Overview

FIRST YEAR:

The first year in the BA degree is essentially about discovery and inspiration. Students are exposed to the multiple disciplines on offer in the Film, Television or Performance Schools and use the year to identify and test their aptitudinal strengths and weaknesses.

There are no limitations on the number of electives that students may attend. Discipline choices and outcomes are governed by the student's personal ambition, work ethic and enthusiasm. However, certain timetable logistics, discipline choice combinations and minimum assessment requirements may limit the student's choices.

These discipline choices are done in combination with the five Production Course components and the Assist Programme.

SECOND YEAR:

The second year is about coming to terms with the 'nuts and bolts' of the entertainment and media industries, particularly with regard to the personal discipline choices for which the student has qualified from first year.

While only a minimum of two disciplines is required for second year, this year is characterised by its rigour and intensity. Second year is often referred to as 'boot camp’ in which students' aptitudinal strengths and weaknesses are revealed and tested to the maximum.

As part of their final choice and qualification in a particular discipline for 3rd year specialisation, the student is required to meet the formal assessment requirement of Production Course and deliver discipline outcomes in their areas of specialisation.

THIRD YEAR:

The third year is called 'the year of the artist.' It is in this year that students develop their personal artistic expression in their particular area of specialization and the early deepening of artistic relationships within their peer group.

The experimental film productions and public graduation festival at a commercial cinema venue are used as a means for students to manifest and understand the challenges and opportunities that exist in both. However, it is the exhibition and promotion of a 10 to 12 minute dramatic narrative that meets the needs and wants of the intended audience that provides the true test of the year. It is here that students experience the realities and visceral qualities of the audience's response to their work, creating the first formal step towards the demands of creating commercial entertainment content for the market.

Outcomes

Outcomes are the projects completed as part of the practical assessment aspect of the degree. While students do not complete written examinations, the various stages of completing their outcomes form an examination process. Every outcome will have a different brief for students to learn not only about how to follow a brief but also to explore content development for various platforms, purposes and audiences from all points of view including narrative, performance, aesthetic, medium and control.

Requirements

FIRST YEAR: Just Starting Out

The minimum requirement to enter an AFDA Bachelors degree is a National Senior Certificate (matric) or National Certificate (Vocational) with exemption/admission to bachelor's degree, or equivalent.

OR the student may write an Entrance Exam at AFDA (View RPL Process). The AFDA Entrance Exam is a selection process approved by AFDA Senate for degree access. To give a candidate alternative access to degree, s/he can sit for the Entrance Exam and there must be record of it, the recommendation on the individual student from the registered psychometrist must be signed off by Senate or its subcommittee, as per AFDA Entrance Exam policy (in accordance with Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997) Amendment No 1317 in Government Gazette of 5 Dec 2008 number 31674 clause 31). Such access will apply only to AFDA’s programmes, its entrance exam is not valid to another university, and vice versa.

SECOND YEAR: Recognised Prior Learning

You need to have completed your first year degree studies at a recognised institution and have a portfolio or evidence of work to motivate your discipline choices. You will also have to have a full interview.

Disciplines Selection

AFDA first year students have the choice of selecting the following combinations of schools and disciplines for 1st year.

School Choice:

Film School (2 semesters)
Film & Television School (1 semester of each)
Film & Performance School (1 semester of each)
Performance & Television School (1 semester of each)

Discipline Choices:

The Film School offers 12 disciplines in first year. A minimum of 2 disciplines is selected per semester from within the following departments:

Production: Screenwriting, Producing, Directing and *Animation Directing
Image Production: Cinematography, Image Enhancement and Data Management
Screen Design: Production Design (includes stage and theatre design) and Costume, Make-up & Styling
Post Production: Editing, Sound Design, Visual Effects and *Media Music & Composition

*Disciplines available at limited campuses only

The Television School offers 4 compulsory disciplines in first year:

*TV Scriptwriting
*TV Production
*TV Technical
*TV Post Production

*Disciplines available at limited campuses only

The Performance School offers 3 disciplines per year and a compulsory Integrated Voice & Movement subject:

