Course
Overview
This filmmaking course prepares you to be part of a new generation of storytellers - a creative practitioner interested in what the industry can be, not just what it has been. Our rigorous and highly practical approach creates versatile professionals capable of crafting exceptional content for film, TV, online, theatre, concert and interactive audiences.
In your first year you learn a range of key production, scriptwriting, filmmaking, lighting, audio and digital desktop skills. These provide you with a base for further exploration and more advanced study in your second year when new skills are also introduced, including studio production, location shooting, motion capture and virtual production. Armed with this knowledge and experience, in your third year you chose three modules that enable you to explore, develop and advance your skills in areas and subjects that reflect your passions and aspirations.
You also have a large project module each year to explore ideas and implement your skills to produce and develop films from concept to completion. Each of your projects is guided by mentors to support you through creating the work, providing targeted support throughout the production process.
We’ve partnered with Blackmagic Design to allow you to use the latest software and hardware, and gain Da Vinci Resolve certification while you study.
What You Will
Study
Introduction to Filmmaking
In this module you learn the principles of using a camera for the recording of drama and factual material. You are introduced to the basics of post production in terms of video and audio editing. You explore form and genre by producing a range of films, increasing in length and complexity before combining your experience and knowledge to produce a final film.
Introduction to Audio
In this module you learn the key skills of audio recording and post-production. Delivered on location and in the studio, it provides an insight into standard industry practices of audio production and introduces audio editing and refinement techniques in post production. The module provides you with the tools to produce high quality audio.
Lighting and Colour
In this module you gain an insight into the operation of lighting within the studio. Beginning with an introduction to the principal concepts of lighting and colour, you are also supported by an introduction to some of the diverse technologies and techniques used to apply light on location and in studio. You also learn how to control light remotely using DMX and other digital control from lighting desks and software systems.
Digital Production
In this module you are introduced to digital tools including 2D and 3D modelling, rigging and animation software to enable you to produce and render visual sequences without lens-based acquisition. Concepts including prefabs, modelling, texturing and lighting are explored. This module also serves as a foundation for future modules in Virtual Production, Motion Capture and VR.
Writing for Camera and Audio
In this module you learn the essential skills of scriptwriting along with key theories/ideas such as narrative, genre, authorship, and how screenplays are shaped by social and economic contexts. You explore a broad range of topics that include creation of character, character arcs, archetypes, the anti-hero, narrative theories and structures, writing dialogue and the TV writer’s room as you gain the skills and knowledge required to create scripts.
Production Management
In this module you learn a variety of production management techniques by breaking down a script for production. You develop script breakdowns, schedules, crew lists, risk assessments and the other documentation needed to enable the script to be produced and delivered.
Project 1
In this module you bring together your learning from the other modules and apply it to a live creative project. In simulated professional conditions you develop, propose, pitch and deliver a production project which you then reflect on and report on the process.
Multi Camera and Studio Creation
This module builds on the camera, sound and post production techniques learnt in your first year as you apply them in a studio environment. You explore production roles in the gallery and on the studio floor through production activities, including producing news and weather segments, magazine and chat shows, gameshows, dramas, sitcoms and capturing live music as you advance your studio production skills.
Location Filming and Sound
In this module you develop camera, sound and post production techniques for location filming. You develop and produce a short film as a crew, starting with a script breakdown and location scouting, before moving onto casting and budgeting. You shoot and edit the film as well as producing a behind the scenes reel with contributions from cast and crew to produce an EPK to help promote and contextualise the film.
Storytelling Traditions
In this module you explore a variety of storytelling forms and traditions. It enables the development of story ideas based on historic storytelling forms and tropes as you compile a portfolio of spoken word performances. The module sits as a point of contrast to the Storytelling and Screen Cultures module, focusing not on the emergence of contemporary storytelling techniques, but on forms and traditions.
Storytelling and Screen Cultures
In this module you develop your writing skills and your ability to create narratives for a variety of genres and media. Specific writing techniques are studied including how to write opening sequences and inciting incidents, which narrative forms and devices to use, and the role of transnational storytelling and the process of adaptation. This module looks at the techniques, conventions and strategies for writing police dramas, horror narratives, rom-coms and sit-coms before, finally, considering today’s era of binge viewing and the possible futures of our storytelling cultures.
