BA (Hons) Film Studies

In studying film language students will gain key foundational skills in practising in textual analysis in relation to film.

Writing for Screen will equip the students with industry standard practices for screenwriting whilst at the same time encourage them to find their own creative voice as a screenwriter. They will be encouraged to engage with both theoretical writing and short film narratives which will be chosen from a range of sources to encourage and reflect diversity. Writing for Screen is part of the screenwriting strand within  the film studies curriculum which will scaffold into the Film Adaptation Module ( 5021Film) in Level 5 and the Film thesis (Screenplay) (6064Film) in Level 6. It will also provide a bank of short screenplays which can be used for Fiction Filmmaking (5029Film) at Level 5.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

This course surveys the history of the various traditions of theoretical inquiry in film studies. We investigate textual criticism (formalism, structuralism and auteur theory), identity politics, (feminism, masculinity, queer and disability theory and race) and various other theoretical paradigms.

This module will outline the social realist traditions associated with British cinema. After establishing the initial links with documentary film, students will understand how social realism has developed from the early 20th Century up until the modern day. Students can then use this knowledge in order to develop a pre-production portfolio of their own, which has the potential to be developed into a film at a later date on production modules on the programme.

Through a series of lectures and practical workshops students will be introduced to fundamental film production skills using cameras, lenses, lighting and sound equipment. Students will develop an understanding of how historical developments in film craft inform current film productions and explore current trends and best practice in digital filmmaking.

This practical module introduces the basic principles and software tools involved in post-production for film.

Through completing a range of short briefs, students will develop the skills to build a personal portfolio, gaining the software skills required throughout the course. Students will be encouraged to maintain this portfolio throughout the programme to showcase their skillset upon Graduation.

The Journal will include production paperwork etc. and reflection on the work produced for each brief.

This module will introduce you to the basic principles of directing, filming, editing and producing for a short documentary film.

The fiction filmmaking module will develop students’ knowledge and experience of the technical, creative, organisational and administrative demands involved in a short film production. The overarching theme of this module is the development of the creative processes in relation to film production.  The short film genre gives students the opportunity to test out ideas or tell a story within the confines of a limited run-time. The relationships between technical, creative, and aesthetic choices will be considered in relation to the ‘real-world’ issues of production management. Working to a brief is designed to give students opportunities for work-based learning.

This module aims to give students an understanding of the working practices and organisation of the British film industry. This module will provide all students with a work-based learning experience through opportunities to network with and present to industry. Students will be encouraged to develop their understanding of the different sectors of the local and national film industry into a recognition of the job opportunities that are presented in an area of personal career interest to them.  Students will test out the industry relevance of their careers knowledge by presenting to and networking with industry partners and they will then apply to relevant work experience opportunities as part of their careers portfolio.

Through a series of seminars student will develop a deep understanding of developments in American cinema from its beginnings to the present day. Students learn about early entrepreneurial approaches to cinema, through to the studio system, independent production, post-studio conglomerations, censorship, and international co-production.

This module will consider theoretical debates such as the limitations of Fidelity and whether Adaptation can be considered a genre. Specific attention will be paid to Stage to Screen adaptations, Shakespearian translations, Comic book and Video Game adaptations and Fan Adaptations. The module also includes a series of workshops and tutorials designed to develop student screenwriting skills as they create an adapted screenplay.

In this module you will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience, planning and managing a short experimental film production. You will be able to develop specific skills in the areas of cinematography, lighting and sound design, as well as post production skills in editing and colour grading that are appropriate for experimental filmmaking.

Through a series of lectures and practical making workshops, students will be introduced to the video essay as a form of scholarly engagement with Film. They will gain familiarity with current practice within the academic video essay community and explore existing scholarship on the developing form of the scholarly video essay as a legitimate form of academic research and publication.

This is an opportunity to spend one semester of your second year at one of LJMU's partner universities around the world. 

This module aims to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their studies in Liverpool.

This module serves as an introduction to the range and variety of films produced in Europe, as well as to the significance of film festivals for its visibility and promotion. It highlights the diversity of cinematic production in Europe, focusing not only on different national traditions, but also on the fact that European cinemas consist both of art and popular films.

The module provides insights into a range of non-US and non-European cinemas, and critical tools for the students to engage with films from different cultural contexts.

This module gives the students an opportunity to develop their understanding of pre-production skills and practice applied to film making. It enables students to develop an ability to understand and reflect constructively on the pre-production process for independent film production.

In this module you will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience of some of the technical equipment required for short video production at an advanced level with either fiction or non-fiction filmmaking.

Through a series of lectures and tutorials students will develop their critical thinking and research skills as part of the completion of a large independent study project. They will be encouraged to generate effective strategies to manage their time, meet deadlines, and engage in self-directed study in an area of Film Studies they have a specific interest in.

Through a series of seminars student will develop a deep understanding how to interpret film through a variety of theoretical approaches. These will include text-based approaches, as well as other understandings, such as paratexts and promotion, taste cultures, audiences, and fandom.

This module provides Film Studies students with the opportunity to widen their direct knowledge of working practices in a film-related field. The module allows students to widen their contacts and to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned on the programme to a work setting. Students negotiate a learning contract with an employer/client and a tutor, and are assessed on their written account of the content and relevance of their work experience/client project to the Film Studies degree.

The module produces students with a historical overview of Black American identity in film. Topics covered include Minstrelsy, Early Black Pioneers, Stereotyping and Marking, The Emergence of Black Stars, The Civil Rights Era, Blaxploitation, Gangsta Films, Intersectionality and Black Lives Matter.