Why Digital Media at Bodmin?
“The work shown by the students is regularly of professional standard such that it is used by the clients themselves which is probably the most meaningful critical evaluation of their work.”
"The integration with local (and wider) industry and the use of visiting lecturers, who all work professionally in their industry, gives the students an almost ‘osmotic’ experience of working as a professional. It gives them a natural feel for how to develop themselves and their work.”
ABOUT
Your Course Team
A mix of industry professionals and lecturers with several years experience support you during your time with us and help you develop the skills necessary to build a career in the industry.
Mark Talbot has a degree in Sculpture, and has taught at Bodmin College for 20 years, during which time he has pioneered the use digital technologies to enhance learning. Mark also owns and runs The Square Gallery St Mawes with his wife Catherine
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Kyle Anderson graduated from Plymouth University with a degree in Media Arts, working with Photography, Film, Sound and Animation.
Kyle has been working for the NFL since 2014 on the Statistics Crew as well as being published on Social Media for South West Water and Jason Myers, previous Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback.
Kyle has been involved in several exhibitions, notably with The Box Museum and Ocean Studios in Plymouth.
Jessica Hill is a Digital Art teacher with a background in Fine art. She graduated from Bournemouth Arts University where her practise was based around installations and creating kinetic sculptures.
Jess has a lot of experience of working in and creating exhibitions and spent time working at the Hayward gallery in London building a 10ft lobster.
She has worked in two galleries in Prague as an assistant programme manager.
About
Our Visiting Lecturer Team
Our Visiting Lecturer Team visit every Wednesday throughout the Academic Year
Brett Harvey is a writer and director based in Cornwall. His short film work has won awards at The Manchester Festival of Fantastic Films, Fresh Five Festival, Viewfinder Festival, Cornwall Film Festival, Frightfest, Total Film Magazine and he was the Southwest Regional Finalist in the Orange 60 Seconds of Fame competition at the BAFTA’s in 2008.
His first feature film Weekend Retreat won the Golden Chough award at the Cornwall Film Festival 2011, Best Director at the London Independent Film Festival 2012, Best Actress and Best Film at the Bootleg Film Festival 2013, Best Director at the International Film Festival of Wales 2014 and 9 awards at the Global Independent Film Awards.
His second feature film Brown Willy was released into cinemas in 2016. It played in international film festivals and The New Statesman described it as “Cornwall’s answer to Withnail and I”.
Hana Backland is a freelance filmmaker specialising in community, arts and education work. She also shoots behind the scenes for large film productions and regularly mentors younger filmmakers and creatives.
She's run a film festival, invented a kids-in-charge tv pilot, worked on psychosis intervention from the bottom of a swimming pool and regularly facilitates curriculum enrichment filmmaking sessions in schools.
Hana has extensive experience in devising workshops, building creative rapport with strangers, fixing problems on the fly and motivating people to give the very best they can to a project or brief.
John Crooks is the co-founder and director of Dogbite Ltd, a creative production company specialising in film, music videos and TV advertising for both national and international brands.
John has worked as a gaffer on hundreds of productions in commercials, drama and feature films, shooting and directing live broadcast, and stage management.
With years of “set time” under his belt, John has a vast knowledge of the roles within production and has been running his his own Film School for the last seven years.
Jon Drever is a British director, producer and screenwriter, mostly working in comedy genre. He is best known for his collaborations with comedian Brett Goldstein, which include the low-budget feature film SuperBob (2015).
Together with his business partner, Orlando von Einsiedel, Jon co-founded the production company, Grain Media, which produced the Academy Award, Emmy and BAFTA-nominated feature-length documentary Virunga (2014), released on Netflix
Course overview
FdA Digital Media
2 Years Study at Bodmin College
2 Years
240
8
FdA (Hons)
BA (Hons) Digital Media
1 Year Study at Bodmin College
1 Years
DURATION
120
Credits
3
Modules
BA (Hons)
QUALIFICATION
Who are we looking for
Both FdA and BA(Hons) Top-up Digital Media are awarded by Falmouth University. Falmouth University is a higher education institution with the power to award degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions up to the level of taught Master’s in accordance with its Articles of Government.
Students who successfully complete the FdA Digital Media will be eligible to apply for entry onto the final year BA(Hons) Top-up.
Course delivery and assessment methods
The FdA and BA (Hons) Digital Media courses are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of digital media and its application in various industries. The courses are composed of a range of modules below.
Students can expect to have three days in-person contact hours per week, which will consist of a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions. In addition, students will be expected to undertake self-directed study outside of these contact hours, which will include research, reading, and assignment preparation.
The workload for students will vary depending on the module, but students are expected to spend around 20-30 extra hours per week on self-study. The studios are open 5 days per week to support self-study.