Motion Capture and Virtual Production
In this module you explore contemporary storytelling techniques and technologies, motion capture and virtual production. You study the principles and possibilities and cover the operation and use of foundational motion capture and virtual reality (VR) equipment and packages as you produce a scene using motion capture and virtual production.
Post Production Techniques
In this module you advance your post production skills by correcting and improving video and audio using industry techniques and practices. These include colour correction, compositing and tracking for visuals and synching and mixing for audio. You then produce your own series of shots and sequences to be developed to demonstrate your chosen post production skills.
Project 2
In this module you bring together your learning from the other modules, and experience from Project 1, and apply it to a live creative project as you take your practical work to the next level. In fully professionally simulated conditions you develop, propose, pitch and deliver a production project which you then reflect on and report on the process.
Project 3 - core
In this module you bring together your learning from the other modules, and experience from Project 2, and apply it to a creative project as you take your practical work to the next level. In fully professionally simulated conditions you develop, propose, pitch and deliver a production project which you then reflect on and report on the process.
Directing - option
Along with the core final project, in your third year you choose three option modules that enable you to explore and deepen your interests and passions. In this module you advance your skills and abilities as a lead-creative in the production of film-based media. You explore the development and delivery of creative work from the role of a director. You design and develop scenes in collaboration with cast and crew and experiment with storytelling styles and techniques as you compile a portfolio of filmed material that demonstrates your abilities.
Cinematography - option
Along with the core final project, in your third year you choose three option modules that enable you to explore and deepen your interests and passions. In this module you advance and refine your cinematography skills by producing accomplished vignettes and scenes using a number of techniques and technologies. You explore traditional cinematography skills, blended with contemporary advances in the field to produce accomplished technical and artistic work.
Audio Post Production - option
Along with the core final project, in your third year you choose three option modules that enable you to explore and deepen your interests and passions. In this module you build on the key skills developed in previous modules, with an emphasis on post production sound for film. Topics include ADR, Foley, music in film, character design, masking, sound spheres, multichannel mixing, synchronisation, surround sound technology development, cross-platform multichannel audio and mastering standards. The module is designed to provide you with the tools to produce high quality, multichannel audio and industry standard deliverables in a number of formats.
Live Events and Broadcast Creation - option
Along with the core final project, in your third year you choose three option modules that enable you to explore and deepen your interests and passions. In this module you develop and deliver a live production through all production phases. Working on a series of live productions you experience a variety of roles and responsibilities to design and execute the creation and capture of live events and collaborate with other arts practitioners and disciplines across the institution to create a complex and externally facing broadcast portfolio.
Transmedia Storytelling - option
Along with the core final project, in your third year you choose three option modules that enable you to explore and deepen your interests and passions. In this module you study how narratives are no longer limited to one platform of storytelling. Instead, utilising convergent technologies, narratives are increasingly spread across a diverse range of mediums, each one offering only a fragment of a larger textual whole. You explore a range of different storytelling platforms: their histories, specificities, benefits, limitations and interconnections. You conceive, develop and produce a transmedia project/portfolio with a narrative spread across different media platforms.
Immersive Media - option
Along with the core final project, in your third year you choose three option modules that enable you to explore and deepen your interests and passions. In this module you study rapidly developing virtual, augmented and mixed reality technologies for mass communication and storytelling. You explore the impact of new technologies on storytelling and audiences and apply capture and presentation technologies for both audio and visual media, before proposing and creating a contemporary immersive story or experience.
Advanced Post-production - option
Along with the core final project, in your third year you choose three option modules that enable you to explore and deepen your interests and passions. In this module you advance your post production skills as you learn image visual effects (VFX) techniques. This includes colour grading, compositing, basic CGI and animation, match moving, integrating post VFX and live action. You compile a practical portfolio demonstrating VFX techniques.