Screen Acting
*Music Performance
Stage Acting

*Disciplines available at limited campuses only

Disciplines Offered

Film School: Production Department

Production Department: Screenwriting

SCREENWRITING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Your interest in screenwriting means you have a love for stories; strong origination skills; a desire to generate meaning, connect with the world, and the ability to ponder the human condition, with all its faults, promise, purpose and ironies. A love for the written word, for precision in how you express yourself, a journalistic drive to discover new experiences and to research them in order to ensure facts which makes the story legitimate, an active, healthy imagination, and a strong desire to recognize and discover YOURSELF and all your tensions.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
A screenwriter may write for a variety of media formats including the feature film, television drama series, sitcoms, miniseries, the made-for-TV-movie, narrative-driven commercial advertisements, new media entertainment formats like the web series and narrative-driven video-games. Screenwriters are also in high demand for offering their skills as script consultants and story editors for projects in development. You can tell a structured story that can elicit an emotional response from audiences and readers and which can provoke thoughts and persuade us to accept a change of insight into the human condition.

Production Department: Producing

PRODUCING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With an interest in producing, you're a good all-rounder and back-room operator; are entrepreneurial; you have good organisational and people skills, the ability to deal with change and pressure; a good problem-solver and the ability to think on your feet; are an assertive decision-maker and good finisher. You will learn how to put together a creative team to translate the script into a film – hiring writers, directors, key crew members all with a view to making a film that will attract and engage with a large target market AND MAKE MONEY!

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Executive producer: Learning how to finance and market films. TO MAKE MONEY.; Line producer: preparing budgets, schedules, making sure the film is made on time and on budget.; Production Manager / Production Co’ordinator / Production Supervisor / Production Secretary / Production Assistant / Unit Manager / Location manager / Production Accountant are all part of the production department.

Production Department: Directing

DIRECTING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With an interest in directing, you are a true leader with a passion for story and storytelling, a writing and/or artistic background and good conceptual skills and the ability to originate ideas; independent and collaborative work ethic; ability to manage and communicate with other experts; vision orientated, dogmatic yet flexible; have the ability to think on your feet and make assertive decisions focused on audience dreams and expectations. An avid reader with an interest in the country you live in, reflecting society back to itself; the ability to inspire others and funnel all creative ideas into a singular vision, you can translate a script to a completed film, working with creative talent, crew and cast to produce a film that will engage with the widest possible audience.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Directing for: Film, Television, Commercials, Music Videos, Documentaries, Corporate Videos / Assistant Director (1st/2nd/3rd) / Set PA / Script Supervisor

Production Department: Animation Directing
(offered at Johannesburg Campus only)

ANIMATION DIRECTING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
In Animation directing you can create your own world without the limitations that live action have and do the impossible. An artistic background helps and so does a strong work ethic and patience as animations do take time. The animator usually needs to create their own scripts so good writing skills should be cultivated and reading helps. Having a sketchbook at hand to illustrate for future reference is expected. Animators usually agree that the time it takes to complete an animation makes the end product so much more rewarding.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Animation is varied and there are many different fields an animation director can work in. From 2D flash animation to 3D realism to sand animation, the scope is endless. An animator can animate in a variety of formats, television series, commercials, web based animated series, video games etc. Animators are also often used for their storyboarding skills in the live entertainment industry.

Film School: Image Production Department

Image Production Department: Cinematography

CINEMATOGRAPHY COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With their knowledge of cinematography, the Cinematographer or Director of Photography has a leading creative role in the film and TV industry. You work as a collaborator to bring the directors script and vision to the screen. Using the latest digital cameras, lenses and lights – as used in the film industry - the AFDA cinematographer works with camera placement, perspective plus camera movement to realise the determined visual style of the film. Lighting is central to a cinematography – determining the look and mood of the film. A” visual eye “ and a passion for cinema is a must. As a head of department, the cinematographer must be both a team player and quickly develop leadership skills to efficiently manage the camera team.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The cinematographer has the best job in the world! At AFDA we train our cine students as a head of department – namely as a Director of Photography. We equip our students to enter the film and TV industries to work on feature films, commercials,, documentaries and music films. Possible career paths: Operator / Steady Cam operator / Ariel operator / Underwater operator / hot head operator / 1st Assistant camera / 2nd assistant camera /clapper loader / camera truck assistant / video take off assistant / DIT wrangler all part of the camera team.

Image Production Department: Data Management

DATA MANAGEMENT COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With their knowledge of data management, the role of the digital technician / data manager has evolved due to the arrival of digital acquisition. The digital cameras output a huge amount of valuable data in pictures and sound which is managed from camera through to editing. The data manager determines the digital workflow and safe backup of all material.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The film industry has a high demand for trained data managers – this in large determined by production insurance to ensure that the valuable content is managed throughout the production cycle.