The courses are delivered by experienced staff, including our regular Visiting Lecturer Program (1 day per Week), who all have a background in digital media and related fields. Many of the staff members have worked or currently work in the industry and have a wealth of practical experience to share with students. This will provide students with insight into current trends and practices within the digital media sector. (See Course Team section above)
In terms of assessment, students will be required to complete a range of coursework assignments, such as essays/reports, practical projects, and group work. They will also be expected to participate in class discussions, give presentations, and receive feedback on their work.
There are regular opportunities for students to receive feedback from staff and peers, which will help them further develop their skills and knowledge.
The courses will also involve from the outset, real client lead projects, which will enable students to gain valuable industry experience and apply their skills in a practical setting. The courses are designed to provide a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which will prepare students for a career in digital media.
FdA Year 1 Modules
This module focuses on the craft of telling stories and how you connect audiences to your narrative. Through a series of practical and theoretical assignments you will be introduced to the fundamental principles of visual language alongside the exploration of production practices and techniques associated with Digital Media.
A compelling multi-layered narrative stimulates an audience’s curiosity and imagination. Drawing your audience through your story, you will explore what makes a captivating narrative and evolve a visual and audio vocabulary of still and moving image language that will form the basis for you to begin to shape your individual character and position as an emerging practitioner.
This module explores the relationship between stakeholders in a communication process. Relationships with place will be informed by the needs and expectations of a client.
Location specific projects exploring interdisciplinary themes and media, (including sound, moving image, photography, illustration) will encourage students to investigate diverse and experimental approaches to storytelling, challenging perceptions through human interaction with immediate locations.
Place interactions may offer greater understanding, historical or cultural perspectives, communicate messages, send us the right way or just help us to know more.
You will engage with the key changes brought about by interaction; the blurring of lines between creator and observer, systems and users, in new and emerging Digital Media practices and technologies.
This module explores the relationship between stakeholders in a communication process. Relationships with place will be informed by the needs and expectations of a client.
Location specific projects exploring interdisciplinary themes and media, (including sound, moving image, photography, illustration) will encourage students to investigate diverse and experimental approaches to storytelling, challenging perceptions through human interaction with immediate locations.
Place interactions may offer greater understanding, historical or cultural perspectives, communicate messages, send us the right way or just help us to know more.
You will engage with the key changes brought about by interaction; the blurring of lines between creator and observer, systems and users, in new and emerging Digital Media practices and technologies.
This
module marks an important transitional stage for you as an emerging practitioner,
from tutor set assignments and group managed outcomes to independent goal
setting and a more individual approach to the discipline.
You will begin to reflect
more critically on future prospects, with a greater emphasis on personal
exploration of future directions as you begin to tailor your experience through
growing specialisation and ambition.
You
will negotiate self‐directed or client led assignments, identifying potential
opportunities, developing new insights and challenging conventions as you begin
to build your professional identity and positioning
within emerging and (often) temporary contexts and platforms associated with
the discipline.
This module will
equip you with knowledge to engage in constructive and critical debate and will facilitate further development of research
methodologies, theory, scope and
contexts of contemporary Digital Media practice towards a sustained written
outcome reflective of your individual enquiry.
FdA Year 2 Modules
This module supports
your creative and personal academic and career ambitions. It is informed by
risk, experimentation and ‘real world’ contextualisation - the essential
drivers for the module DTM201 Realisation.
This module
introduces a range of theoretical and practical positions that have been
informed by and arisen from methods of contemporary and future digital
media practice.
You will develop
critical understanding of the dynamic relationship
between Digital Media technologies, social formations and individual subjectivities.
There will be a strong
emphasis on developing a proactive and enterprising approach to applying your
understanding to your production work.
This module will
prepare you for progression to stage 3 study in relation to the extended
contextual assignments, and more independent project management expectations of
creative studio practice.
This module enables you to independently express
your passion for a specialism within Digital Media and grow confidence in
delivering projects within a professional context.
Building on skills developed during the earlier
stages of the course, this module encourages you to evolve and deploy skills
and competencies in applied digital media practice from idea generation,
through project development and production to delivery.
The module enables you to become more autonomous in
your practice as you begin to prepare for Stage 3 of the award and a personal
exploration of future directions.
You will be encouraged to embrace new experiences
and pursue more challenging independent goals in conceptual development and
technical competencies.
The practice based self‐negotiated assignments will
encourage you to identify potential new opportunities and develop new
insights into existing problems by challenging conventions.
This module explores the relationship between stakeholders in a communication process. Relationships with place will be informed by the needs and expectations of a client.
Location specific projects exploring interdisciplinary themes and media, (including sound, moving image, photography, illustration) will encourage students to investigate diverse and experimental approaches to storytelling, challenging perceptions through human interaction with immediate locations.
Place interactions may offer greater understanding, historical or cultural perspectives, communicate messages, send us the right way or just help us to know more.
