(MA) Master of Arts
Acting for Digital Media
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
East 15 Acting School
Southend Campus
Masters
Full-time
MA W4P312
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
Our applicants need to undertake a successful audition or video audition, plus have a first degree with an overall 2.2, or equivalent or suitable life and/or professional expertise.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
Unique offering that brings together training in Performance Capture, Voice Acting, and Acting for Film. Student actors will be given the opportunity to thrive through understanding and tailoring performances for forms of digital capture by recognising that understanding technology and developing methodologies of rehearsal and performance in order to achieve high quality work is different from simply adapting existing technique to fit a series of parameters.
The practical training gives the students the opportunities to train by working with the technology that is appropriate for the given performance; for motion capture, they will train in the University’s VICON motion capture volume, purposely designed for this programme; when working on voice acting they will work a vocal booth, with the relevant technology for a variety of disciplines such as voice over, radio drama and dubbing; in acting for film students will have projects that are filmed on location.
Course Aims:
- To create/encourage a positive mind/body connection, body confidence, body control and overall discipline when working in a physical manner
- To be able to transfer information gleaned in a text to physical action
- To give a professional understanding of where, as a creative, you can fit and support within the process of making a project in film, voice over and performance capture.
- To prepare students for the demands and practices they will encounter when moving into the performance capture, voice over and film industries.
- To enhance skills for working collaboratively within an artistic team
- Develop students’ technical skills for digital performances
- Develop understanding of related vocabulary
- To understand the relevant safety practices and protocols when working physically and vocally
- Establish an informed working relationship with directors, writers, crew and technicians
- Introduce students to filmmaking concepts and techniques
- Develop students’ awareness of their presence on camera and how to utilize this to create believable and intriguing characters
- The creation of physical images and environment of an imagined world
- To understand how technology relates to creating certain projects and characters.
- To develop in movement a psychophysical relationship that reflects the emotional and physical connection
- To introduce students to and prepare them for entry into related industries or further study
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Preparation of the actor for performances.
A2: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of methods, techniques and disciplines used in creating performances.
A3: Selected performance forms and styles.
A4: Use of voice and body in performance.
A5: Technical demands within performance.
Learning methods
Learning will take place through a variety of formats: practical workshops, seminars, occasional lectures and technical tuition, as well as independent research. Practical workshops can be geared for accessibility and all sites are either on ground floor or accessed via a lift. The nature of the work allows for physical and vocal workshops can be adjusted to be inclusive. Reading material can be provided in advance and in a variety of formats. For the technical training, the necessary equipment will be available for students to develop understanding and competency.
Assessment methods
Assessment of performance is mostly continuous, through the observation of the student’s progress through practical sessions. This focus on process and individual achievements is inclusive as it looks at specific individual progress against the learning outcomes. Students receive feedback on their continual assessment in each session, as the tutor will provide both group and individual notes to assist with progression and mark improvement or progress needs.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Communication and collaboration.
B2: Range of contexts and styles.
B3: Textual interpretation.
B4: Critically reflect on own work.
B5: Constructive reflection.
B6: Students will be able to undertake independent research for performance preparation
Learning methods
Learning will take place through a variety of formats: practical workshops, seminars, occasional lectures and technical tuition, as well as independent research. Practical workshops can be geared for accessibility and all sites are either on ground floor or accessed via a lift. The nature of the work allows for physical and vocal workshops can be adjusted to be inclusive, and the guided critical and constructive reflection can assist with strategies to aid inclusion. Reading material can be provided in advance and in a variety of formats. Students will collaborate with each other and a range of artists, who will follow East 15’s Code of Practice for rehearsals.
Assessment methods
Assessment of performance is mostly continuous, through the observation of the student’s progress through practical sessions. This focus on process and individual achievements is inclusive as it looks at specific individual progress against the learning outcomes. Written assessments are not set to a formulaic entry and allow the student to use a combination of recorded footage, written elements, and images to demonstrate their learning and their reflection. As well as verbal feedback on assessments, we will be able to use recorded footage so that students can better reflect on their work and progress.
C: Practical skills
C1: Evaluate research materials
C2: Perform to a professional standard.
C3: Students will be able to express interpretation and analysis with confidence
C4: Safe and confident use of body and voice.
C5: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to manage time and workloads efficiently.
C6: Story telling.
Learning methods
Learning will take place through a variety of formats: practical workshops, seminars, occasional lectures and technical tuition, as well as independent research. Practical workshops can be geared for accessibility and all sites are either on ground floor or accessed via a lift. The nature of the work allows for physical and vocal workshops can be adjusted to be inclusive. Reading material can be provided in advance and in a variety of formats.
Assessment methods
Assessment of performance is mostly continuous, through the observation of the student’s progress through practical sessions. This focus on process and individual achievements is inclusive as it looks at specific individual progress against the learning outcomes. Students receive feedback on their continual assessment in each session, as the tutor will provide both group and individual notes to assist with progression and mark improvement or progress needs. Student’s individual learning needs can be taken into consideration when assigning roles to insure inclusivity.
D: Key skills
D1: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to understand and accept direction and incorporate it into the performance of a character.
D2: Communication and collaboration.
D3: Information technology.
D4: Problem-solving.
D5: Work with others.
D6: Improving own learning and performance.
Learning methods
Learning will take place through a variety of formats: practical workshops, seminars, occasional lectures and technical tuition, as well as independent research. Practical workshops can be geared for accessibility and all sites are either on ground floor or accessed via a lift. The nature of the work allows for physical and vocal workshops can be adjusted to be inclusive, and the guided critical and constructive reflection can assist with strategies to aid inclusion. Reading material can be provided in advance and in a variety of formats. Students will collaborate with each other and a range of artists, who will follow East 15’s Code of Practice for rehearsals.
Assessment methods
Assessment of performance is mostly continuous, through the observation of the student’s progress through practical sessions. This focus on process and individual achievements is inclusive as it looks at specific individual progress against the learning outcomes. Written assessments are not set to a formulaic entry and allow the student to use a combination of recorded footage, written elements, and images to demonstrate their learning and their reflection. As well as verbal feedback on assessments, we will be able to use recorded footage so that students can better reflect on their work and progress.