Image Production Department: Image Grading and Enhancement

IMAGE GRADER COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
The colourist or picture grader works with the cinematographer before, during and after the shoot. Together they ensure that the determined look, colour and exposure is brought via the editing process to the screen.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The freelance colourist works at an online editing facilty at the final editing stage.

Film School: Screen Design Department

Screen Design Department: Production Design

PRODUCTION DESIGN COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Production Design is the study of art and design in film production, what it means to be in the art department and therefore responsible for conceptualizing and fabricating the entire visual world for a film and its settings.

Production Designers generally have an artistic or conceptual background; love all things aesthetic (fashion, design, architecture, archeology, anthropology, imaging); have the ability to abstract, visualize, collaborate, manage schedules, budgets and a team of personnel; and are able to execute tasks in the present (on set), the future (preparing the next set) and past (clearing, returning and reconciling).

This role demands a great work ethic on a conceptual and practical level as well as a strong curiosity about the world, it's environments and how people use, decorate and alter them to live, play or work in whatever way the story requires.

The design of a film production can and must powerfully enhance the viewers' experience, whether the film needs spectacular and expressive or subtle and realistic solutions the design will respond visually to the themes and genre of the work.

All Visual elements of the world must inform the viewer in terms of the various characters' society, geographic location, class and status, as well as further emphasizing and nuancing their roles in the narrative through visual changes.

In order to help express the concepts and events in the film, the Production Designer needs to be aware of visual strategies used previously in film, television and other media as well as art historical and contemporary popular trends in representation.

Through the process of conceptualizing and referencing, the Designer decides what the environments need to look like, proposes this to the production team and/or client, then does research on what locations and elements are available, refining their design according to these factors as well as budget and schedule.

Many different skills and processes can be involved in the design execution of a film production and need to be managed and co-ordinated: from the construction of sets to sourcing or fabrication of specialized props to the dressing of sets with decor and other smaller items, making up of graphics or texturing walls with paint to age them.

The Production Designer brings all of these processes together and adds visual meaning to the story, through the manipulation of found locations or the construction of in-studio sets using the principles of spatial arrangement, colour pallettes, textures and appropriate representational elements
the space in front of the camera comes alive through design.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The art department is a major employer of crew members in South Africa and abroad, skilled and hard-working people are working all the time on big and small productions making all kinds of crazy things possible, from big production sets to small props. Specialties in art department (apart from Makeup and Wardrobe) include: Production Designer, Art Director, Assistant Art Director, Art Department Co-ordinator, Architectural Draftsman, Props Master, Props Specialist, Props Stand-By, Set Construction Foreman, Set Builder/Carpenter, Set-Dresser, Scenic-Painter, Sourcing Specialist and more.

Screen Design Department: Costume, Makeup and Styling

COSTUME, MAKEUP AND STYLING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
The cognitive, socio-psychological approach to the costume, makeup and styling design of fictional character dress through effective design of costume, accessories, make-up, special effects make-up and hair. Designs are focused on affecting a target film viewing market with a strong focus on industry standard pre-visualization techniques. Students complete a range of conceptual, perceptual and concrete projects that utilizes print, portfolio and social media platforms in order to market and advertise their growth and capabilities to their intended market place.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The curriculum is strongly focused on research, analysis and structuring of fictional characters that persuasively communicates in all entertainment outcomes such as film, television, theater, music, fashion or media.

Film School: Post Production Department

Post Production Department: Editing

EDITING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With an interest in editing, you're a good all-rounder; have a knack and understanding of semiotics; passion for language construction and storytelling, manipulation and arrangement of images; you are comfortable with technology; able to work with people, deal with change, deadlines and arduous challenging work hours. You are a good communicator with an ability to problem solve both during the Production phase as Script Supervisor and as Editor in the Post production phase. You are capable of seeing and voicing all sides of an argument and enjoy discovering new facts around social and cultural issues. You love watching a good film several times, have an eye for detail and enjoy a good battle of wits and guessing the ending of films before anyone else.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Careers in Editing are often categorised either as working primarily with picture or sound, such as Supervising Picture Editor or Supervising Sound Editor. At AFDA's Editing Department we concentrate on the Picture editing field and Sound editing falls within the Sound Department. Picture Editing career paths are often defined by the display method such as Theatrical productions or Television productions. Under Theatrical productions (released on the "Big screen" such as Ster-Kinekor) you will find; Offline Editor, Editor, 1st Assistant Editor, 2nd Assistant Editor, Supervising Picture Editor and Story Editor. Under Television productions (released over Broadcast stations such as SABC) you will find; Offline Editor, Online Editor, Junior Editor, Documentary Editor, Supervising Picture Editor, Assistant Editor, 2nd Editor. For those who excel in their editing careers they may become involved in productions on a consultation basis as Consulting Editors, Story Editor, Polish Editors or Finishers.

