In this unit, students will undertake a diagnostic investigation into visual language and creative practices. This exploratory investigation allows students to become familiar with and experiment within a range of creative disciplines related to their chosen subject as part of their journey to, or reinforcement of, further specialism in Unit 2. 

Sample Projects* 

• Project 1: Future Fiction 

Imagine the world in 100 years; how will it have changed? You will create a world outline, character design and environment design using drawing, collage or photography. During practical workshops, you will learn how to make a storyboard, build a jointed paper puppet of your character and shoot an animated sequence against your environment background using stop motion software.

• Project 2: Animating Spaces 

In small groups, you will design and build a miniature scale model of a set with props, light it, and film a short video using light and shadow to create a mood. Workshops on set design, modelmaking, cinematography and 3-point lighting will support you in creating your project. You will also explore how sound is integral to cinematic experiences and learn to create a soundscape to immerse and influence your audience.

• Project 3: Double Vision 

You will write a beat sheet and a 2-3 page script in which a person interacts with an identical version of themselves. You will then direct, film and edit a live action short film, using a green screen for at least one shot. Practical workshops in using DSLR cameras, microphones and digital video editing, and lectures on scriptwriting and production planning will support you in your project. Then, inspired by video art exhibitions we will visit, you will re-edit your film to be presented as a multimedia installation.

 *Projects are examples and may change from year to year depending on the nature of live projects working with external partners, current exhibitions and visits planned and emerging new trends 

Skills Learned 
Character Design, Environment Design, Concept Art, World-building, Animation, Stop Motion, Puppet-making, Collage, Pixilation, 3-Point Lighting, model making, scaled construction, Photography, Adobe Suite, Storyboarding, Scriptwriting, Cinematography, Green Screen, Sound Design, Video Editing, Video Installation.   

This unit will provide the student with the opportunity to reflect on the knowledge, skills and practices they have developed in Unit 1 of the qualification, and to define their creative ambitions by encouraging a holistic approach to a range of activities, which will support, contextualise and position their creative endeavour within their chosen specialist practice. 

Sample Projects* 

• Project 1: Narrative 

You will learn about narrative structure in filmmaking and create a short film or animation that tells an interesting story. In 2022, as part of the Cambridge Creative Encounters project, we worked with the theme of Global Catastrophic Risk, creating stories about the end of the world to build awareness around factors that increase the likelihood of civilisation collapse. In support of this project, we spoke to researchers at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and visited the Science Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts in London.  

• Project 2: Documentary 

After learning about the history of documentary and its use in contemporary practice, you will create a short documentary film or animation on a topic of your choice, beginning with a recorded interview. A practical workshop on interview skills, including lighting and microphone setup, will prepare you for individual approach. A workshop on ethics in animated documentary will support those of you working with animation. 

• Project 3: Sound and Image 

You will create a 1-minute non-narrative film or abstract animation to a piece of composed sound. You will experiment with materials and focus on colour, shape, movement and speed. Workshops to support this project include direct animation on 16mm film, animating with sand, paint and clay, and digital video effects. 

• Project 4: University research and application 

This Unit is delivered through both weekly personal tutor sessions and 1:1 tutorials in the Autumn term and a UCAS week in September where students visit the UCAS fair to research different institutions and courses, speaking to University staff. Students are expected to gather a body of research evidence, develop a personal statement and submit a portfolio of work from across the course applying the skills learned in portfolio skills classes. 

*Projects are examples and may change from year to year depending on the nature of live projects working with external partners, current exhibitions and visits planned and emerging new trends.

Skills Learned 
Interview Techniques, Lighting, Sound Recording, 2D Paper and Digital Animation, Walk Cycles, Camera-less Animation, Sand Animation, Claymation, Paint on glass, Collaboration, Production Planning.  

This unit aims to provide students with an opportunity to take control of their own learning and demonstrate their achievement by independently initiating, researching, completing and evaluating a project proposal and its realisation within their chosen professional context. 

Skills Learned 
By this stage in the course, it is expected that students will have acquired the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to undertake their devised project; however, investigation into new skills is encouraged and facilitated where possible. Students may take advantage of the 3D workshop or join one of the varied specialist workshops offered across the department.