What Makes This Course So Special?
Studying Film and Video at Newport provides you with the confidence to be radical and experimental when expressing your ideas in film. You will learn the creative skills of scriptwriting, use of camera, lighting, sound, and editing, and about the social implications of film through making practical work that is sensitive to the world around you. The emphasis on the educational and vocational importance of group work, and creative skills, are seen as vehicles for the development and expression of ideas. The course offers a strong element of film history, theory and research skills.
Studying here you will learn about art and technique. We stretch your imagination and offer you a choice of crafts. The discipline of film underlies everything we do preparing you for creative work beyond University, in film and TV drama, directing, writing, producing, cinematography, sound and postproduction.
This course has been accredited by the UK Film Council and Skillset as a centre of excellence for drama production in the UK – one of only two courses to receive such an accolade. Film and Video also benefits from Newport’s partnership in Skillset Media Academy Wales, a partnership of film and media schools in Wales, offering an exceptionally high standard of education that is endorsed by industry and approved by Skillset. Our course is designed to prepare you for a job in the creative media industry. The benefits of studying with the Media Academy include:
• Support from the unique Industry Panel
• Masterclasses with industry professionals
• Access to an exclusive online network
• Placements and careers support
• Access to industry-standard equipment and software
• Networking and collaborative opportunities
Our students also benefit from our full membership of CILECT, an international association of the best film and television schools from around the world, leading to joint projects and exchanges with other film schools. Newport is the only film school in Wales with this accreditation.
In short - this course equips you with the ideas, experience and technical skills necessary to succeed in one of the most competitive and dynamic creative industries. If you come here, expect three years of hard work – but also three years of fun, learning, storytelling and adventure.
Find out more about the subject of Film & Screen Media at Newport.
Course Intro
Storytelling and drama for the digital age – If you want to tell stories, write scripts, plan productions, work with actors, go on film shoots and work on post-production, then this is the course for you! Film & Video is a practice-based film production course that will give you all the technical, theoretical and production skills you need, while ensuring you gain all the experience and abilities needed to succeed in the workplace.
Newport Film School was founded in 1966 by the world famous documentary filmmaker John Grierson (Drifters, Nightmail). Grierson’s philosophy that story and ideas are the keys to filmmaking is a mantra that still underpins everything we do at Newport. The Film School is placed within the vibrant School of Film, Photography and Digital Media – this means that the film students have a complete ‘filmmaker’s toolbox’ at their disposal – designers, photographers, actors, animators, costume makers and multimedia students are all on hand to contribute to the films.
What you study
We start by putting the vital building blocks in place. You are introduced, through filmmaking assignments, to the wonderful world of film language, storytelling and working with actors. Practical workshops in digital editing, camera and sound, complement the projects. This is underpinned and supported by a stimulating desire to watch, read and write about film culture and history.
In the second year you have the opportunity to specialise in two disciplines including producing, direction, screenwriting, cinematography, sound or postproduction. Acquiring advanced specialist skills in your chosen area (including the use of 16mm film and HD) means you can tackle the film projects we set, as well as take advantage of the many unassessed extra curricular projects that are run in the film school.
The final year is regarded as a professional and advanced production year, in which you develop with your fellow filmmakers an ‘idea’ that you turn into a final film. By now we should have provided you with the confidence to be radical and experimental when expressing your ideas in film. We will expect you to demonstrate your creative skills in your chosen field; scriptwriting and producing, directing, camera, lighting, sound or editing, while considering the social implications of film both through the making of the practical work and an accompanying piece of well-researched writing that is sensitive to the world around you. As with the entire course we will support you with an advanced seminar and workshop programme, with masterclasses and mentoring.
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
Our graduates move on to successful careers in film directing, production, camerawork, soundwork, editing, script writing, and include: Kirk Jones (Nanny McPhee/Everybody’s Fine with Robert De Niro), Phil Clayton (Lesbian Vampire Killers), Asif Kapadia (Senna/The Warrior/The Return) and Justin Kerrigan (Human Traffic/I Know You Know). The course has close associations with the vibrant TV and Film industry in Wales (Dr Who, Torchwood, Being Human, Casualty, Crimewatch, as well as major TV serials). You may go on to postgraduate including the MA/MFA Film course at Newport.
Interview Required
Interviews are friendly and informal and all applicants are interviewed. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your passion for the subject area, discuss your creative portfolio along with a completed interview task.
Assessment
Along with our assessed projects, films, proposals, presentations and research we allow you to further develop by providing unassessed projects for you to be involved with. This means you can continue to learn (and make mistakes) without worrying about ‘grades’ all the time.
Student Soundbite
“Film and Video has allowed me to network with other film students, people I know I will continue to work with in the industry. It has also led to some fantastic real-world experience in the field.”
