BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting Bachelor's degree at Birmingham City University

Aimed at emerging screenwriters. The course will focus on the popular, commercial end of the film industry market, paying particular attention to audiences and the demands and expectations of the marketplace.

Introductory course in film narrative and the principles of storytelling. The emphasis is on developing an understanding of narrative cinema. The module will engage with theoretical models of storytelling and examples from narrative cinema.

Examines notable film movements from across the globe that influenced cinema on a worldwide scale. Develops appreciation of films' rich cultural and social heritage, and the social drivers and rebellious characteristics of the filmmakers. Examines the social, political and artistic drivers behind key works.

Introduces essential skills of, and principles behind, writing for the screen. Covers industry standard screenplay layout and formatting, visual storytelling, layout conventions, and formal features of a screenplay in terms of character, genre, tone, plot and theme. Includes elementary marketing principles.

Examines forms in films and how visual languages are being used and how to compose shots translatable to other mediums such as animation. Covers storyboarding, creating effective animatics, and conveying ideas and vision to produce short film(s).

Helps students build on fundamental skills of writing for the screen and direct that skillset to writing for the multi-format world of television. Covers structuring scripts for 30-minute and 1-hour slots, drama series, sitcom, continuing and serial dramas, and industry-standard TV screenplay convention.

Helps develop skills to read and evaluate scripts for the film and television industry. Covers assessing and evaluating scripts according to industry standards, reading treatments, identifying elements of a script, and writing comprehensive script reports and 'coverage'.

Opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration by creating an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines, or with academic staff. Collaboration is a vital employability skill within the Creative Industries.

Introduces students to the creative and critical processes involved in translating narrative from one medium to another. Provides opportunity to apply knowledge of dramatic theory and form through practical work and encourages development of imaginative screenwriting skills in different genres.

Provides overview of the cultural relevancy of 1970s cinema. Explores the context of the decade and the fragmented nature of film narratives, the emergence and demise of 'American New Wave/New Hollywood', and the style, substance and aesthetics of varying sub-genres.

Teaches the skills needed to take a screenplay through to principal photography via the process of pre-production. Covers building vision through mood boards, look books, sizzle reels, reference clips, casting ideals, costume and art department plans, and evolving this into scheduling, budgeting, legals and compliance, location scouting, casting and managing a team of creatives.

Critically evaluates horror narratives in their cultural, historical and generic contexts across both visual and audio traditions. Analyses how debates in this area impact on creative and production practices in the field.

Opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration and/or your own professional practice. Enables creation of either an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines or your own self-defined project.

Enables undertaking a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area of personal interest. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practice-based portfolio.