MA Film

Prepare for a career in film and scripted drama on this Creative Skillset accredited course.

This course has been designed to help you embark on a career as a professional fiction filmmaker in one of the following disciplines:

• producing
• directing
• cinematography
• editing
• sound

Teaching is through a combination of collaborative shared modules and modules that focus more on individual disciplines. The two core practice-based modules complement each other, concentrating on professional practice within the framework of the industry crew structure.

Coursework consists of a large number of practical exercises, workshops and short film projects that allow students to deepen their own technical, creative and professional filmmaking skills. The course also includes a degree of research in your chosen discipline, and a theoretical module on critical film study.

The year's work and study culminates in a major project module in which students continue to work collaboratively, in their chosen disciplines, on one or more short scripted dramas.

This is a Creative Skillset accredited course. The Creative Skillset Tick, the industry kitemark of quality, is awarded following a rigorous assessment process by experts working in the Creative Industries. It is awarded to practice-based courses which best prepare students for a career in the industry. 

The course is studied at the Screen Academy Scotland, a Creative Skillset recognised Film Academy.

Course details

Screen Academy Scotland is an active filmmaking hub in the culturally vibrant city of Edinburgh. It offers great scope for collaboration, with some 200 or so students at undergraduate and postgraduate level engaged in diverse film activities. Students can also draw on support from tutors who themselves have significant experience in the industry.

The Screen Academy is a professionally-equipped facility and we expect student work to aspire to a level that is close to industry standard. As it's one of only three film academies in the UK accredited by Creative Skillset, the film industry’s skills body, it gives our graduates significant credibility in the industry.

In addition, Screen Academy students can buy an industry pass at a heavily-discounted rate to attend screenings, master classes and networking events at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June.

This course will advance your knowledge of your chosen specialist area as well as giving you a rounded understanding of other film making disciplines. The emphasis on professional skills will help maximise your chance of success.

Previous graduates have had their films screened at festivals around the world, including Venice, Beijing, Kolkata and Edinburgh. Many have gone on to win awards and commissions for TV and feature film projects.

Subjects include:

Trimester 1 

• Creative Practice for Film and TV 
• Collaborative Techniques for Film 1

Trimester 1 (optional) 

• The Business of Screen Project Development 
• Script Workshop 1
• Writing and Screen Project Development 
• Motion Graphics (editors only) 

Trimester 2 

• Creative Practice for Cinema 
• Collaborative Techniques for Film 2 
• Critical Film Study 

Trimester 3 

• Masters Film Project 

Graduate film screening at Edinburgh Filmhouse in late autumn

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

• Collaborative Techniques in Film 1 ( SCA11118 )
• Collaborative Techniques in Film 2 ( SCA11122 )
• Creative Practice for Cinema ( SCA11129 )
• Creative Practice for Film and TV ( SCA11130 )
• Critical Film Study ( SCA11123 )
• Masters Film Project ( SCA11127 )

* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

How you’ll be taught

This is a one-year full-time course starting in September and is split into three trimesters. Coursework consists of a large number of practical exercises, production of short scripted drama films, lectures, workshops and seminars.

Delivery of practical film-making skills is undertaken with an industry focus, and by academics and visiting lecturers who specialise in relevant professional practices.

Assessments

Assessment is continuous throughout the year and is predominantly based upon submission of creative practical work, documentation of research and critical reflection, essay assignments, and oral presentations. Students being assessed as heads of department on the creative practice module films are expected to share production costs.  

Facilities

Students at the Screen Academy have access to a complete range of professional production and post-production equipment and industry software including Arri Alexa, Black Magic, HDCam, Super 16 mm; 16 Avid Media Composer suites, one Avid Symphony Online and one Black Magic Resolve Online, Pro-Tools, a fully equipped dubbing facility, along with Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting, and Final Draft. 

We are an Avid Learning Partner and have staff trained as ACIs (Avid Certified Instructor).

Careers

• Director
• Assistant Director
• Producer/Production Management
• Location Manager
• Cinematographer
• Editor
• Location Sound Mixer
• Sound designer

Visit the MA Film page on the Edinburgh Napier University website for more details!