Digital Film-Making

Two years full-time

The course enables students to develop specialised knowledge and skills in the area of video/moving image production and to develop the ability to transfer these skills into the workplace. The modules provide an underpinning knowledge of the moving image industry, film theory and the production process from scriptwriting to filming and editing.

The HND in Digital Film-Making is a highly practical course designed for students with a strong interest in film-making. By the end of the course students will have written, produced and directed two short films, a documentary, a music video and an extended moving image product of their own choosing.

Students will have written essays on narrative, film form and the Hollywood film industry. They will have produced reports on the media industry in the UK and will have reported on moving image technology and been examined in camera competence. As well as having watched and discussed a number of key film texts, at the end of each stage there will be a public screening of students' work.

We feel that this course will prepare students for employment in the film and television industries and will also give them the confidence to set up as an independent film-maker working outside the mainstream. The course will also give students the skills to take their education further onto the second stage of a film production degree or onto the third stage of the BA (Hons) Media Production at The University of Northampton.

Stage one

During the first stage of the course, students will learn essential film-making skills, from scriptwriting to filming and editing and be introduced to the workings of the moving image industry and to film theory.

Stage two

In the second stage of the course, students will develop and refine their film-making skills and knowledge of film theory and film history.

• Highly practical digital-video production course
• Emphasis on independent/low-budget film-making
• Discover how to write, direct and edit your own films
• Learn how to make documentaries and music videos

• Documentary Film-Making
• Editing Single Camera Drama
• Film and Narrative
• Film Theory and History
• Music Video Making
• Post-production Techniques
• Scriptwriting and Pre-Production
• Shooting Single Camera Drama
• Short Film Production
• The Media Industry

This is a modular course and you will be assessed throughout the course. Practical projects, assignments and essays are set for each module. The course culminates in a final major project where students take responsibility for the management of a major media project.

Employment in the media and film industries at a technical/junior level. Examples include: floor or production runner; lighting trainee; assistant grip; camera trainee; independent film-maker, media, film and television industries. Marketing, advertising, public relations and wider communications industries including education.