The Post Production Facility Industry also offers additional career paths for those with Editing skills such as Authoring Artists ( intricate Dvd releases), Post Facility Booking and Scheduling departments, Output Engineers ( operating a variety of equipment to release a production in a variety of formats).
Editing students at AFDA are also fortunate in attaining on-set skills as Script Supervisors which opens up an additional career path.

Post Production Department: Visual Effects

VISUAL EFFECTS COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Visual Effects artists bridge the visuals shot on set, with the visuals in the director's mind. We are digital magicians, creating magical worlds where there was none, exploding cars where there was no car and making actors fly when they are really standing on the ground.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
You will be trained in compositing, 2D animation, title and credit design, motion graphics, using typefaces, keying blue or green screen, motion tracking, rotoscoping, particle generating, grading or colour timing, 3D modeling, texturing, shading, painting, animating, rendering and Visual effects supervision.

Post Production Department: Sound Design

SOUND DESIGN COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With their knowledge of sound design, sound recordists are the ears of the production, capturing the dialogue and ambient sound that is specific to a particular location. Sound production is continuous throughout the production and post- production phases of film production. From recording original dialogue and ambient sound to creating audio effects that compliment and help propel the narrative of the story.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Location sound recordist / mixer, boom swinger , cable basher , sound mixer post production, assistant sound mixer, foley recordist / track layers / ADR recordist / music mixer / asst music mixer / composer / sound effects supervisor / are all part of the total sound crew contributing to the final sound track

Post Production Department: Music, Media and Composition
(Offered only at Johannesburg and Cape Town Campuses)

MUSIC, MEDIA AND COMPOSITION COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Composers write specific music for films, TV programs, ads or games which are in line with the overall vision of the director and producer. You are musical, precise, and have basic abilities on a piano. You are a storyteller with a keen eye for detail. You are most often a loner, but can communicate well with other people, take instruction from directors and execute it musically. You can work collaboratively and must be more than willing to compromise your ideas. You are a good listener and have a wide audio-palette with an affinity for a variety of music styles. You are comfortable with technology, are extremely creative, imaginative and are willing to work long hours by yourself and deliver to deadlines. You are passionate about music and filmmaking. You are good at mathematics, ordered, structured and systematic.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Film Scorer and Media Composer (Games, Stage, Advertising and Radio); Musical Director; Arranger; Orchestrator; Production Music Composer; Jingle Writer; Music Editor; Music Supervisor

Television School

TV Scriptwriting

TV SCRIPTWRITING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With your interest in TV writing, you read and love the oral tradition of storytelling in Africa. You love seeing ideas come to life and daydream about turning your ideas into awesome TV shows. You see life as an unscripted reality TV show and are drawn to the power of popular culture, broadcast into the homes of millions across the African continent.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Television formats are becoming the currency of present day global intellectual property. This market is no longer dominated by the Global North (USA & UK) and increasingly, the Global South is becoming a force to be reckoned with, as African countries are now making Pan African content on the DSTV bouquet. TV Producers are now in a position to export formats to the African Diaspora and global television markets in search of fresh cultural product.

TV Production

TV PRODUCTION COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
(1) You have a love for commercial entertainment formats; good all-rounder; team player; ability to work quickly and think on your feet in a structured and technical environment; enjoy major pressure and get a kick out of delivering on time, every time.

(2) You are both creative and organized. You are capable of wearing two ”hats”, the conceptual creative hat and the entrepreneurial, financial, decision-making hat.

