Experimental Film Production

Other courses offered by the Department of Media Production

BA (Hons) Advertising and Commercial Film Production

BA (Hons) Media Production

• Developed from the on-going success of the Industry accredited Media Production course
• It is a practical, vocational, artistic and creative course that prepares you for a future in filmmaking
• Taught by professional practicing media artists and film makers

• Read Experimental Film Production course information (PDF, file size: 342.41KB)

Roberta Spain (Experimental Film Production) is celebrating after scooping a Royal Television Society award for her short experimental drama, ‘A/S/L’ - Read more

"Doing the Experimental Film Production course at Staffs is such a good way to start your career. I think it's questioned as to whether a degree is considered important in the television industry, especially because, unless you start your own company, you'll nearly always begin as a runner. I couldn't disagree more.

The course is very full on. You're required to work hard all week and sometimes at weekends and I think the pressure of getting work done in time, being organised and constantly keeping up to date with everything is an invaluable lesson to learn. It prepared me for the work I have to do now, which generally involves working stupidly long hours.

The Design Futures module in the third year is fantastic. The tutors help and guide you to find ways to stand out from other graduates by visiting production companies in person and requesting to meet industry professionals. I spent a day in London for that module and walked away with a job as a Runner on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, and I've been in employment constantly ever since.

I currently have three jobs (it's very busy). I'm employed by the BBC on this series of Strictly Come Dancing, I'm also employed by comedy television company Avalon, doing the 4th series of Not Going Out with Lee Mack and I'm also helping on the auditions with Love Productions for the third series of The Great British Bake-Off."

Holly Morris, Graduated 2011.

This course is a practical production course which is aimed at students who wish to expand their artistic and creative horizons, in the area of experimental film from both practical and theoretical approaches. The course is essentially a creative award, which will cover practical filmmaking skills and a study of the historical and contemporary development of experimental film. Students will participate in practical production modules and exercises, in which aesthetic and technical experimentation will
be undertaken.

The course has an emphasis on producing innovative and creative films (in the form of digital sound and video production) in the areas of experimental film making via technical, conceptual and aesthetic exploration. You will develop ideas generation and creativity, which aim to challenge audience perceptions of traditional filmmaking. However, the filmmakers’ emphasis remains one of ‘audience reading’ of the film’s message, point and meaning. At Levels 4 and 5, students develop an understanding of the film production process and learn to work in the technical and creative roles of sound and moving image production.

Residential field trips and visits to museums, galleries and film festivals, form a major part of the course and are coordinated throughout Levels 4, 5 and 6. At Level 6, you produce a body of work, which is of significant interest to you, in negotiation with the academic staff. We encourage external contact through working on live projects with museums, galleries, art and music venues and businesses.

Whilst the course is aimed at a more experimental form of filmmaking, graduates from this course will be able to seek employment in a variety of sectors of the media industry; in television, advertising, radio, education and training, as well as a range of other film, video and audio production and post production companies – creative people are always in demand.

• BA(Hons) Media/Film Production Awards Programme Specification (PDF, file size: 118.86KB)

For more information about Experimental Film Production (W621) please contact: