Film Production

Course Overview

This course is intense, fun and practical, teaching you the fundamental processes used in all film production. In combination with a basic understanding of film analysis, you will work on a variety of group productions to develop skills in generating and planning ideas, recording audio and video, completing editing and post-production, and engaging in critical self-analysis.

By completing this course, you will achieve a University of Arts London (UAL) Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology (Film Production).

This is 2 year course and is equivalent to 3 A-Levels and is worth up to 168 UCAS points (Triple Distinction*) or 144 UCAS points (Triple Distinction). UCAS have recently changed the UCAS Tariff from September 2017 so they could include more qualifications. The new Tariff points are lower than the original Tariff points but the value remains the same, as universities will just use lower Tariff numbers in their entry requirements than in previous years.

You will be treated as a filmmaker from day one, making a variety of films that challenge you to discover a voice of your own. You will attend college between three and four days a week and complete additional work at home.

Practical film production and skills workshops are key to the teaching of this course, supported with a range of presentations and written assignments. You will work on numerous extended projects, both as an individual and in a small crew. By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge you need to push your filmmaking forward.

Over the last three years, Kendal College film students have worked on projects for Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Kendal Mountain Festival, Kendal Food Festival, Lakeland Climbing Centre, Lakeland Plastics, Brathay, Fix The Fells, Croppers, Lakes Alive, Queen Katherine School, South Lakes Foyer, Wheelbase and more-we have also supplied students to work on productions for the University of York and the BBC. Our learners' films have been selected at national film festivals, and we also offer a residential trip each year.

You will learn through a combination of technical demonstrations, film screenings, group and class discussions, and presentations-but mostly through practical filmmaking and working in a crew to devise ideas, meet briefs, plan, shoot and edit your films, and reflect on the final result.

You will learn a broad range of technical skills in production and post-production, including the use of different formats of High Definition cameras, achieving correct focus and exposure, competent camera movement, setting up multi-camera productions, and care for your equipment. You will develop skills in separate audio recording, including microphone placement. You will learn fundamental lighting skills, and you will use a range of grip equipment including slider, jib and Merlin Steadicam. In post-production, you will use Adobe Premiere Pro to prepare, edit and export your films.

As well as your vocational skills, you'll know how to meet a brief, research, analyse, schedule, write, present and evaluate your work, and you'll be practiced in teamwork, problem-solving and negotiating solutions.

You will be assessed on your finished films, but also the process of making those films. This will include planning documents like storyboards, shot lists and scripts; photos of you at work; screengrabs of your editing workflow; reflective evaluations of your work; presentation and research material; and written assignments. All your work goes onto a personal blog, describing the processes you've used.

All of our learners will be given support with their English and Maths skills where relevant to their main course. Those students who have not yet achieved a Grade 4 (or C) at GCSE in these subjects will continue to work towards these important qualifications at a level suited to them. However, students will still have to achieve the stated Entry Requirements before they start the course.