MA Visualization for Film and TV Production

  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe / BNU based at Pinewood Studios
  • Duration: One Year
  • Start Date: September 2024

Visualization is all about pre-visualizing action, camera angles and camera movement before anything is filmed. The course of planning out complicated sequences in 3D has now become a recognised step in the pipeline of almost all large-scale film making ventures. The demand for skilled artists in this field of work has increased greatly and our course can help you start your journey in the industry.

Based at our High Wycombe campus and Pinewood Studio Base, our MA in Visualization for Film and TV Production offers you the chance to gain specialised skills and knowledge in this very niche field of film making. You will learn the process of pre-visualising camera angles, and camera movement before anything is even filmed.

student using faceware software for media course
student using faceware software for media course

Why study this subject?

The Creative Industries employ over 2 million people in the UK and were projected to create an additional one million jobs by 2050. In the last ten years, jobs in the UK’s Creative Industries have grown at three times the UK average. (Source)

Previsualisation Artists have a very creative role, working out a story in its draft form. They will aid the director in planning both live action and CGI animated scenes films. These days most high budget productions will go through this process. Increased industry demand means employers need graduates with practical skills and hands-on experience.

 

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

There are very few MA level courses available in the UK for students to study Previs and this course has been developed by leading industry practitioners to be current and on trend, introducing students to the latest technologies and working methodologies available today.

Our MA Visualization for Film and TV Production course at BNU is one of the only courses in the UK that has 3D Visualisation at its heart. It has been designed by industry professionals to be as current as possible and includes the most up-to-date virtual story telling techniques being used in the industry. So if you’re a graduate that has an interest in working as a previsualisation artist, this course is for you.

You’ll also be invited to join online groups where you will be able to meet the other students taking our animation, visual effects, game art and visualisation courses, both MA and BA, online and attendance. These help to foster a sense of community and are also places where extra-curricular collaborative projects, such as game jams, take place. You will also be able to meet our alumni in these broader forums. All forums are moderated by the lecturers. 

Pinewood studios exterior building

What facilities can I use?

Whilst being equipped with specialist skills, you will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment here at Buckinghamshire New University. For Visualization for Film and TV Production students, these include:

  • animation computer labs
  • specialist software including Maya
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • VR facilities
  • Up-to-date camera equipment
  • motion capture facilities

Whilst studying with us you will also use our AppsAnywhere web service, which provides access to many of the software applications you use for learning and studying. AppsAnywhere can be used from your own device or from a University owned PC or laptop, from any location.

This video was our first experiment with our new Xsens motion capture suits. With the help of dancers from BNU’s BA Dance and Performance course, we motion captured a routine on the concourse running though the university and replaced one of the dancers with a version of the Lonely Robot and comped this back into the footage. We also have state of the art Faceware kits for face motion capture.

Female dance student dancing with human-size robot

You will also study in our ASUS ProArt lab which is designed to help you deliver your very best work. The lab features Scan 3XS workstations and a range of high performance display monitors from the Asus ProArt range. These provide excellent colour grading to help you produce colour accurate work for your final projects and showreels.

 

What will I study?

We cover a broad range of highly desirable skills in the niche field of 3D Visualisation to equip you for the industry. Storyboarding techniques, 3D layout, motion capture and character animation are all essential skills that you will learn as well as the fundamental principles of cinematography.

We ensure that our course covers the most up-to-date techniques. Over the year, you will develop into a skilled director and will understand the 5 C’s of composition, continuity, cutting, close ups and camera angles. We will also delve into cinematic lighting, lens choice and advanced 3D virtual camera animation.

How will I be taught and assessed?

This course will be delivered through lectures, group sessions and 1:1s with tutors. You’ll also take part in a range of workshops, talks and lectures with current industry professionals. During workshops, you’ll have the chance to work on projects to tight deadlines and have regular ‘dallies’ sessions, mirroring industry practice.

You will attend weekly classes with a lecturer over the full 10 weeks of the modules except for the final production project. During these sessions, you will have the opportunity to ask questions to the lecturers and get answers and feedback. Normally these will begin with a group seminar and then break into 1:1 sessions where you will have the opportunity to discuss your individual progress.  

You will be able to submit your work for asynchronous formative review which will be delivered as a video commentary on your work. 

Each week you will be set a task related to the weekly content or be working towards your own project objective as agreed with the lecturers. You will be able to complete your work using the hardware at the university and will also be able to access the Bucks Anywhere service, which provides remote access, from any location, to a catalogue of University software applications for learners using personal or BNU devices. You will also be able to remotely access our VDI, which is a powerful computer that will give you access to all the software relevant to the course. This will enable you to work as and when suits you outside of the scheduled hours 

You will also be expected to join a closed online group where you will be able to discuss the work and ask questions throughout the week. It is expected that both lecturers and learners will contribute and answer questions. This will also be a place for learners to post work for peer discussion and review.  

You will create detailed and complex projects which you will then present for assessment. During the presentation you will be expected to discuss and critically evaluate your output and production processes. You will be expected to make interim presentations for formative feedback and to ensure work is proceeding on track. You will be expected to keep a formal learning journal of your progress as a source of notes for the final presentation. This will contain not only your progress but also your research and concept work.  

MA Visualization for Film and TV Production Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical applicant will hold a related bachelor’s degree or be an industry-based professional who can demonstrate accomplishments in this area and would like to develop their skills with a view to reaching production standards required within the Visualisation industry.

It would be expected that the students have a good basic understanding of 3D animation, modelling and texturing as well as experience using Maya before applying for this course.

Skills and knowledge of applicants will be assessed by the course team via a portfolio.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

What are the tuition fees

Home
  • Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £10,500 per year
International
  • Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £15,550 per year

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

What are my career prospects? 

As this course is very specific, you will be prepared to go directly into roles such as a Pre-Visualisation Artist, Post-Visualisation Artist or Virtual Production Artists. Our course takes reference from high profile films as the basis for learning and you will be prepared to find work in the industry on successful completion of the course.

In 2022 we held our first end of year show at the John Barry Theatre at Pinewood Studios. Professionals from the industry were invited to see students' work from their time on the MA Visualization for Film and TV Production course, providing exciting networking opportunities. These industry experts were very impressed with the quality of students' work.

Course leader

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Rob Penhaligon
  • Senior Lecturer
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miles skarin
Miles Skarin
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Elle Bromfield
  • Lecturer
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