Undergraduate Programme Specification
BA Film and Theatre Making
Academic Year 2022/23
A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.
| Programme Title | BA Film and Theatre Making | Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes) |
Bachelor of Arts | |||||||||||
| Programme Code | FMT-BA-S | UCAS Code | WW65 | HECoS Code |
100058 - Film studies - 50 100069 - Drama - 50 |
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| ATAS Clearance Required | No | |||||||||||||
| Mode of Study | Full Time | |||||||||||||
| Type of Programme | Single Honours | Length of Programme |
Full Time - 3 Academic Years |
Total Credits for Programme | 360 | |||||||||
| Exit Awards available | No | |||||||||||||
Institute Information
Teaching Institution |
Queen's University Belfast |
School/Department |
Arts, English and Languages |
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Quality Code Higher Education Credit Framework for England |
Level 6 |
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Subject Benchmark Statements The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies |
Communication, media, film and cultural studies (2008) |
Accreditations (PSRB) |
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No accreditations (PSRB) found. | |
Regulation Information
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Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations None |
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Programme Specific Regulations To enhance flexibility for students to take modules outside the Programme, at Stage 2 a student may substitute up to 20 CATS of optional modules with the equivalent number of CATS from a list of approved modules beyond those listed. |
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Students with protected characteristics N/A |
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Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations (Please see General Regulations) No |
Educational Aims Of Programme
The BA in Film and Theatre Making is designed to provide students with:
* A strong understanding of the skills, practices, processes, and demands of producing professional work for both stage and screen.
* Detailed practical training in acting, directing, and production aspects of both film and theatre.
* An intellectual training in the separate and overlapping disciplines of drama and film which, while discrete subjects, are also complementary and mutually enriching;
* A discipline-specific perspective enabling the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the inter-relationship between texts and contexts, a familiarity with debates surrounding culture and identity, both individual and communal, and skills in synthesising and developing ideas and arguments from diverse literary, performative, contemporary sources and visual literacy;
* A range of skills, which together foster the ability to practise self-motivated learning and increase the capacity to undertake independent learning in a progressive way.
* Exposure to, contact with and relationships with (and tutelage from) industry professionals across the fields of film and theatre (and the arts in general)
This degree will equip individuals with the ability to:
* Think critically, process and understand complex information and to present it in a variety of written and oral forms, particularly through performance and production;
* Understand the different ways in which theatre and film are structured and convey meaning, as well as ways in which they work similarly;
* Evaluate primary and secondary sources;
* Interpret a variety of types of data and information;
* Pursue independent learning;
* Work well in groups and formulate arguments.
More generally, the programme aims to:
* Provide students with the necessary intellectual, practical, and key skills to enable them to develop as independent, reflective lifelong learners and able employees;
* Develop a broad context for future employment, in which graduates appreciate the continuing value of an education in the theory and practice of film and theatre.
The programme will thereby foster an atmosphere of intellectual inquiry in each discipline, by offering modules which encourage a stimulating interchange of ideas.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: Cognitive SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Understand embodied knowledge and learning methods |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Practical workshops and independent productions Methods of Assessment Assessed scenes, films, and productions |
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Demonstrate critical awareness of the main research methods used to collect and analyse data |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Specific teaching methods include tutor-led, student-led, self-directed study Methods of Assessment Essays submitted to a deadline |
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Understand the interplay between practice and theory in the discipline |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Resource-based learning, including library work and attendance at performances, workshops and rehearsals Methods of Assessment Individual presentations |
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Analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse and their effects on representation in the arts, media and public life |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Specific teaching methods include tutor-led, student-led, self-directed study Methods of Assessment Individual interviews and essays |
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Think reflexively and independently |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Classroom discussion and online interactions Methods of Assessment Edited commentaries on learning logs |
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Understand group dynamics and implement them in practical contexts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Group work in performance and classroom presentations Methods of Assessment Assessed group presentations, films and performances |
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Engage with and interpret layers of meaning within film and drama and critical texts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies A sensitivity to layers of meaning within film, theatre and related critical texts is developed in a range of modules. Discussion in class is devoted to interpreting and analysis of strategies in text and image in relation to their aesthetic and formal qualities, historical and cultural contexts, and implications for practical work. Methods of Assessment Written exercises, both formative and summative, such as long and short essays. |
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Contextualise from a variety of perspectives |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Screenings and readings of films and plays and independent research on film and theatre history. Methods of Assessment Written exercises, both formative and summative, such as long and short essays, segmental analysis, log-books and/or other exercises test the students’ ability to engage with, interpret, and contextualise image making strategies and critical content. |