How You Will
Study
-
Lectures
-
Seminars
-
Productions
-
Group Work
-
Masterclass
-
Independent study
How You Will Be
Assessed
You will be assessed through practical and written work. You have regular opportunities for project based learning where you work full-time and collaborate with other students, working in professional conditions to devise and deliver your own projects that grow in complexity as you progress. As well as your practical projects, you undertake a large scale research project which connects to your future career. At the end of each year, you create a portfolio to demonstrate your work.
Practical/written work ratio
70% practical work / 30% written assignments
Validation
LIPA aims to have probationary degree awarding powers from September 2025 (subject to Office for Students approval). This is an exciting step, allowing us to take full control of our curriculum and course portfolio. In the unlikely event LIPA does not achieve probationary degree awarding powers, our degrees will be validated by Liverpool John Moores University.
Our
Facilities
Sennheiser Studio
The Sennheiser Studio is equipped for UHD multi-camera productions with broadcast production cameras and cine zoom lenses, an array of KinoFlo variable LED lighting fixtures, a large 16m curved green screen for compositing and visual effects work and a dedicated fibre optic network.
Gallery and control room
Adjacent to the Sennheiser Studio, the gallery and control room is equipped with vision mixer, consoles for remote controlling lighting, cameras, playback, recording, communications, streaming and teleprompting. Monitoring is achieved using three 50” UHD screens. Largely equipped by Blackmagic Design, it is fully integrated, highly versatile and has extensive digital network capabilities able to provide routing options throughout our facilities.
Grading suite
This acoustically treated digital lab is a finishing space that enables highly accurate grading, final correction and monitoring to take place before films and visual media are exported. It runs DaVinci Resolve Studio (which is used extensively throughout the industry) on EIZO monitors that are 98% colour accurate alongside a large 65” UHD display for viewing and screening work. The grading suite is a highly controlled environment with adjustable ambient lighting - with a colour temperature of neutral daylight.
Live sound studio
Includes a Calrec Brio 36 desk that supports both live mixes from the studio or working with streamed or pre-recorded media from other parts of LIPA through dedicated fibre optic network, along with comms, radio MIC controls, audio playback facilities and Neumann monitoring speakers.
Surround sound studio and voiceover booth
Recording and mastering suite with 5:1 surround. The suite runs Avid Pro Tools S3 processor and console with Neumann monitoring speakers. Positioned alongside is a fully acoustically insulated voiceover booth for voice, ADR and Foley work.
Cameras and location kit
Loanable equipment for location shots includes, Sony, Cannon 4K, Blackmagic 4K, 6K and 6K Pro Pocket Cinema, and Red Komodo 6K cameras; Sennheiser wired and wireless microphones; Tascam and Zoom audio recording equipment; VIVE, Oculus and Meta VR headsets; camera stabilisers, and Xhiyun and DJI gimbals.
Motion Capture Suite
Our motion capture suite has an 18-camera array and support for virtual camera systems and VR headset preview. The Optitrak system is capable of allowing full body capture of three performers at up to 240 fps.
Media Edit Suite
Our post-production ICT suite is equipped with 27” Apple iMacs with i9 processors. These computers all run Adobe Creative Cloud as well as a range of other post-production and design software including DaVinci Resolve and QLab. Our post-production facilities also include a grading suite which has high accuracy UHD monitoring for editing and colour grading.
George Harrison Workshop Studio
Seating up to 120 people, The George Harrison Workshop Studio is a fully equipped experimental performance space that offers creatives and performers a ‘blank canvas’ for productions. As well as immersive and promenade performances, it can also host more traditional theatrical productions with a variety of stage and audience configurations. The George Harrison Workshop Studio is also used as an exhibition, rehearsal, and teaching space.
The Paul McCartney Auditorium
The PMA is the largest of LIPA’s performance spaces and is a traditional proscenium arch theatre. It can seat an audience of around 350 people and has flexible seating arrangements and staging configurations.
Each year over 30 performances take place in the PMA. These include shows that make up part of LIPA’s season of public performances, providing Sound Technology students with the opportunity of working on large-scale, fully realised drama, dance, and musical theatre productions as well as a two week-long music festival.
