Visual Effects
COURSE OVERVIEW
UCAS CODE W613
UCAS TARIFF 96 - 112
BA (Hons)
3 YEARS
Visual Effects play a major part in creating the magic that brings worlds to life on screen. This technical and creative programme will challenge you to plan and produce visual effects for a range of productions, using industry-standard software and processes.
The BA (Hons) Visual Effects programme places an emphasis on development of technical skills in environment creation and compositing, using collaborative activity with other programmes in the faculty to apply learning to real projects for screen and stage. You will practise skills in teamwork, problem-solving, organisation and pre-production, with close links to industry.
Working with our industry partners, we have developed this degree to reflect the industry you are aiming to enter, providing relevant technical and practical experience, with a strong academic basis, which could lead to further postgraduate study or research roles.
You will learn directly from experienced professionals who will guide you with practical insights and up-to-date knowledge, ensuring you stay ahead in this ever-evolving field. We will also support you in building essential networking skills and creating meaningful connections within the VFX industry, with opportunities to undertake placements during the duration of the programme.
If you are a technically minded, creative person, with a desire to work in the screen and related industries, this exciting programme could be for you. Be a part of bringing imagination to life through Visual Effects.
STAFF
JOHN NOBLE
Lecturer
John has been involved in the world of film making since the late 1980s, starting with special effects for home video camera horror films, progressing to Hollywood blockbusters by the early 2000s, and experiencing everything in between, including stints in television, independent short films, theatre and animation. John has experience in front of the camera, performing and puppeteering, but specialises in building the worlds that appear onscreen, be it a prop, a model or a visual effect. With a career spanning over twenty years, John has made many contacts in the world of film, and is often called upon at very short notice to dress a set or create a prop or produce an obscure amputated body part or two.
John has worked in the east midlands as a freelance architectural, exhibition and prototype model maker, travelled to China when he was a new product development manager for a novelty gift brand company and spent nearly a decade as a member of The Northern School of Art BA (hons) Production Design for Stage and Screen team, before becoming a full-time lecturer on the BA (hons) Visual Effects and Model Making degree programme in 2018. Constantly expanding his skillsets and working alongside students to explore innovative solutions to ever-more intricate problems, John is always happy to share his knowledge and enjoys learning even more through the student experiences and successes.
Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE, FHEA
TONY SHAW
Senior Lecturer
Tony’s early career saw him working as a product designer with Pankhurst Design and Development, Fulham London. Co designing a range of Theatre Lanterns for TBA Lighting. Tony moved back to the North East and became the Regional Graphic and Exhibition Designer with ‘Keep Britain Tidy NE’. His work here has included exhibition design, promotional and graphic design. Tony progressed to develop their ‘Theatre in Education’ productions for the promotion of ‘Tidy Britain’, which toured schools in the North East. This allowed Tony to progress to his primary focus as a Freelance Theatre Designer/Maker. Freelance work includes Theatre Design for countless stage productions including operas such as Carmen, Madame Butterfly, Louisa Miller, Don Giovanni and Foust. Tony designed and produced the staging for the world premiere of Bernard J Taylors, ‘Nosfaratu The Vampire’ at the Winter Garden Theatre, Eastbourne. Working with Leeds Youth Opera, he designed the British premier of the Donizetti opera ‘Gianni Di Calais’ and also worked on the Cleveland Youth Opera’s production of ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ with Glyndebourne Director Dyved Burne Jones. Tony's freelance Model Making includes interactives for the Theakston’s Brewery Visitors Centre and re production Blade Runner Props for the Ridley Scott exhibition in 2016 at ‘The Word’ South Shields, He has produced photographic and TV models for advertising and action props for BBC TVs ‘Tracy Beaker’ and ‘Byker Grove’. Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE, MA, SBTD, FHEA
Tony’s early career saw him working as a product designer with Pankhurst Design and Development, Fulham London. Co designing a range of Theatre Lanterns for TBA Lighting. Tony moved back to the North East and became the Regional Graphic and Exhibition Designer with ‘Keep Britain Tidy NE’. His work here has included exhibition design, promotional and graphic design. Tony progressed to develop their ‘Theatre in Education’ productions for the promotion of ‘Tidy Britain’, which toured schools in the North East. This allowed Tony to progress to his primary focus as a Freelance Theatre Designer/Maker. Freelance work includes Theatre Design for countless stage productions including operas such as Carmen, Madame Butterfly, Louisa Miller, Don Giovanni and Foust. Tony designed and produced the staging for the world premiere of Bernard J Taylors, ‘Nosfaratu The Vampire’ at the Winter Garden Theatre, Eastbourne. Working with Leeds Youth Opera, he designed the British premier of the Donizetti opera ‘Gianni Di Calais’ and also worked on the Cleveland Youth Opera’s production of ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ with Glyndebourne Director Dyved Burne Jones. Tony's freelance Model Making includes interactives for the Theakston’s Brewery Visitors Centre and re production Blade Runner Props for the Ridley Scott exhibition in 2016 at ‘The Word’ South Shields, He has produced photographic and TV models for advertising and action props for BBC TVs ‘Tracy Beaker’ and ‘Byker Grove’. Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE, MA, SBTD, FHEA
GRAHAM PURVIS
IT Technician/Tech Demonstrator
Graham's role is split between being an IT Technician, looking after the Schools Macs and problem solving Staff/Student technical issues and Tech Demonstrator via workshops, in class and one to one tutorials (as and when requested by students &/or Academic staff).
These cover a range of software solutions (Adobe Creative Cloud, 3DS Max, zBrush, etc…) and subject matters/courses (VFX, Fashion, Textiles, Web Design, etc…).