Screen Acting & Performance MA

Program Overview

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The MA in Screen Acting & Performance at UCA Farnham is a one-year program designed to enhance acting and performance skills for the camera. Through practical training, collaborations with industry professionals, and a focus on digital performance, the program prepares students for careers in film, television, and digital media. Graduates have gone on to work in various roles, including actors, directors, and performing arts teachers.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Overview:

The MA in Screen Acting & Performance at UCA Farnham is a one-year program designed to expand and deepen your knowledge and skills in acting and performing in front of the camera. This course is open to students with or without formal training in performance, seeking to challenge themselves, experiment, and push boundaries in the field.

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Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Develop your skills in screen acting and performance through practical training with industry professionals.
• Provide you with the opportunity to collaborate with organizations like the National Theatre and British Film Institute.
• Enable you to join the UCA Graduate Company, Spotlight, and Equity UK.
• Prepare you for a successful career in the screen acting and performance industry.

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Description:

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers various aspects of screen acting and performance, including:

• Acting Techniques: Develop your acting skills through practical exercises focused on screen technique, including an introduction to the role of the intimacy coordinator.
• Digital Performance: Study online performance and learn how to market yourself within the digital industry.
• Presenting: Master the skills of presenting for television, podcast, and online platforms.
• Critical Contexts: Explore the contemporary and historical perspectives of recorded and streamed performance and develop a critical perspective on the new online and screen environments.
Simultaneously, build your online professional profile and develop your career plan with the help of mentors.
• The program is offered full-time and takes one year to complete.
• The start date for the next intake is September 2024.

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Outline:

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Curriculum Structure:

• Term 1:
• Screen Acting:
Focus on developing your acting skills through practical exercises.
• Digital Performer: Learn how to perform and market yourself in the digital industry.
• Term 2:
• Presenting:
Develop your skills in presenting for television, podcasts, and online platforms.
• Critical Contexts: Explore the historical and contemporary perspectives of recorded and streamed performance.
• Term 3:
• Digital Performer: In this unit, you will be studying online performance and how to market yourself within that industry.
You will practice your creative response to the needs of the digital industry with industry-relevant briefs and experiences.
• Presenting: In this unit, you will learn the skills of presenting for television, podcast, and most crucially, online platforms.
Industry specialists will help you gain confidence in your online presence and practice at live (streamed) events will develop your skill set.
• Critical Contexts: The Critical Contexts unit will challenge you to think differently about the content you consume and make.
You will explore the contemporary and historical perspectives of recorded and streamed performance. Different forms of content and their relationship to storytelling will be debated, and you will gain a critical perspective on the new online and screen environments now available. As part of this unit, you will also initiate and populate an online professional profile as you consider your career opportunities and options as an industry professional. You will also have opportunities to meet mentors who will help bridge the transition from the course into industry.
• The specific content of the modules may be subject to change.
• The syllabus provided is a guide and is subject to updates.

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Assessment:

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Assessment Methods:

• Coursework assignments
• Practical exercises
• Presentations
• Final major project

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Assessment Criteria:

• Creativity and originality
• Technical skills
• Professionalism
• Critical thinking
• Research skills

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Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Individual tutorials
• Guest lectures from industry professionals

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Faculty:

• The program is taught by a team of experienced and qualified staff, including:
• Dr. Sian Rees
• Dr. Harry Whalley
• Pioneering intimacy coordinator Pia Rickman

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Unique Approaches:

• The program offers the opportunity to collaborate with organizations like the National Theatre and British Film Institute.
• Students have the chance to join the UCA Graduate Company, Spotlight, and Equity UK.
• The program provides access to industry professionals through guest lectures and workshops.

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Careers:

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Career Paths:

• Actor
• Performing arts teacher
• Director of drama in education
• Studio manager

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Career Opportunities:

• Film and television
• Theatre
• Digital media
• Education

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Career Outcomes:

• Graduates of the program have gone on to work in a variety of different roles within the creative industry.
• Some notable alumni include:
• Grace, star of the Venice film festival
• Jamahyl, who recently made his National Theatre debut

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Other:

• The course has dedicated performance spaces and study spaces for group working, tutorials, seminars, and technical workshops.
• Students have access to digital media suites with Macs and PCs with the latest software for film editing and design work.
• The program offers a modern library with a wealth of books, journals, special collections, and online resources.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in study trips and industry events.
• The program is open to students from all backgrounds.
• There are a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist students with the cost of their studies.
• The program is designed to prepare students for a successful career in the screen acting and performance industry.

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Tuition fees 2024/25 entry: £10,500 Tuition fees 2024/25 entry: £10,500 (see fee discount information) Tuition fees 2024/25 entry (MA): £18,000 2024/25 entry (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - 30 weeks): £17,500 2024/25 entry (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - 15 weeks): £8,750