About BA (Honours) in Film and Television Production

Application: CAO

What is Film and Televeision Production?

This programme provides a challenging and exciting opportunity for anyone wishing to broaden their knowledge of Cinema and Television culture and production practices.
 
Our focus is on the advancement of practical filmmaking and television production skills and the development of strong creative storytelling abilities. We offer extensive practical tuition in Production, Script, Direction, Camera/Lighting, Sound and Editing, Television Programming, Drama, Documentary, Commercials, Promotional, Experimental, and Educational programming.

Practical work promotes a strong spirit of collaboration. Small class sizes afford a good level of interaction with tutors, good access to facilities and hands-on production experience. Our aim is to see you graduate, as a knowledgeable, well-informed, highly skilled individual with the ability to generate quality film and television work that is innovative, creative and challenging.

Aims and Objectives

What modules will I study?

Year 1 
Script, Production and Direction; Technical Craft Skills - Introduction to Camera, Lighting, Sound and Editing; Page to Screen Applied Script, Production and Direction; Shooting Techniques for Film and Television; Cinema History: The Silent Era; History of Television and Broadcasting; Visual Culture and the Philosophical Tradition; Cinema History: Hollywood Cinema; Key Concepts in Aesthetics                                                              

Year 2 
Narrative Development Skills; Location Filming; Practice Based Research Project; Film as Art; Television Production; European Cinema; Irish Television; Literary Narratives           
In addition, you will be able to choose one module from the School of Creative Arts’ bank of electives. *

Year 3 
Documentary Tradition and Irish Film; Industry Focus: Experiencing the workplace; Multi-Platform Content Development; Television Drama Production; Thesis Preparation; Documentary Production, Sound and Moving Image

Year 4 
Academic Dissertation, Advanced Content Development, Project                                   

Are there any costs for materials and/or field trips?

Approx. €1,000 - €1,500 per year
Graduate Exhibition cost in year 4 

What will I be able to do when I graduate?

Many of our graduates are now connected to major Irish and international production and post production companies as well as all the major broadcasters including BBC N.I., RTÉ, TV3 and TG4, Setanta Sports and City Channel.

Graduates are working in the Film and Television industry in jobs such as Director of Television drama, Commercials Director, Documentary Director, Features Director, Location Sound Recordist, Sound Designer, Director of Photography, Focus Puller, Clapper Loader, Assistant Camera Person, Camera Operator, Assistant Director, Assistant Editor, Off-line Editor, Avid DS Editor, Sound Editor, Scriptwriter, Sound Designer, Camera Operator, Producer, Production Assistant, Location Manager, Television Researcher.

Some graduates have formed their own production companies, while others have found careers in film education, film festival events, pod casting, web and multimedia design.

What are the Entry Requirements?

Leaving Certificate Examination or equivalent with a minimum Grade C3 in two higher or common level papers, together with Grade D3 in four other subjects, to include Maths and English. Foundation Level Maths is acceptable

A portfolio of relevant work

Applicants may be called for interview if further clarification on your portfolio is required

Applicants with FETAC Awards require distinctions in 3 of 8 modules
FETAC Links for this programme are: 

• EMMPX: Multimedia Production
  
• EMPXX: Media Production
  
• EPATD: Theatre Production
  
• ETFPX: TV and Film Production
  

CAO Points in 2009:  919 (Combination of Leaving Certificate and Portfolio assessment points)
We welcome applications from mature students, who must apply to the CAO.

What should my Portfolio include?

A portfolio is a sample collection of your best work, edited, easy to look through, and well presented in a tidy manner.

Your portfolio should:

• Be selective: include and highlight only your best work, excluding early works unless there are some exceptional pieces. Do not “pack” it with any more than 30 pieces. (We appreciate quality, not quantity)
  
• Show evidence of hard work, commitment & quality
  
• Not include 3D work (only 2D documentation of 3D work)
  
• Clearly identify your role, if team work is included
  
• Include notebooks, cuttings, creative sketchbooks or visual diaries indicating your interest in the discipline
  
• Present your work to your best possible advantage
  
• Not be a copy from photographs. Do not include any artwork which is a copy of someone else’s work
  
• Include a CV (one per programme applied to) with details of hobbies, technical skills and involvement in activities related to the programme you are applying to. As information on age or educational background is not used for assessment purposes, this should not be included in your CV.

We would like to see a portfolio that demonstrates a high level of visual skill, creativity, self-motivation, inventiveness, experimentation, flexibility and stylistic variation. 

For this programme, these are our guidelines. It is not necessary to include all of the items listed below.

• Film/Video work - to be presented on DVD (PAL) only. At least 4 minutes of your footage will be screened by the panel. Let us know your role(s) on the production
  
• Photography – include a selection of your best work in black & white and/or colour and supply all images on print. If work is digital, then print in high-quality mode
  
• Written Work – screenplays (correct format), short stories, plays, poetry are all acceptable. For screenplays and short stories, synopsise the story on a cover sheet and indicate what section you would like us to read
  
• Audio Work (on Audio CD only) – radio plays, music you have composed and interesting soundscapes
  
• Drawing or Concept work – drawings and paintings that indicate that you have a good eye and imagination. Also, storyboards, costume and production design sketches

* Second Year elective modules

During the second year, you will have an opportunity to choose one module from a bank of elective options.

The module you choose will allow you to work with students and staff from other programmes in the School and to explore combinations of materials, processes, creative strategies and critical thinking which will enhance and contextualise your understanding of your main area of study.

The electives have been designed to encourage collaboration and experimentation and to broaden and deepen your understanding of the creative arts. They range in content from theatre and performance to media and politics and include a wide range of learning experiences including overseas visits, practical workshops, lectures and seminars.

The current bank of electives includes the following modules:

• Photography - Digital Imaging
  
• Performance in the Arts
  
• Animation Principles Experimental / 3D
  
• Theatre Workshop
  
• Drawing
  
• Introduction to Comics: Art and Culture
  
• Media and Politics in Ireland
  
• Introduction to Final Cut Pro
  
• Sonic Arts
  
• Creative Cities
  
• Puppetry

Visit www.iadtprojects.com to see the project work of our 2009 graduates