Technical Services
LIPA’s Technical Services team can help with general technical queries and booking out equipment for short-term loan. Loan equipment includes musical instruments, microphones, various recording and playback equipment, digital video and stills cameras and AV equipment.
Term-time opening hours allow you access to Technical Services from 9am until 11pm every weekday and 9am until 5pm on Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sunday. Outside of term-time it is open on weekdays from 9am - 5pm.
Learning Resources Centre
LIPA’s Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is a specialist creative and performing arts library with an extensive collection of books, e-books, scores, CDs, DVDs, e-resources, print and electronic journals. Whether you are looking for individual songs or scripts, background research or creative inspiration, the LRC Team will be able to help. The LRC offer support sessions in ICT and study skills through subject specific lectures, as well as one-to-one and drop-in sessions, ensuring you get the most out of your study. The LRC website provides the gateway to LIPA’s online catalogue and electronic resources and includes links to a wide selection of help sheets and video guides.
In addition, LIPA’s virtual learning provision which includes Moodle, holds a variety of subject-specific learning materials, such as lecture notes, useful web links and module information. The majority of these services are available off-campus. LIPA’s integrated learning environment has a variety of study spaces, including individual and group work areas, and an open-access computer suite. Facilities include printing, copying and scanning, plus binding and laminating equipment.
A range of stationery is available for purchase to support your studies. Opening hours during term time are Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 6.00pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. The LRC may be closed for some weeks in June and is also closed during July and August.
ICT Services
LIPA's Information, Communications and Technology Department provides the infrastructure and services framework that enable students to exploit the latest information and communication developments. Industry-standard computer resources are running the latest productivity software on high specification workstations in dedicated computer suites. LIPA also has a colour A0 plotter, ideal for floor plans. All PCs are installed with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office & Project as standard.
There is also access to a range of additional specialist software installed on selected workstations. These include AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, EarMaster, Sibelius, MindManager, Vectorworks and WYSIWYG. All workstations have access to the Internet, email and other electronic resources.
There is free Wi-Fi access throughout our buildings for students and staff members via the Eduroam network which provides a world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. Specialist ICT staff are available to answer questions, give assistance and advise on ICT issues.
LIPA Bar & Canteen
As well as serving food and drink, the bar and canteen are the hub of social activity within LIPA with both spaces licensed for performances. The canteen is the venue for LIPA’s weekly gig night, The 2ube. Most Fridays the 2ube features live performances, showcasing musicians from LIPA and Liverpool’s music scene. The event is a collaboration between Management, Music, Sound Technology and Theatre & Performance Technology students.
The canteen also hosts open mic and jukebox shuffle nights, and independent student organised performances and benefit nights. The bar hosts regular quiz nights and Student Event Board parties.
The bar is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 3pm - 11pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm - 10pm, with extended hours for special events.
The canteen is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 3pm, serving food and drink at student-friendly prices.
LIPA is also home to a 92 Degrees Coffee shop. The popular Liverpool independent has a number of coffee stores and roasteries across the north west. It serves up barista coffee and cakes in the Art School Atrium during term time.
Dr Steve Davies
Head of Filmmaking and Creative Technologies
Steve is a filmmaker with nearly 20-years’ worth of industry experience, working on documentaries and network dramas. He’s creative director of his own production company, filmcafe, which has worked with clients such as the BBC, NHS and McDonalds including unique immersive imaging systems for both ultra-high resolution markets and mobile platforms. His PhD is in virtual reality video, concentrating on user-centred approaches to media creation and consumption by exploring interactions with media in virtual environments.
Before joining LIPA, he worked in universities across Wales, lecturing in television, filmmaking, cinematography and digital media.
Dr Ryan Taylor
Lecturer
Ryan has a specialist knowledge of scriptwriting, transmedia storytelling, paratextuality, convergence culture, fandom, American television, media representations of gender, horror film theory and screenwriting. Having worked in academia for over a decade, he has lectured at various universities (including The University of Southampton and The University of Portsmouth) and taught modules/topics on: Crime Television; Gender, Sexuality & Cinema; Early Hollywood; British Cinema, Horror Film; Cultures of Consumption and Screenwriting. He is also a member of the advisory board of peer reviewers for three academic journals and has written numerous articles and book reviews, along with presenting papers at various internationally prestigious conferences.
