new media. The course will encourage students to adopt a range of contemporary approaches to the practice of new media design and development  in a range of vocational contexts. Over the course of delivery practitioners from industry will be invited to contribute to learning and teaching.

	Developing the Knowledge Economy

To be recognised as a regional university that offers a distinctive range of professional skills that enhances innovation and promotes the knowledge based economy.

Local and regional provision was critically analysed and the proposed course does not directly replicate any other provision within the region. The course provides an opportunity for students to study new and emerging elements of new media. Other courses within the region provide pathways in well established areas of media production. This course aims to develop new media applications within a rapidly changing environment. This course is proactive rather than reactive in responding to developments in media production.

The programme meets a gap within the marketplace identified by the Sector Skills Council Skillset and aims to gain Skillset accreditation. The School has worked with Skillset and industry experts in setting out the priorities for the sector which have been carefully built into the design of the new programme. 

	Promoting regionalism and institutional sustainability

To establish a regional Higher Education confederation in South West Wales that delivers a sustainable future for the provision of higher education through the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

The School aims to meet the needs of the region through working closely with industry and partnership FEIs.
