Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands

Set the scene for your future amongst the beautiful and diverse rural landscapes of Scotland. Write, capture, and produce creative films in collaboration with local communities; involve experts in the arts and cultural fields, and cultivate healthy industry links that will stand you in good stead for your future career.

Study craft skills, editing and production, film studies, documentaries, and cultural archiving and recording, in an environment that encourages personal development and learning. Gain valuable knowledge in small business planning and research, while acquiring the technical ability and hands-on, intensive experience needed to succeed in this rewarding industry.

This course can be studied at UHI North, West and Hebrides - Alness campus or UHI Shetland.

This course is mainly delivered online with scheduled sessions and tutorials. You may also be able to access sessions online from your local campus - please contact them directly for more information. You will also study in-person, on campus, with filmmaking equipment available to hire and a Mac lab for access to NLE. Online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors

You will take part in a mandatory 2-day in-person induction, in Alness or Inverness, at the beginning of your 1st year studies. You will also have mandatory 1-day inductions, either in-person at Alness or online, at the beginning of each Academic Year (August) in years 2-4. You will undertake a mandatory residential that requires travel to Shetland for 3-days in your third year.

Module outline

Year 1 - CertHE

Core modules are:

• Writing for film: introduction to screenplay

• Single camera production

• Stories from the highlands and islands, making a film: pitch

• Moving images: history and development of film

• Stories from the highlands and islands, making a film: production

• Introduction to post-production

Year 2 - DipHE

Core modules are:

• Moving images: visual literacy

• Remote and rural film making in a highlands and islands community

• Creating work for clients: developing the brief

• Writing for film: writing a screenplay

• Creative work for clients: production

• Post-production

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Documentary film: development

• Factual film project

• Fictional narrative film project

• Film production: techniques and aesthetics

• Live event production (mandatory residential in Shetland)

• Scotland in film

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Core modules are:

• Critical commentary

• Post-production: advanced techniques

• Freelancing skills for the digital film-maker

You will also undertake a major film project (60 credits).

This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.