You will engage with the key changes brought about by interaction; the blurring of lines between creator and observer, systems and users, in new and emerging Digital Media practices and technologies.
The
module marks an important transitional stage in the award, from tutor set
assignments and managed project outcomes, to independent goal setting and
personal exploration of future directions.
This module will prepare you in the development of
your portfolio for either progression to Stage 3 of a degree course or
professional creative practice. The module will create the platform for you to
critically develop and communicate your creative Digital Media practice.
You will be expected to engage with both self-authored
and/or externally set briefs that allow you to explore subject-specific areas
of interest, at the same time pushing and challenging your creative potential.
As part of this you will be encouraged to embrace new
experiences and accept more challenging goals. You will be supported by workshops
on brief writing and project management. You will be expected to present your
work, during the module and at assessment, including final outcomes and
development work.
Key to success in this module is the independent
project management expectations of the studio assignments and your
professionalism in delivering work for client/s. This will enable you to
sustain and build upon your commercial relationships and critical business
skills developed during the course.
Your work will be presented in a major exhibition to
mark the end of your stage 2 study.
BA(Hons) Year 3 Modules
Through a range of challenges including client and self-initiated briefs that explore alternative models of practice, you will be encouraged to reflect upon your strengths, motivations and personal futures in Digital Media Industries and begin to shape your personal transition out of the degree and into professional practice.
The module will emphasise the importance of analysis, innovation, collaboration and idea generation within the process of creative problem solving, whilst identifying and understanding the challenges of a client’s requirements.
Students will develop strength in a portfolio of work that prepares them for the next stage in their career journey. A portfolio will first and foremost challenge creative potential and encouraging diversity and breadth, with the aim to locate high quality professional practice within a wide range of professional contexts.
This module will guide you through conducting an inventory of the knowledge, talent, strengths and skills you have. This will form the basis for developing your professional strategy.
You will begin by analysing your industry and learning experiences to date and identify appropriate professional career options based on your studies and industry experience (including work placements).
Your work for this module will focus on a Contextual research study in which you will apply knowledge to develop your own academic and professional voice.
You will employ advanced research methods to critically evaluate your own research, applying academic rigour and intellectual criticality to deliver a substantial and complexed study that communicates a deeper understanding of your selected area of Digital Media.
You will explore current and future markets responding to perceived gaps in knowledge and understanding, and identify opportunities for your professional practice..
Drawing on Innovation and Critical Contexts this module will support you in positioning your
practice contextually, creatively and strategically in your transition to first career steps or
postgraduate study.
This final realisation will draw on your extended knowledge of the professional contexts of
digital media practice, critical theory and will result in a sophisticated resolution of a final
body of work at a professional level.
Workshops and creative discussion will reflect on personal practice, focus on the strength of
your ideas and challenge conventions.
You will carefully consider communication tools and distribution channels for your work that
may include online and offline spaces. You will develop a clear rationale in a folio that
evidences your understanding of industry practice and supports your chosen potential career
paths.
Your final body of work will be the result of detailed autonomous exploration in order to
accomplish individual and authentic output, in your chosen area of digital media.
A Portfolio pitch presentation to clients, tutors, invited industry guests and alumni will
enable you to identify and demonstrate your independent engagement with opportunities
relevant to your next steps following graduation.
For this you will select and integrate a range of media to produce compelling communication
to articulate your work, your ideas, your unique interests, values, strengths and individual
ambition following graduation, in visual and oral form to your audience.
What our Graduates do
Building on a range of approaches to Digital Media through viewing, discussion and analysis, you will choose your own path through our degree. You will be encouraged to work for a broad range of clients on 'Live Work'.
You will be supported to develop your communication with clients and ensure that you creatively meet set briefs. You will also be encouraged to develop skills in entrepreneurship and will be supported to set up your own business whilst studying.
Self-employment, Sblngr,
Freelance Graphic Designer
www.sblngr.com
Photographer and Photo Chemist. Major exhibition in 2019 at Devonport Guildhall
www.markpearson.co.uk
So you're considering Bodmin, you'll probably have a few questions about the course, what we look for when we're selecting our students, and what it's like to study here.
Important information pertaining to your studies, and
the regulations that govern your studentship, can be found on Falmouth University's website here.
In particular, you should note the 'Student Terms & Conditions', 'Academic Regulations', 'Student Code of Conduct', and 'Academic Integrity Policy'.
If you are dissatisfied with the level of service that you have received with Bodmin College and wish to make a complaint, please read and follow the Bodmin College Complaints Policy and Procedure, which can be found on
Falmouth University's website here.
University's Academic Calendar for study block/term dates can be found on Falmouth Universities website here
Contact Mark Talbot, Course Leader FdA and BA(Hons) Digital Media below:
Unit 16 Woods Browning Industrial Estate
Bodmin, Cornwall. UK
PL311DQ
+44 (0)1208 72114 (ext 725)
