BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production
Join the next generation of filmmakers. Earn your place on any film set around the world.
September 2023
Students studying higher education courses may be eligible for various forms of funding, including student loans and grants. There may be some differences depending on the region you come from.
YOUR CAREER IN FILM BEGINS NOW

Tools & Software





Film Skills
Course Structure
BA/BSc Film Production is broken up into three distinct stages, each designed to develop different skills.Topics in Trimester 1 include:
- Production planning
- Camera operation
- Lighting techniques
- Working in a crew
- Audio recording
- Edit theory
- Non-linear editing
- Short film narrative structure
- Story development
- Script writing
- Pitching
- Pre-visualisation
- Research
- Film analysis
- Production design
Topics in Trimester 2 include
- Short Film Theory
- Pitching
- Character Development
- Genre Theory
- Colour Theory
- Typography Theory
- Casting and Rehearsals
- Blocking and Staging
- Pre-visualisation
- Directing Actors and Working with Crew
Topics include:
- Video editing
- Sound editing
- Montage theory and techniques
- Colour grading/correction
- Motion graphics
- Post-production workflow
You will be guided through a series of practical workshops, where you will explore interview and lighting techniques and how to capture engaging and vibrant footage that will tell your stories. With support from theoretical classes and discussion based sessions with lecturers and peers, you will develop your skills in finding, exploring and crafting engaging narratives through a variety of modes.
Working independently and as part of a creative team, you will work with HD and UHD camera workflows, experiment with a variety of production and post production skills as you bring real-life stories to the screen.
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 1 include:
- Documentary production planning
- Research
- Style and genre
- Factual film production practices
- Interview techniques
- Editing documentary
- Giving, receiving and learning from feedback
- Reflective and critical analysis
- Cultural contexts
If you opt to produce a short fiction film, you will continue to develop your storytelling, directing and cinematography skills as you bring your narrative to life. Typically you will find yourself collaborating with Audio Production students to ensure your soundtrack, location sound and ADR is of a professional standard. You will also have the opportunity to integrate visual effects through collaborations with our animation students. Ultimately, you will be aiming to produce a high-quality fictional narrative film that is ready for distribution and submission to festivals.
Should you wish to develop your production skills through the world of promotional film, you will be given the opportunity to work on a series of creative briefs and collaborate with peers from across SAE’s creative programmes, notably Audio Production, Content Creation and Online Marketing, and Music Business. You will be guided through the concept development process as you gain skills in working with clients, and broaden your production skills into live-event/multi-camera production and multi-clip editing techniques.
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 2 include:
- Fictional film production
- Promotional film production
- Working in a team
- Collaboration and communication
- Enterprise
- Marketing basics (target group analysis, product lifecycle, product development)
- Business planning (budgeting, financing)
- Pitching projects
- Contracts
- Film marketing and distribution
If you opt to produce a short fiction film, you will continue to develop your storytelling, directing and cinematography skills as you bring your narrative to life. Typically you will find yourself collaborating with Audio Production students to ensure your soundtrack, location sound and ADR is of a professional standard. You will also have the opportunity to integrate visual effects through collaborations with our animation students. Ultimately, you will be aiming to produce a high-quality fictional narrative film that is ready for distribution and submission to festivals.
Should you wish to develop your production skills through the world of promotional film, you will be given the opportunity to work on a series of creative briefs and collaborate with peers from across SAE’s creative programmes, notably Audio Production, Content Creation and Online Marketing, and Music Business. You will be guided through the concept development process as you gain skills in working with clients, and broaden your production skills into live-event/multi-camera production and multi-clip editing techniques.
Topics you may draw upon in Creative Studio 2 include:
- Fictional film production
- Promotional film production
- Working in a team
- Collaboration and communication
- Enterprise
- Marketing basics (target group analysis, product lifecycle, product development)
- Business planning (budgeting, financing)
- Pitching projects
- Contracts
- Film marketing and distribution
Previously, students have used the Major Project as a springboard into industry, creating award winning projects, establishing their own businesses or making connections with industry professionals that have led to employment.

Career Outcomes
What jobs will this course lead to?
- Video editor
- Producer
- Cinematographer
- Colourist
- Director
- Screenwriter
- Visual Effects Artist
- Camera Assistant
Student Spotlight
Course FAQs
We consider all applicants, so you can still join the course without any practical experience. However, we do require you to have a passion for film, which is why we ask you for an informal write up to explain why you would like to join the course and what your favourite film is.
While we recommend students to invest in their own hardware, in particular a laptop and an external hard drive, they are not essential to the course as you can use the computer labs on site. They will, however, make your learning experience easier as you can work off site. A camera is desirable but again not essential as we have cameras on site for your learning experience.
