Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the craft and practice of creating moving image work, from initial concept through to finished film. It is a discipline that demands both creative vision and technical command: an understanding of visual storytelling, cinematography, editing, sound design and directing must be combined with the practical ability to work in a team, manage a production under pressure and make creative decisions in real time. The best filmmaking education does not separate these things, but develops them together through making actual work.

This three-year full-time degree at Birmingham City University is built around doing. You will learn filmmaking by making films, exploring different genres and technologies and developing your own creative voice alongside increasingly specialist technical skills. The degree includes a sandwich year with a work placement, giving you substantial professional experience in the industry as part of the programme.

You will work across a range of roles and genres, understanding both the collaborative nature of production and the particular demands of directing, writing, editing and producing. The programme equips you to find your place in the wider industry with real skills and a portfolio of work that demonstrates what you can do.

Graduates work across the film and television industries in roles that include directing, producing, editing, camera work, screenwriting, production management and post-production. Many move into documentary, drama, corporate and commercial filmmaking, and some develop careers in animation, games, interactive media or digital content creation. The combination of creative practice, technical skill and professional experience from the placement year makes graduates competitive across the creative sector.

Postgraduate study in film, screen arts or related disciplines is an option for those who wish to deepen their practice or pursue research.