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Demonstrate a capacity for critical reflection and judgment in the light of evidence and argument |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies In many modules, students give informal presentations on specific films, plays, and key theoretical concepts. Moreover, they are encouraged to refer to specific artworks and scholarship in order to form their own judgment and evaluation of the artwork or critical concept in question. Methods of Assessment Written exercises, both formative and summative, such as long and short essays, segmental analysis, log-books and/or other exercises test the students’ ability to engage |
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Work autonomously, manifested in self-direction, objective-setting, prioritising, self-discipline and time management |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Students are given a number of deadlines to which they are expected to work; thereby, they learn to prioritise assignments and projects, objectives, and activities generally. Methods of Assessment Working to deadlines to produce new written and practical film work. |
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Understand complex tasks and present appropriate solutions in written, oral and visual form |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies These skills are introduced in the first year of study, nurtured and commented upon at meetings with the students’ tutor, with guidance as to the direction of their studies and with a view to increasing the amount of autonomous learning, which the student undertakes. Advisers of Studies also contribute to this process, though in a more general fashion, in the wider context of the subject and in the sense in which it forms a component of the degree pathways followed by the student. Methods of Assessment In class presentation; production of film and theatre work in various forms; in-class critiques and formative feedback sessions. |
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & UnderstandingOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Demonstrate a wide knowledge and understanding of local and international film and performance practice and the cultures and societies from which this has arisen, including an understanding of: |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Students are taught the history of film and drama in lectures, seminars and tutorials, and are then asked to engage with their learning through practical workshops in which they experiment with both historical and contemporary methods of film and performance practice. Methods of Assessment Essays submitted to a deadline, short film work and performances that demonstrate an understanding of history and theory through practice. |
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Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of contemporary technologies and their relationship to drama, theatre, performance, and academic research. |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Resource-based learning, working with DVD and other recordings Methods of Assessment Individual presentations and marked essays |
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Demonstrate an understanding of how to analyse and discuss the conventions and practices involved in producing and performing dramatic and cinematic work |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Attendance at performances and viewing of films Methods of Assessment Individual Interviews and marked essays |
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Understand the aesthetic and formal qualities of film and visual art and their relation to meanings in particular cultural forms and contexts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, screenings, seminars, practical workshops; tutorials, group and individual project work, open and resource-based learning, multi-media and new media learning. Methods of Assessment Essays and exercises; examinations; individual presentations (both oral and technology-based); logbooks and/or portfolios, research exercises; critical self-evaluation; creative practice within both an individual and group context; tasks aimed at the assessment of film making skills. |
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Demonstrate an insight into the cultural and social ways in which aesthetic judgements are constructed and aesthetic processes experienced |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Large and small group and individual learning and teaching situations; tutor-led, student-led and independent learning sessions. Methods of Assessment Assigned written essays. |
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Show an awareness of a wide range of visual techniques, cultures and modes of reception |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies The programme’s learning and teaching strategies are designed to consolidate and enhance the following skills; subject-knowledge acquisition, analysis and critical evaluation; use of a range of technology systems for accessing resources, literature, and for the acquisition of production skills. Methods of Assessment Practical classes use a range of assessments which include but are not limited to short film production, documentary film, experimental film, video essays, editing projects, screenwriting, cinematography exercises and other forms of moving image media outputs. |
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Understand the visual, verbal and audio conventions through which images, words and sounds make meaning in film and performance |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Knowledge and understanding are developed through lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars (many of which will be enhanced by learning aids such as handouts, and key readings available online through Queen’s Online) and through the assessment and feedback process. Methods of Assessment Assessed practice in the form of film and performance that demonstrates an understanding of form; assessed essays; examinations; seminar presentations. |
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Demonstrate an understanding of professional practices and traditions, and of the possibilities and constraints involved in film and theatre making processes |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies A substantial aspect of the learning is through practical work. The experiential learning involved in production has a number of core benefits. These include the development of realistic and pragmatic understandings of the challenges involved with production. The ability to develop crucial technical skills to empower creativity; a profound and thorough understanding of the parlance of production, which leads to greater insight and ability to articulate craft processes and action in close analysis and lastly these skills enhance employability. Methods of Assessment Screening and exhibition of film outputs, and public performances of plays and practical work. Completion of technical training in editing, lighting, sound, stage management, set and production. Script writing and project development skills. Pitching and conveying creative projects to assessed panels and in presentations. |
