University of Sunderland

Creative Industry Practice

* Exceptions may apply.  Please see Fees and Finance for further information.

Introduction

This module will give the participants a full understanding of how the creative industries work and where they can fit within it.

It will build individual confidence and provide opportunities to become a competitive creative professional with a ‘can-do’ approach to their careers and personal development.

Participants will have the opportunity to fully explore their own creative potential by gaining practical experience and guided introduction to industry.

They will produce sophisticated, multiplatform projects suitable for the current creative marketplace and through the development and delivery of these projects they will become fully engaged with, and therefore aware of, the needs of industry and the dramatic impact of new technologies on it.

These multiplatform projects will be used to aid and support learning throughout the course.

Using 'live projects’' or real-world examples will contextualize what is being learnt. It will provide participants with something tangible to discuss and sell whilst networking and working with industry.

Participants will subsequently utilise the skills and knowledge gained to exploit the opportunities provided through the programme. Participants will spend time working with industry where they will develop ideas and pitches in response to live briefs. They will demonstrate their ability directly to potential employers and will be given industry feedback on their ideas.

Participants will attend two industry conferences/seminars and will be required to utilise their skills to research the attendees, network and make new contacts. These contacts will form the basis of their future industry ‘black book’ and they will be encouraged to build and sustain meaningful working relationships with these contacts, where possible. This important strand offers the opportunity to develop networking skills and build confidence. This will be extremely beneficial as 80% of jobs are created via networking.

Participants will take part in a series of professional development workshops where they will gain CV writing, presentation, communications, networking and interview skills. They will develop a strategy for job searching and will further develop their online presence and profile.

As part of their assessment participants will produce a written and a verbal pitch that will be supported by an original advert or promotional trailer. This work will be further developed and refined to enable it to be showcased to an audience of industry professionals at the University of Sunderland London Campus.

All participants will be assigned a mentor who will be available for the duration of the programme. The mentor will help the mentees to set goals, become more connected and will offer guidance with project development.

On completion of this programme participants will:

• Have at least one live project that they take forward;
• Have a strong CV with relevant examples and experience to support their job search;
• Have a clear career development strategy that will help them going forward;
• Have built a relevant and connected network of business contacts;
• Have demonstrated their commitment and desire to work in the creative industries.

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Course Content

Strand 1: Project Development – 28 Contact hours

Participants will collaborate with each other and across disciplines to develop projects that can be used as live examples throughout the programme.

This strand is made up of a minimum of 4 workshops led by industry professionals, we will cover finding the story/Message, writing treatments and proposals, putting together a strong trailer/taster and pitching.

Deliverables:                                                                                                                                       

• Treatment/Pitch Document
• Taster/Trailer
• Physical Pitch
• Sessions will include
• Finding your story or message
• Treatment/pitch writing
• How to create the perfect trailer
• How to pitch and pitch practice

Strand 2: Industry Introduction – 24 contact hours

This strand is all about meeting and making an impression on potential employers and collaborators. Participants will spend a day with a minimum of two creative sector employers. They will be given a live brief to respond to which will allow employers to see what the graduates can do and in turn the graduates will get industry feedback on their work.

Industry Days

• 2 x 8 hr. industry days plus remote contact from industry
• 2 x 4 hr. industry master class/case study

Strand 3: Festivals & Networks – 36 Contact hours

Getting out it industry conferences and markets is essential. Participants will actively attend a minimum of two industry festivals/conferences. They will attend sessions and attend facilitated meetings. They will also be expected to arrange meetings of their own and use the opportunity to create new contacts and network.

Festival/Conference Attendance

• 2 x 2 day festival/conference attendance

Sessions will include:

• Festivals follow ups, what has been learnt? Who did you meet? How will you move forward?

Strand 4: Professional Development – 12 Contact hours

This strand is key to the success of the programme. Participants will build a strong CV relevant to the Creative Industry. They will build on their self-presentation skills and will learn how build and sustain networks. 

Sessions and practice will include

• CV sessions
• 1-2-1 CV reviews
• Mastering the art of networking
• Having a presence online
• Sustaining networks and contacts
• Job search and strategy
• Interview practice

Mentoring – 10 Contact hours

Having a mentor at this stage in the participant’s career development is extremely valuable. They will support with building networks and sustaining new contacts.

Each participant will work with a professional, industry mentor throughout the programme. Mentors will offer project feedback throughout strand 1 and will meet face to face at least twice throughout the process. These meetings will be supported by email, telephone and Skype contact.

Programme Lead time – 10 Contact hours

This will consist of

• Induction
• Initial 1-2-1
• Evaluation 1-2-1
• Project feedback and pitching

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Entry Requirements

• A related degree qualification (Media, Journalism, Games Design, Design)
• Relevant work experience
• A proven desire to work within the creative industries
• A basic understanding of digital media and technology

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Fees and Finance

tbc

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Teaching and Assessment

Teaching

• 1. Scheduled Learning

a. Workshops

b. Demonstrations and practical sessions which will be supervised or observed and will include a mixture of teaching and guided learning

c. Offsite/External visits and work-based learning, not Placements, includes supervised activity

d. Pitching

e. Mentor one to ones

f. Development one to ones/small group sessions fixed by appointment

• 2. Independent study (280 hours)

a. Self-directed research, project development and production

Contact hours

Scheduled activities (120 hours)            

Workshops  (40 hours)

Workplace learning (24 hours)                

Offsite Conference/Festival attendance (36 hours)

One to one small group mentoring (20 hours)

Independent study (280 hours)

Total hours 400

Assessment

• Assessment  001 A written treatment or pitch document assessed by staff testing learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 5 contributing to 25% of the final mark.
• Assessment  002 A small group presentation assessed by staff and an external industry panel testing learning outcomes 1, 2, 5 and 7 contributing to 25% of the final mark.
• Assessment  003  A trailer or prototype assessed by staff and an external panel testing learning outcomes 1, 3 and 5 contributing to 25% of the final mark.
• Assessment  004  A 3000 word essay assessed by staff testing learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 contributing to 25% of the final mark.

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Work Experience

All workshops are facilitated by industry professionals. We are working with BBC, ITN, True North, Ubisoft, Corporation Pop, NoTosh and others.

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Career Opportunities

There will be Multi Platform opportunities in the creative industries, specifically within Media, Design, Journalism and Games.

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