While at LIPA, and specialising in scriptwriting practice and broader topics of media theory, Ryan delivers modules on the Filmmaking and Creative Technologies programme which include: Story, Script & Authorship (Level 4); Writing for Camera & Audio (Level 5); Devised Collaborative Live & Digital Performance (Level 5); Spoken Word (Level 6); Cross Platform Perspectives (Level 6); and Core Ideas/Theories (Levels 4, 5 & 6). Throughout these modules, Ryan has been a keen advocate for workshopping and peer feedback and is especially enthusiastic about active, student-centred learning. Indeed, he believes that lecturers are not the custodians but rather the facilitators of knowledge and it is their job to encourage rather than dictate critical discourse, intellectual enquiry and creative practice. As such, he strives to create an environment of interactive exchange in which learners can discuss their ideas and, collectively, we can stitch different perspectives together to form a larger holistic understanding. Within such an environment and collaborative knowledge community, we can all investigate, debate and learn together - it is only through communal exploration and discussion that we can analyse artistic practice and develop our own skills as storytellers.
Ryan’s lectures/research interrogate social inequalities concerning race, gender and sexuality and the ways in which unequal power relations are normalised/challenged by our storytelling cultures which have never been more important as we live in a polarised world of division, fragmentation, and misinformation. However, storytelling enables us to communicate our perspectives, speak truth to power and give voice to diverse cultural experiences. Storytelling is where we can imagine a better future and bring it to life.
This year, Ryan’s key publications include:
Chapters in Edited Collections:
- Dexter: Forensic Scientists, ‘Orientated’ Audiences & the Dark Defender of the Social Order. In R. Janicker (Ed.), The Scientist in Popular Culture. Maryland: Lexington Books.
Journal Articles:
- Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal: Cannibalizing the Canon. Published in the special issue of the Journal of Screenwriting entitled ‘The New Screenplay? Emerging Screenwriting Styles, Modes, and Languages’ [expected November 2022).
Dr Steffan Owens
Lecturer
What Our
Graduates Do
This is a new course - we expect graduates will be able to work in many roles from film and television maker to writer or video projection artist.
There are also an increasing number of opportunities in virtual and augmented reality media. Theatre and musical theatre increasingly use film and projection, as do music events. Our graduates are also likely to be in demand, where pop-up events or retail business want to engage with immersive events and use of public spaces.
Educational qualifications are important but limited in what they can tell us about you.
Your natural ability, your fit with what and how we teach, your growth and your potential are also key factors in our admission process. We can’t evaluate these solely on your educational achievements, so no matter which course you are applying for, we look for the following attributes on your application and at the interview stage.
-
"“This is the sort of forward-thinking course I would encourage for students wishing to acquire the skills necessary to realise their imagination on screen. The content addresses much of what we need to know in the industry right now to keep innovating in entertainment.”"
Jon Driscoll
Olivier Award-winning projection designer
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. We will send you more detailed information about books and equipment we’d like you to bring after you accept your offer. Many of the costs suggested below are optional. We’ve also included information about cost of living expenses in Liverpool in this section.
Trips and training courses
As part of the various modules on the programme, some class trips may be offered to help support your learning. Some of these will form part of the curriculum but most will be important additions to your work. Some trips may be free or subsidised but you may be required to cover some costs yourself. Please allow up to £100 for these throughout the year.
Seeing shows
You should see live performances as often as you can. This is not compulsory, but it will help your development as a creative practitioner. Trips to the theatre and live events are not covered by your tuition fees, so you'll need to cover these costs yourself. We are occasionally offered a limited number of free or discounted tickets for shows in the city. We also encourage you to see LIPA shows. We offer discounted student tickets to make this as affordable as possible.
