MA Film and Television Production
How the MA is organised
This established MA offers you the opportunity to learn how to write, produce and direct factual programmes for broadcast and a range of other purposes including education, training, public relations, current affairs, marketing, and for campaigns.
MA Film and Television Production is taught in three trimesters, altogether running from September to September.
The degree teaches, through practice and applied theory, how you can make programmes in ways that have the greatest effects on audiences’ awareness, attitude or behaviour. You will learn how to conduct qualitative research into the audiences and markets for your programmes, and then how to use that research to design and produce programming that will effectively reach, engage and motivate your audiences. The course also develops a full understanding of the economics of the media industries. Where does funding come from, and how can you access it? This element of the course helps you prepare fully-professional pitches for a wide range of commissioners. The MA also teaches the skills of cost management; how to design, monitor and manage your programme budgets so that you maximise the effects of your investment and avoid the risk of overspends. Throughout, you will continually put into practice your new skills as you build them; approximately 75% of your time is spent making the programmes which develop your skills in design, scripting, direction and production. This combination of creative, technical, practical and management competences make this course special. Those are the skills which are highly sought after in the industry, and which make our graduates both employable and/or viable as independent producers. All teaching takes place on Anglia Ruskin’s Cambridge campus. Students’ films in 2011/12 were shot in and around Cambridge, and then in South America, China, Japan, Korea, Spain, France and Cyprus. We are very proud of the rich international ethos of the course. You will be taught and supported by a specialist team of programme makers, all of whom have worked in the production and broadcasting industries, including the BBC, Channel 4 and the independent sector. Some classes take place at Channel 4’s HQ in London, and 4Rights, Channel 4’s commercial arm, will look at your major project work and consider investing development funds in any programme ideas which they judge have potential.
The degree consists of 6 modules: Trimester 1 Audiences and Effects From Research to Screen 1
(30 credits) (30 credits)
Trimester 2 The Business of Production From Research to Screen 2
(30 credits) (30 credits)
Trimester 3 Major Project Dissertation
(30 credits) (30 credits)
Your Modules: brief outlines 1. Audiences and Effects This module introduces you to the principles and practices of audience research, and the ways it is used in the conception and design of programming. It looks at a wide range of expository programming, and uses them to model the ways in which content, narrative style and creative approaches are used to the greatest effect. The focus is on the practical methodologies of research, and also on the sociology of audiences. Its outcome is that producers will know how to research, define and understand their audience so that they can ensure that every element of programme spend is used to the greatest possible effect. 2. From Research to Screen, 1 This module is delivered in parallel to Audiences and Effects. You make programmes, and do so in ways which allow you to analyse and evaluate the ways in which you bring audience research to bear on your productions. A key outcome of this module is that you understand, through the combination of research and practice, exactly what it is a producer needs to know about an audience, and how to address an audience’s conscious and unconscious needs in every element of programme design and spend. You are also introduced to the key technical processes of programme making. 3. The Business of Production This module treats two fundamentally-related aspects of the business activity required for successful production: the macro-economics of the media world and the micro-
economics of managing programme budgets. The former explores the sources of finance available to programme makers, and looks at how producers can safeguard their rights and go on to generate sustainable income streams from their intellectual property. The micro-economics content deals with the setting and management of programme budgets, treating programmes in terms of project management. The module teaches you how to deploy and control programme budgets - not just to avoid overspends, but also to focus resources in ways which guarantee the greatest-possible effects on audiences and on the potential markets for programmes and their spin-off revenue streams. 4. From Research to Screen, 2 This module builds on module 2, but calls for even higher levels of practice. In essence, you will now make longer programmes of enhanced technical and creative standards. Issues of programme ‘quality’ will be further addressed through analysis of your processes and outputs. Much of your filming will be in groups, on locations of your own choice. The module also explores the key issues arising from the management of creative people and teams, and at ways of harnessing, yet controlling, creativity in the context of financially-sensitive project management activity. 5. Major Project You will produce a substantial piece of audio-visual work on a subject of your choice. You will also prepare a fullyprofessional pitch for a programme, series or moving-image product, of which the audio-visual work will be an example. You will identify actual broadcast slots and/or other routes to market for your work, and use your pitch and supporting evidence in order to make viable bid for funds. You will be able to provide a substantive business case in support of your bid. You will be an industry-ready professional, with a credible pitch and professional programme in your armory. 6. Dissertation You will write a 12,000-word dissertation, on a subject to be agreed with your Tutor, based on primary and secondary research, which demonstrates an advanced understanding of an aspect of the media landscape which is most relevant to your career ambitions.
The Core Staff Team Dr David Hoyle MA (Oxford), Ph D Formerly Executive Producer of two BBC TV Departments, a commissioning editor and an independent producer. Shreepali Patel BSc, MSc Economic Media Studies A former BBC Director and Producer, and an awardwinning independent film maker. Robert Klenner MA in Theatrical Arts A former Producer and Director, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation; freelance drama director
Entry Requirements • An Honours degree at second class or above in Film and/ or Television Production, or a related degree, from a UK, EU or recognised overseas university
MA Film and Television Production Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences
Tim Sidell-Rodríguez BA in Communication Media A practising Director of Photography in feature films as well as an academic. This core staff team is supported in the teaching of this course by a wide range of industry specialists.
“THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF DEGREE THE INDUSTRY NEEDS.”
• Graduates of any other discipline with a second-class honours degree or higher from a UK, EU or accredited overseas university who can show, through interview and/or a portfolio of production work, that they could participate fruitfully as parts of production teams, and progress to mastery of the production processes • Two satisfactory references • International students should, in addition, have obtained the following language scores: IELTS 6.5 or higher
Peter Walton, former Executive Producer, BBC Television, Managing Director, EfS Television Production Ltd.
Teaching and Resources Cambridge School of Art is extremely well equipped with film and television production equipment. There are plentiful HD location kits and supporting peripherals – tracks, dollies, a full range of lights and Steadicam, a multi-camera TV studio, a sound stage and many Final Cut editing suites as well as Pro-Tools. Dedicated media technicians assist all students with the use of equipment. All teaching takes place on our Cambridge campus, in our vibrant Cambridge School of Art, with excellent library facilities, easy access to the centre of Cambridge city, and an hour’s journey by train to London. The campus has recently been updated with a £30-million development.
Click www.anglia.ac.uk/alsspg
Assessment
To apply please visit www.anglia.ac.uk/apply
Assessment is through a mix of projects, written analyses and reflections, presentations and the final dissertation.
Email answers@anglia.ac.uk
Contact
Call 0845 271 3333
www.anglia.ac.uk/alsspg