Film Production and Theatre

Do you want to work in an industry which creates moments of temporary escapism on stage or on screen for captivated audiences? If so, the Film Production and Theatre BA at Brunel is the course for you. You will be able to combine your love for the theatre with your passion for films and turn your creativity into a fantastic fulfilling career.

Your degree will give you a thorough understanding of film by combining the production with the theory of visual digital media. Delve into practical film and video-making, scriptwriting, filming and editing, whilst honing your critical analysis and research skills to develop a comprehensive understanding of how the film and TV industries work.

In addition to film production skills, you will also have the opportunity to study a wide variety of theatre-related specialisms such as acting, applied practice, devising/theatre making, digital theatre, musical theatre, physical theatre and writing for performance. This course will prepare you to pursue a wide range of careers in the theatre and entertainment industries and beyond.

The course will allow you to bring your ideas, thoughts and inspirations to the screen. By using the fantastic editing suites with up-to-date production software including Avid with accredited training facilities for Final Cut Pro 10 you will be able to bring your creations to life.

During your degree, you will be able to immerse yourself in one of the cultural capitals of the world. Being so close to London will give you easy access to the city's rich and diverse culture and theatre events. You will have the opportunity to go on theatre visits and take part in workshops with cutting edge theatre companies as part of your course. Past theatre trips have included productions in the West End, The Barbican, The National Theatre, Royal Court, Sadler's Wells and many others.

As well as enhancing your learning by attending screenings at the British Film Institute, the Institute of Contemporary Arts and other cinemas across the capital, you will also be eligible to enter our annual Brunel University Film Festival (BUFF) with categories including Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction and Best Overall Film. This will allow you to put what you have learnt into practice.

Learn with confidence knowing that you are taught by cutting edge academics and industry specialists who are some of the best in the UK. You'll benefit from their in-depth knowledge and passion for what they teach as well as their first-hand experience of what it takes to break into the film and theatre industries. Many have published work in the field, so some of the books on your reading list may be written by those teaching you.

Gain insight into life after your studies by putting your learning into practice through a one-year work placement. You will graduate with valuable work experience to enhance your employment prospects and will be able to develop an understanding of the working world within the film or theatre industry. We have excellent links with a wide range of notable external organisations, so you will have the opportunity to apply for high quality placements across London.

Previous students have undertaken placement at many prestigious venues including The Pinewood Group, Fremantle Media, Objective Productions, Mousetrap Theatre Company, Finsborough Theatre, Grieg City Academy and the Unicorn Theatre.

The Film Production and Theatre BA is a part of the BAFTA albert education partnership. This accreditation provides students with exclusive access to the industry's BAFTA albert carbon calculator, a tool used by Netflix, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, UKTV and Sky when producing their content. Participating students will work towards creating environmentally-friendly, sustainable content. Upon completion you will be presented with industry-recognised certification and become an official "BAFTA albert graduate"‌. This opportunity is provided at no extra cost.

You will graduate with the confidence to be a creative and imaginative cultural producer with solid knowledge of film and theatre processes and practical experience which will put you in good stead for your future career.

This innovative course allows you to combine your acting and directing skills in theatre with knowledge of film culture and production skills and processes.

For your practical modules you'll have access to state-of-the-art equipment, including HD digital cameras. You'll learn to edit on Avid and Final Cut Pro in our first-class edit suites, with plenty of technical support on hand.

Please see the link below for more information on the compulsory and optional modules offered throughout the course for each pathway. The dropdown menus further below offer information on the content of the modules.
Programme Specification

Please note
Year 3 compulsory modules are structured as follows:

Option 1 - DR3614 or DR3608 or FM3635
Option 2 - two single projects FM3002 and DR3606
Option 3 - one joint dissertation

During your work experience you'll gain training and skills in your area of interest and get insight into the working practices of film and theatre organisations. You'll develop the problem-solving and management skills required to succeed in your future career.

We have extensive links with employers and industry and you'll benefit from our networks to arrange your work placement. We can also support you in approaching a business of your choice.

Our graduates have secured jobs with companies including BBC, ITV, Granada, Amazon Prime, Framestore and Ridley Scott Associates as casting agents, researchers, production assistants, script writers, video content editors and film officers.

As well as gaining excellent academic knowledge throughout your studies, emphasis is placed on gaining transferable employment skills. You will develop communication, report writing and presentation skills to an excellent level, equipping you for a range of subsequent professional careers.

Brunel's Professional Development Centre is a dedicated service that are committed to increasing our students' employability, helping you to develop the skills and experience you need to stand out in the job market. They will help you with placements, CV writing and interviews during your time with us, and will still be on-hand to help you for two years after you graduate.

Apply through UCAS.You will just need the course code from the relevant course page on our website and Brunel’s institution code, which is B84. UCAS provide full guidance for completing your application form on their system, which includes:

• How to complete the form
• Selecting up to 5 course choices
• Providing a personal statement
• Providing a reference
• Paying the UCAS course fee (if applicable)

You can also view our top tips for completing your UCAS application form, including your personal statement.

Apply through an international advisor
If you're an international or EU applicant you applying through one of our registered agents, then they will complete your application on your behalf. Please note we can only consider direct online applications through agents if you have not applied through UCAS and will not apply through UCAS for this year of entry. To find a Brunel University London registered agent in your country please check our specific country pages.

When to apply?

• For courses beginning September 2023, you must apply by 25 August 2023 (however some courses may close earlier than this, so we would recommend applying as early as possible). After this deadline applications will be accepted only if there are spaces on the course and there is sufficient time to progress your application (e.g. interviews, portfolios if required, the visa process for international students).

Completing the application form

You need to complete the form on UCAS.

You will be asked to provide the following information :

• Personal details
• Academic qualifications (level, subject, where studied, results, year taken)
• Work experience details (name of organisations, start and end dates)

You will be asked to submit supporting documents electronically, so you can upload scanned or photographed copies of the documents on MyApplications portal, you can also check your application status through this portal.