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Learn how to write a review, develop an idea for a documentary, edit a script and much more - take your pick from one of our short courses available this academic year.

From Romanticism into Impressionism in Music and Painting

    In 1704, Newton’s Opticks equated the optical spectrum’s seven colours to a musical scale’s seven notes – consider the terms ‘colour tones’ in painting and ‘tone colours’ in music. We will trace this concept through the work of Beethoven and David, Chopin and Delacroix, to Debussy and Monet, using audio-visual illustrations.
    16 April (one meeting): Find out more and apply online

British Documentary

    From the 'actuality' films of the turn of the last century to contemporary digital productions, documentary has been a vital part of the British film experience. This course looks at a diverse range of film, television and video material to examine British documentary practice. We will also discuss materials developed for public spaces by contemporary British visual artists, and the democratisation of social documentation and engagement via the Internet and digital technology. The course incorporates archive material from the Mediathèque, BFI Southbank's digitised archive collections, and takes place in its digital Studio cinema.
    Start 5 May: Find out more and apply online

Media Genres: Documentary Workshop

    How do you develop ideas, conduct research and use interview techniques? We will help you develop an idea for a documentary, and write a proposal and a treatment. We will also address wider issues, including how you can work with others in the industry.
    Starts 5 May: Find out more and apply online

Media Genres: Marketing and Advertising

Media Genres: Travel Writing

    A beginner's class that will give you the necessary skills to write travel articles for national newspapers and consumer magazines. Key areas of travel journalism are covered, such as market identification, finding original angles, getting commissioned, research, note-taking and writing copy.
    Starts 4 May: Find out more and apply online

Media Genres: Writing Reviews

    This module explores the work of the critic in some detail, putting it into context as part of the general mosaic of journalism, as well as examining the numerous ethical questions it raises. It will appeal to anyone who is seriously interested in journalism.
    Starts 9 May: Find out more and apply online

Screening Britain: Looking at British Cinema

    This course explores the history of British cinema from a variety of perspectives, including popular comedy, realism, stars and British studios. Lectures and seminars will balance analysis of film texts with consideration of the social and cultural context, as well as discussing the development of the national industry, to encourage a critical understanding of key themes and events in British cinema history. The course is taught at BFI Southbank. Students will have access to archive material made available online and through dedicated viewing stations at the purpose-designed BFI Mediathèque.
    Starts 3 May: Find out more and apply online

Script Editing and New Drafts

    This module develops your scriptwriting skills. It looks at how scripts are rewritten in the industry and shows you how you can rewrite your screenplay, whether outline, treatment or draft script. You can bring your own script to the table to develop and rewrite, or you can work on examples provided in class. We will look at everything from characterisation and story structure down to the fine detail of lines of description and dialogue. (Prerequisite: Screenwriting.)
    Starts 3 May: Find out more and apply online

Tchaikovsky: The three ballets

    Tchaikovsky's radiant scores for Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker are as melodically luminescent and rhythmically vibrant as the day they leapt from the composer's imagination. Yet there are hidden depths in these enchanting scores – more than the succession of short, shapely musical nuggets may at first suggest.
    14 May (one meeting): Find out more and apply online

Women's Cinema Revisited

    This course examines women’s cinema through different thematic lenses, ranging from experimental and independent film and exploitation movies, to art cinema, costume dramas and Hollywood cinema. We will screen extracts and discuss films made by women in the early years of film, up to the present day, from The Smiling Mme Beudet to Morvern Callar. Sessions will take place in the BFI Southbank's digital Studio cinema.
    Starts 10 May: Find out more and apply online

Writing for magazines

    This is a comprehensive course covering journalistic writing across the full range of magazine genres. Magazine sales have overtaken newspapers, and as such magazines are a promising entry point into journalism. Classes will cover everything from women’s and celebrity magazines to real-life, sports, men’s, fashion, consumer, hobby, music, film and political publications. (Prerequisite: Introduction to Journalism.)
    Starts 9 May: Find out more and apply online

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