Film and Media Studies BA (Hons)

This module will orient you in the contemporary media landscape as creators, producers, and critical consumers. You'll learn foundational production and post-production skills through a range of short mini-projects, from filming and audio recording to scriptwriting, storyboarding, pitching and editing. This module also gives you the skills you need to deconstruct and analyse a range of media and film texts, considering narrative, visual composition, sound and editing. In addition, you'll develop the skills to critically reflect on your own place in the media landscape and understand the role of the audience-viewer-consumer from multiple perspectives.

This module gives you the opportunity to put your L4 production skills into practice by developing and producing content for one of our university platforms, Chester Student Radio and/or the Chester Student Media website.  Students will work collaboratively in small teams to produce a range of content from a radio show or podcast to a short film or news item.   This is an intense module where students gain a greater understanding of the skills and competencies needed in a fast-paced media environment from making quick editorial decisions  to working to tight deadlines.  

This module enables students with A-Level German or equivalent to further develop their grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations.You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed A-Level or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed a A-Level or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE in Chinese or equivalent. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students that have completed GCSE or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module provides the opportunity to study a new language from scratch and introduces you to basic grammar, vocabulary and cultural contexts. You will apply the language to practical situations using both oral and written skills. 

In this module you'll learn about the art, form and technique of telling stories. You'll explore the storytelling process and how stories are told across different forms of media, combining theory with hands-on practice in visual and aural formats. This may include podcasting, short films, animation, or storytelling using digital platforms/tools. By the end of the module you'll produce an original piece of work that demonstrates your understanding of contemporary creative storytelling practices.

This module takes an in-depth look at cinema from around the world to understand why it became, and remains, such a powerful medium of storytelling. You will develop your understanding and awareness of a multitude of cinemas, big and small, from the global dominance of Hollywood and Bollywood to a variety of film movements encompassing European, Asian, Australiasian and American cinemas. You'll continue to build on the film analysis skills you developed in your first year and explore the political, historical, technological and economic contexts of film to discover how what we see on screen is influenced by the world around us.

The module provides you with an opportunity to undertake a 140-hour work placement. This placement is complemented by a number of school-delivered sessions designed to develop your employability, professional practice, and understanding of career options. Students learn to reflect on the nature of creativity within their studies, as well as other transferable skills and competencies developed on their programmes, and gain awareness of how this is valued and relevant in modern workplaces. 

This will be a university-level work placement of up to 7 weeks of 140 hours with a placement provider(s) (e.g. an employer from the private, public, or charitable sector). The placement(s) should be relevant to your area of study and wider career goals, and can either be organised by you, or with support from university staff. All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means: Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc).

Placement may potentially take place with more than one employer, reflecting the nature of freelance suppliers in the creative industries. To further reflect the diverse nature of employment in the creative industries, some- or all- of your hours may be spent working remotely on activities such as copy-writing, preparation, post-production and presentation.

This module will provide you with the practical and theoretical underpinning of professional practice in your specific subject, enabling you to identify and develop key employability attributes and skills in preparation for your future career.  

You will spend several weeks working collaboratively with other students across the School for the Creative Industries on one major project or several smaller projects in a professional ‘simulated real world’ working environment.  Projects will be contemporary, topical, externally focussed and often involve partnership with outside agencies. The module will provide you with opportunities for immersive learning and the chance to apply your knowledge in real-world contexts. 

Part A:      

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the University of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

• The multiple facets of Global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Theories and models Intercultural competence
• Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
• Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection

• Experiential learning models
• Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

• Enhanced independence
• Improved command of multicultural behaviour
• Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development
• Team building and team work

Part B:            Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 

• The multiple facets of global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication
• Culture shock
• Cultural adjustment
• Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess-with a strong focus on understanding the intercultural competencies (ICC) needed to live and work abroad.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of individual requirements in relation to culture/cultural adjustment/culture shock/visas/medical.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of skills already acquired in relation to key skills related to ICC.
• Devising strategies to improve one’s own prospects of working abroad in the future.
• Devising an action plan to address gaps in transferable skills based on organisational analysis and sector opportunities.

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
• Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Critical thinking skills, experiential learning and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

• Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

You will undertake study at one of the University of Chester's partner universities or undertake and approved work placement or virtual placement. If you are a student,  it is expected that you will choose a series of modules at the university abroad which must be agreed by the host institution and the Module Leader. you must supply details of you modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university.

This self-directed module provides you with an opportunity to undertake an extended project on a chosen and approved topic within your subject discipline.  The project enables you to develop and evidence specialist subject knowledge and understanding, engagement with academic literature and theory and exhibit a range of skills including independent research and project management.

You are encouraged to choose a project topic which reflects your particular interests in your subject area/career aspirations and can be written or practice-based.  In the initial stages of the module, you will engage with a series of sessions focused on research practice including research methodologies and ethical practice.  You will then formatively present your project idea, gaining feedback to hone the focus and title.  You will conduct individual research and will be strongly encouraged to collaborate with others if you are undertaking a practice-based project.

Whether the project outcome is an artefact (eg film, music recording or series of articles/features), a practice-based outcome (eg performance or presentation) or a written dissertation, extensive research needs to be conducted to inform and develop the project topic and offer an appropriate framework for study.  Regular meetings with your supervisor will give you the opportunity to gain ongoing feedback on your research project.

The project culminates in the submission of the written dissertation or practice-based outcome.  Those assessed on a practice-based outcome must also submit an individual contextualising document.  

The specialist, transferable and soft skills developed in this module will help you to prepare for your chosen profession or next step in your 'graduate trajectory'.

Being a creative media professional requires you to think about branding, self-marketing and networking. In this module, you'll consider your future career trajectory so you can forge your own personal career path. You will assess your existing skillset and hone your professional competencies to enable you to build a practical employability portfolio that promotes your specialist talents. This portfolio may contain a CV, cover letters, job applications, a website and social media posts.  You'll develop a valuable understanding of job markets related to your hoped-for career and role, exploring opportunities as well as gaining an understanding of the freelance market.  You will think about strategic planning and what it means to be a 21st-century creative.

In this module you'll further develop your storytelling capabilities through the study and application of various specialist production techniques, including different forms of animation such as stop-motion, claymation and pixelation. Other production techniques may include 360 filming, VR, drones and/or green screen. By the end of the module you will produce a piece of original creative work showcasing one or more of the studied techniques.

This module offers an in-depth exploration of a range of filmmakers, from classic auteurs such as Alfred Hitchcock and Spike Lee to contemporary multi-media creators like Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino. You’ll immerse yourself in their work, debate key theories around authorship and collaboration, and consider how new technologies and media platforms are changing the world of filmmaking. As the module progresses, you will analyse filmmaking as a tool for self-expression, political intervention and social justice.