HND Digital Film-Making
2 years (full), 3 - 4 years (part-time)
Entry Requirements
One A Level at Grade D or above or a BTEC Level 3 or equivalent including GCSE Grade C in English.
Course Content
Our specialist resources include:
• Television and radio studios
• High spec film and still cameras
• Apple Mac Pro computers with industry standard software (including Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Shake, Maya and InDesign).
The HND Digital Film-Making is for those with a passion for narrative film-making, who would relish the opportunity to write, direct and edit their own films. The course directly prepares you for employment in the film and television industry after you graduate, and will also give you the confidence to set yourself up as an independent film-maker working outside the mainstream.
During the course, you’ll write, produce and direct two short films, a documentary, a music video and an extended moving image product that you choose. You’ll write academic essays on narrative, film form and the Hollywood film industry, and produce reports on the media industry in the UK. You’ll watch and discuss a number of key film texts, and at the end of each year, there’ll be a public screening of your work.
Over the two years of study, you will cover a varied array of subjects, giving you detailed exposure to every aspect of the film environment, from scriptwriting, production, post-production and documentary film-making to shooting single camera drama and producing music videos. The practical work that you will conduct on these subjects is consistently underpinned by film theory and academic analysis, giving you a clear understanding of what the industry involves.
The course presents the perfect opportunity for you to make great films in a supportive and stimulating environment, where you can master the key skills that are demanded by the industry. You can then transfer the specialised knowledge that you learn on the course directly to the workplace, making you very attractive to potential employers after you graduate.
Key Facts:
The course is taught in a highly practical way using workshop-style classes, where students work individually and in groups to develop and refine their film production skills.
The School benefits from having an impressive set of cutting-edge facilities, which give students direct access to the types of software and equipment that is used as standard in real-time film production scenarios.
The course leaders encourage creativity and innovation at every level in the major film projects, giving you a genuine opportunity and freedom of expression to make your distinct mark as an independent film-maker.
As an HND Digital Film-making student you will work with professional film-makers in a variety of workshops and get the opportunity to screen your films in a public arena on a regular basis.
Assessment:
By the end of the course you will have written, produced and directed two short films, a documentary, a music video, and an extended moving image product of your own choosing. You will have written essays on narrative, film style, and film history. You will have produced reports on the media industry in the UK, and you will have reported on moving image technology and been examined in camera competence.
The course will also give you the skills to take your film education further – on to the second year of the BA in Film and Television Studies or to the third year of the BA in Media Production at The University of Northampton.
Next Step
The HND in Digital Film-making will equip you with the skills and technical knowledge needed to make professional films. Some of our graduates have had their films shown at key film events and locations across the country such as the Apollo Theatre in London. There is ample opportunity for you to showcase your work at major arts festivals, where you can gain exposure, meet industry contacts and even gain employment as a result.
In terms of full-time work, film-making graduates can gain jobs in film and media production companies in a variety of film-related roles, such as film editing, media planning, floor management, camera operation and film studio support. Other employers include advertising and PR agencies, broadcasting houses, and digital communication departments within educational, public sector and private organisations.
You could apply to continue your education by enrolling on to a top-up year in a related subject at the University of Northampton or other Higher Education Institution to gain a full degree.
Course running at Northampton
(216W HND/FILM)