Learning Outcomes: Subject SpecificOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Demonstrate a high level of specific skills including the reading of written texts and how to effect transitions from page to stage and screen |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Tutor-led, student-led, self-directed modules in literature, theory and practice Methods of Assessment Assessed films and performances; Continuously assessed group presentations |
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Engage critically with creative practitioners, theorists, and be able to debate and apply these strategies within a subject discourse |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, screenings, seminars, practical workshops; tutorials, group and individual project work, open and resource-based learning, multi-media and new media learning. Methods of Assessment Essays and exercises; examinations; individual presentations (both oral and technology-based); logbooks and/or portfolios; research exercises; critical self-evaluation; creative practice within both an individual and group context; tasks aimed at the assessment of film and theatre making skills. |
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Understand film and theatre forms and their historical precedents |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Large and small group and individual learning and teaching situations; tutor-led, student-led and independent learning sessions. Methods of Assessment Assessed films and performances that demonstrate student engagement with history and theory through practice. Timed written examinations, data analysis, essays, critical film and play reviews, portfolios, individual and group presentations, and seminar and tutorial reports and contributions. |
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Analyse, interpret, and exercise critical judgement in the understanding of the subject area studied |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies The programme’s learning and teaching strategies are designed to consolidate and enhance the following skills; subject-knowledge acquisition, analysis and critical evaluation; use of a range of technology systems for accessing resources, literature, and for the acquisition of production skills. Methods of Assessment Essays and exercises; examinations; individual presentations (both oral and technology-based); logbooks and/or portfolios; research exercises; critical self-evaluation; creative practice within both an individual and group context; tasks aimed at the assessment of film and theatre making skills. |
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Put to use a range of IT skills from basic competences such as word processing to more complex skills using multimedia, and develop proficiencies in utilising a range of image making technologies |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Industry standard software instruction is embedding in coursework. This empowers students to take external examinations in video and audio editing to an advanced level in film and television, and to demonstrate familiarity with state-of-the-art theatrical design technology. Methods of Assessment Video essay and editing exams, editing of film projects, documentaries. Advanced post production techniques such as picture grading and colour management software; exams in computer assisted design theatre lighting and set design software. |
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Read, analyse, document and/or interpret performance and film |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Tutor-led seminar discussions based on reading. Methods of Assessment Essays and scene-work |
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Participate in group processes in the creation of original work |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Contact with working professionals in all relevant specialisms (eg actors, director, designers, lighting designers, critics) Methods of Assessment Edited commentaries or learning logs |
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Understand processes by which films and performances are created, realised, and managed, such as the processes of rehearsal, writing, scoring, devising, scenography, improvisation, choreography, performer training techniques, and production arts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops and rehearsals; performances and films Methods of Assessment Assessed performances and films |
Learning Outcomes: Transferable SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Demonstrate critical, analytical and physical skills |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Specific teaching methods include tutor-led, student-led, self-directed study Methods of Assessment Essays submitted to a deadline |
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Demonstrate creative and imaginative skills as shown through the realisation of practical research projects |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Resource-based learning, including library work, attendance at performances, and physical learning through workshop methods Methods of Assessment Continuously assessed group presentations |
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Communicate in a variety of oral, written, visual and performance media |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Students are given a variety of styles of assessment to challenge them to communicate knowledge through different means Methods of Assessment Summative group presentations; essays; assessed films and performances |
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Show an awareness of inter-disciplinary approaches to study, and the capacity to engage with different theories or paradigms of knowledge |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Modules in both film and theatre practice and theory, covering a broad range of time periods and artistic movements Methods of Assessment Essays; presentations; practical assignments |
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Demonstrate an understanding of the professional processes and practices of film and theatre production and the specific challenges of the various roles through which these occur |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Contact with working professionals in all relevant specialisms (eg actors, director, designers, lighting designers, critics) Methods of Assessment Individual interviews; essays; practical assignments |
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Negotiate and pursue goals with others |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Group work in performance and classroom presentations work in particular promotes good communication and team building skills. Working creatively, students have to create new and original work Methods of Assessment Assessed group presentations and performances; Participation and engagement |
