Film Producing at Aberystwyth University

The producer’s role is a business-orientated one and the MA in Film Producing, at Aberystwyth University, focuses on exactly that: the business of film producing.

You will learn how the role requires the development of an integrated portfolio of skills that facilitates engagement with all aspects of the film making process. It is this accumulation of varied and various skills that equips the producer to function effectively and responsibly as the ultimate decision-maker. By the end of this course, you will understand the structure of a script, how that script lives and breathes and more importantly how it can be costed and scheduled.

The majority of modules will be taught by academic staff from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies. The single business-related module, in Financial Analysis and Decision Making, will be taught by academic staff from the Aberystwyth Business School.

Overview

• Enjoy a stimulating Masters course that will help you understand all of the aspects of film producing so that you can make key, informed decisions with regard to value and cost that are fundamental to any film’s financial success; 

• Learn from leading industry experts • We will invite industry professionals to host masterclasses in the department, providing you with exceptional networking opportunities that no other University in the UK can match; 

• This course will prepare you for a career in the film industry, particularly in film producing; 

• We have constructed a viewing, dubbing and grading theatre which will allow you to produce, complete and screen your film production project in a professional environment, ensuring that you can achieve the best result; 

• Our department has superb facilities and resources for practical work in film and television: o 3 camera High Definition television studio and gallery with chroma key and auto-cue capability; o 33 editing systems with Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro software; o 50 industry standard HD cameras – P2 and AVCHD formats; DSLR and GoPro cameras available; o 3 rehearsal studios, each with flexible technical facilities; o 2 large professionally-equipped studios with digital lighting rigs controlled via ETC Congo and Strand Lighting consoles, Yamaha and Soundcraft PAs, Sanyo AV systems and Strand lighting and two NXAMP; o Costume and wardrobe facilities. 

• The Sound and Screen archive at the National Library of Wales offers an unrivalled source of material relating to Wales and its people.

• The Aberystwyth Arts Centre is situated on the main campus and is a popular venue where you can enjoy performances and screenings of all kinds.

Employability

he Masters course is supported by an industry panel of people who have extensive experience in their respective fields. They will oversee aspects of the course that require their specialisms, including film production.

The panel consists of:

• Julie Baines: Producer;
• Simon Moseley: Line Producer;
• Colin Nicolson: Production Sound Recordist;
• Suzanna Wyatt: Production Accountant and Former Head of Production at Pathé;
• Simon West: Director;
• John Stephenson: Director;
• Sheila Fraser Milne: Completion Guarantor;
• Patrick Fischer: Creativity Media;
• Hannah Leader: Media Lawyer/Producer
• Allison Small: CEO, the Production Guild of the UK.

What employability options are available to you?

From studying this course you could pursue a career in:

• Producing;
• Directing;
• Assistant Directing;
• Post-Production;