FILM PRODUCTION at Canterbury Christ Church University

Film Production is a practice-centred course that will provide you with a mix of technical, production and business skills required for employment in the creative industries. The film industry is a thriving sector of the UK and global economies and demand for craft skills continues to be motivated by content-hungry areas in film, prime-time drama, digital and web-based production.

The course places emphasis on fiction film-making but the skills you will develop are transferable to other film-production contexts. Regular visits from professional practitioners will enrich your studies and offer up­to­the­minute insights into industry practices.

The course is delivered in the School of Media, Art and Design’s specialist facilities and equipment. It uses a range of digital cameras including Canon, Blackmagic, Ursa Mini-pro and Amira cameras. Post-production facilities include Avid Media Composer situated on an Editshare network, and you have access to pro-tools and grading software such as the full Adobe Creative Cloud including After Effects.

Key areas of study include:

• sound
• editing
• cinematography
• directing 

The Powell Building was named after local filmmaker Michael Powell and opened by his widow Thelma Schoonmaker Powell. Thelma is Martin Scorsese’s editor and has returned to offer expert classes and guest lectures to our students when her schedule allows.

Why Film Production?

Film Production is a practice-focused degree (70% practice and 30% theory approx) that helps you to develop your technical, creative and media-management skills to the standard required for employment in the film industry and associated creative professions. The film industry is a thriving sector of the UK and global economy and demand for craft skills in this sector is driven by content hungry areas in prime-time drama, digital and web-based productions.

The programme places particular emphasis on dramatic storytelling, but these skills are transferable to other production contexts. Regular visits from professional practitioners will enrich your studies and offer valuable up ­to­ the­ minute insights into industry practices. Recent visits include the British Film Insitute (BFI), composer Ollie Howell and film producer (alumni) Katie Smith. The course uses the specialist facilities of the School of Media, Art and Design, including industry standard equipment and software.

What will i study?

The programme offers you the intellectual stimulation to expand your horizons and the space to explore your own artistic and creative potential. It provides opportunities to work on a range of film projects and develop specialist film production skills. You will also be encouraged to take up opportunities for work placements across the creative industries. Key employability skills run through the Film Production degree.

Year 1 provides the opportunity to network, build teams, study films and filmmaking and develop the skills necessary to produce short films including screenwriting, editing, directing, producing and cinematography.

In Year 2, you will focus your study towards a specialist area of interest. There is also the opportunity to undertake a short media project abroad.

Your academic work culminates in Year 3 with a substantial film project in which you will have a key production role. The project will extend your skillset and provide evidence of your abilities to include in your show reel.