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Demonstrate information retrieval skills, involving the ability to gather, sift, synthesise and organise material independently and critically evaluate its significance |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Research assignments are designed to encourage students to engage with historical, scholarly, and archival material and synthesise information from these and other sources. Methods of Assessment Assigned essays and presentations |
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Present knowledge and demonstrate expertise in a coherent, effective and meaningful form |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Individual and group presentations; seminars offer a variety of tutor-led and student-led learning opportunities as well as a more sustained opportunity to debate and evaluate a breadth of knowledge gained independently from directed reading and from the sharing of resources and information. Methods of Assessment Group presentations are used to encourage students to pursue their own interests and develop their understanding of a topic. |
Module Information
Stages and Modules
| Module Title | Module Code | Level/ stage | Credits | Availability |
Duration | Pre-requisite | Assessment |
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| S1 | S2 | Core | Option | Coursework % | Practical % | Examination % | ||||||
| Production Practices | DRA1006 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Editing for Film and Television | FLM1007 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Introduction to Film Practice | FLM1004 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Theatre Now: Contemporary Performance | DRA1005 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Introduction to Film Studies 1 | FLM1001 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Introduction to Theatre: The Material Stage | DRA1001 | 1 | 20 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Introduction to Acting for Stage and Screen | DRA1004 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Introduction to Performing | DRA1003 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Documentary Film Studies | FLM2012 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Acting Shakespeare | DRA2022 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Popular Genres | BCP2004 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 80% | 20% | 0% |
| World Cinema | FLM2013 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Dramaturgy | DRA2068 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 10% | 0% | 90% |
| British Cinema: Nation, Identity and Industry | FLM2026 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Radio Drama | DRA2014 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Principles of Business in Arts, Cultural and Creative Industries | SCA2002 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Experimental Practice | FLM2027 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 40% | 60% | 0% |
| Gender, Culture, and Representation – Backwards & in Heels | AEL2001 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 60% | 40% | 0% |
| Non-Fiction Film Practice | FLM2028 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | Y | -- | YES | 40% | 60% | 0% |
| Adaptation as Interdisciplinary Practice | AEL2002 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Drama and Mental Health | DRA2064 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Film and Sound: History and Theory | FLM2014 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Directing and Design for Stage and Screen | DRA2013 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Educational Drama | DRA2007 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| International Theatre Collaboration | DRA2065 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 70% | 30% | 0% |
| Acting for Musical Theatre | DRA2060 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 90% | 10% | 0% |
| Introduction to Screenwriting | FLM2019 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Devising Theatre | DRA2005 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 60% | 40% | 0% |
| Broadcast Journalism | BCP2001 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 20% | 80% | 0% |
| The Art of the Actor | DRA2003 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Participatory performance practices | DRA3067 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 90% | 10% | 0% |
| Cinema, Realism, and Modernism | FLM3034 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Postconflict Drama: Performing the NI Peace Process | DRA3042 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Hollywood Cinema 2 | FLM3019 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| International Theatre Collaboration | DRA3066 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 70% | 30% | 0% |
| Dissertation | FLM3010 | 3 | 20 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Film and Music: Theory and Criticism | FLM3024 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Places of Performance | DRA3023 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 80% | 20% | 0% |
| Advanced Theatre Practice | DRA3005 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Dissertation | DRA3025 | 3 | 20 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| The Theatre of Brian Friel | DRA3010 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Work-based Learning | AEL3001 | 3 | 20 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| The Art of Interaction | DRA3057 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Media and Time | BCP3003 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Gender and Media | BCP3004 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 90% | 10% | 0% |
| British Film: Mainstream and Fringe | FLM3032 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 90% | 10% | 0% |
| Advanced Film Practice 1 | FLM3001 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 60% | 40% | 0% |
| Advanced Film Practice 2 | FLM3011 | 3 | 40 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 60% | 40% | 0% |
| Dance Theatre | DRA3060 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
Notes
Stage 3:
Students will normally take at least 20 credits each from FLM-coded modules and DRA-coded modules. Students will normally be expected to focus on a single aspect of Film or Theatre practice (though for students interested in acting, this could include acting for screen) in final year practical modules.
Practice-oriented modules are subject to restriction based on numbers and when over-subscribed, students may be apportioned based on balance of practice-oriented modules.
*Note: If you have chosen FLM3001: Advanced Film Practice 1, you MUST also choose FLM3011: Advanced Film Practice 2, which will total 60 CATS points so you cannot choose another Film module.
Stage 1:
Students take either DRA1003, DRA1004 or DRA1006 as well as the core modules.
Stage 2:
Students will normally take 60 credits each from FLM coded and DRA coded modules (Note: FLM2032 is a core module). Practice-oriented modules are subject to restriction based on numbers and when over-subscribed, students may be apportioned based on balance of practice-oriented modules.
*Note: Students may pick FLM2027 or FLM2028 but not both.*