(3) You work well under pressure, can be assertive, but have excellent people skills and are good at leading and co-ordinating the team.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
There are different producing roles across the many television genres. Producing includes overseeing the pre-production, production and post-production processes that a television show follows. Included in some of producing positions are:

Assistant to Producer, Associate Producer, Consulting Producer, Development Producer, Executive Producer, Field Producer, News Producer, Promo Producer, Series Producer, Line Producer, Production Assistant, Production Secretary, Production Co-ordinator,Production Manager, Post production Co-ordinator, Post production Supervisor, Researcher, Casting Co-ordinator, Casting director, Art Department Co-ordinator

TV Technical

TV TECHNICAL COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Interested in a career in TV technical / recording? The television studio is where you're guaranteed to feed that adrenalin rush you love. You have to be able to think quickly, logically and not buckle under pressure. At the AFDA School of Television , you learn the discipline of staying in control of a highly pressurized situation to get the best results from your crew and performers.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Broadcasting live television requires a highly skilled crew that understands the procedures and technology of a broadcast control room and floor (studio). Different types of studios and shows require different team structures. The positions on a live television crew include a director, the assistant director, a vision-mixer, VT operators, sound engineer, floor manager, camera operators and a production assistant.

TV Post Production

TV POST PRODUCTION COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
With your interest in TV post production, you have to have a love for technology with an eye for detail; have an understanding of semiotics; a passion for storytelling and the construction of narrative; a keen interest in the manipulation and arrangement of images; be comfortable working with people as well as on your own for long hours; you can work under pressure towards a deadline and you have strong logical thinking skills. You have an interest in graphical design and an eye for colour and shape construction.

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
Television Post-Production consists out of video editing, sound editing and visual effects insertions. As a post-production professional in the television industry you will be expected to be an all-rounder. Being experienced in all elements of post production creates a fully rounded and highly desired post-production individual in the industry.

Performance School

Screen Acting

SCREEN ACTING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Are you interested in a career in screen acting? Do you have emotional intelligence and performance experience, a passion for entertaining and communicating with others? Are you independent, resilient, focused and hard-working, with an ability to interpret behavioural concepts, and are able to deal with criticism?

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The screen acting training at AFDA prepares you to work in a professional acting context by providing you with skill and knowledge in order to develop a variety of income strands within the context of film and television performance. You will learn acting and presenting and interviewing. Also, you will become familiar with the technical demands of working as an actor across the mediums of film and television. In addition you will explore performance not only in terms of acting but also in terms of television presenting.

Musical Performance
(Offered only at Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban Campuses)

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Are you interested in a career in musical performance? Do you have self-discipline, performance experience, and passion for entertaining and communicating with others in the medium of music? Are you independent, resilient, focused and hard-working, with a desire to translate the world around you into music? Are you interested in initiating and creating your own performance opportunities? Are you able to deal with criticism?

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The music performance training at AFDA provides you with skill and knowledge in order to develop a variety of income strands within the creative and entrepreneurial domains of the music industry. You will learn vocal and physical performance, songwriting, music promotion and artist management. Also, you will become familiar with the technical demands of working as a musical performer in both live and studio contexts.

Stage Acting

STAGE ACTING COGNITIVE & APTITUDINAL PROFILE
Interested in stage acting? Do you have self-discipline, emotional intelligence, performance experience, and passion for entertaining and communicating with others? Are you independent, resilient, focused and hard-working, with an ability to interpret behavioural concepts, and are able to deal with criticism? Are you interested in initiating and creating your own performance opportunities?

CAREERS & VOCATIONS
The stage acting training at AFDA prepares you to work in a professional acting context by providing you with skill and knowledge in order to develop a variety of income strands within the context of stage performing. You will have the opportunity to learn acting, engage with established and new writing as well as how to develop your own products. Also, you will become familiar with the technical demands of working in a ‘live’ theatre context. You will also develop the skills to manage and promote yourself within a professional context.

You will work together on collaborative projects involving interdisciplinary work with directors, designers and theatre technical practitioners in order to create products that engage the South African context in terms of conceptual relevance and that address specific target markets.

Study this course at these campuses

Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth

Course type

Undergraduate Degrees

Duration

3 Years, Full Time

2020 FEES request information apply now

THE GOAL

To graduate with an accredited and registered degree or higher certificate
To be part of an internationally recognized education institution
To be empowered with competitive, professional and innovative skills
To become part of a network of highly talented artists, entrepreneurs & practitioners
To contribute to nation-building by growing the creative economy