Portfolio
At the end of Year Three you are required to create a professional standard portfolio. There are inevitably printing and binding costs associated with this task, but most people see it as an important investment for their future career.
Project work
While developing some of your projects, you may incur costs related to transport or accommodation. This will depend on the nature of your projects and the research you wish to carry out in order to produce them.
Cost of living
Wherever you choose to study, you'll have to budget for accommodation and other everyday living expenses, such as food and bills.
Liverpool is one the UK's cheapest student cities. Accommodation costs are relatively low, particularly compared to the south east of England, and the city's shops and entertainment venues also have lots of student discounts.
We’d recommend completing a simple budget plan to predict your income and outgoings. This should include accommodation, bills, insurance, TV licence, food, laundry, clothes, books, travel and socialising. How much you'll want to spend on a lot of these is completely personal.
There is lots of advice available online about budgeting:
- UCAS budget calculator is a great tool to help you balance your in-comings and out-goings.
- SaveTheStudent provides useful information on student money resources, including loans, budgeting, and scholarship sources.
Most UK students will be able to take out a maintenance loan to assist with living costs and there are some grants available. We also offer some bursaries. To find out more, please see Student Finance and bursaries.
Because our courses are intensive and we have a busy season of student performances, options for part-time work during our teaching periods can be limited. However, many of our students gain flexible part-time work, in performance venues, shops, restaurants and bars. We also provide casual work opportunities for our students ranging from stewarding work on our productions to working with young people to help us widen access to our courses. The long summer break is when many of our students choose to work.
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. We will send you more detailed information about books and equipment we’d like you to bring after you accept your offer. Many of the costs suggested below are optional. We’ve also included information about cost of living expenses in Liverpool in this section.
Trips and training courses
As part of the various modules on the programme, some class trips may be offered to help support your learning. Some of these will form part of the curriculum but most will be important additions to your work. Some trips may be free or subsidised but you may be required to cover some costs yourself. Please allow up to £100 for these throughout the year.
Seeing shows
You should see films and live performances as often as you can. This is not compulsory, but it will help your development as a creative practitioner. Trips to the cinema, theatre and live events are not covered by your tuition fees, so you'll need to cover these costs yourself. We are occasionally offered a limited number of free or discounted tickets for shows in the city. We also encourage you to see LIPA shows. We offer discounted student tickets to make this as affordable as possible.
Project work
While developing some of your projects, you may incur costs related to transport or accommodation. Projects are created by negotiated brief, and so what will be required will depend on the nature of your projects and the pre-production and research you wish to carry out to produce them. Ultimately, your projects form the basis of the portfolio you will develop in readiness for your future career.
Portfolio
Over the course of your studies, you will create work that will form the basis of your portfolio or showreel. you are required to create a professional standard portfolio. There are inevitably printing and binding costs associated with this task, but most people see it as an important investment for their future career.
Cost of living
Wherever you choose to study, you'll have to budget for accommodation and other everyday living expenses, such as food and bills.
Liverpool is one the UK's cheapest student cities. Accommodation costs are relatively low, particularly compared to the south east of England, and the city's shops and entertainment venues also have lots of student discounts.
We’d recommend completing a simple budget plan to predict your income and outgoings. This should include accommodation, bills, insurance, TV licence, food, laundry, clothes, books, travel and socialising. How much you'll want to spend on a lot of these is completely personal.
There is lots of advice available online about budgeting:
- UCAS budget calculator is a great tool to help you balance your in-comings and out-goings.
- SaveTheStudent provides useful information on student money resources, including loans, budgeting, and scholarship sources.
Most UK students will be able to take out a maintenance loan to assist with living costs and there are some grants available. We also offer some bursaries. To find out more, please see Student Finance and bursaries.
Because our courses are intensive and we have a busy season of student performances, options for part-time work during our teaching periods can be limited. However, many of our students gain flexible part-time work, in performance venues, shops, restaurants and bars. We also provide casual work opportunities for our students ranging from stewarding work on our productions to working with young people to help us widen access to our courses. The long summer break is when many of our students choose to work.
View the programme specification on the LJMU course catalogue here