MA Screen Acting

Program Overview

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MA Screen Acting

Overview

The MA Screen Acting course offers students consolidated, bespoke, and advanced training for actors with existing experience in acting and/or performance. You will learn to deliver strong performances within a demanding and competitive industry, taking advantage of industry advancements to explore new technology alongside traditional forms of production.

Alongside craft skills and understanding, you will create your own professional profile, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurialism as you take the next steps in your career, including sessions on fundraising, personal finance, and more.

*This course is subject to approval by BIMM University

Why Take the Course?

• Practical: Through hands-on exercises, workshops, seminars, masterclasses, and screenings, students will gain the skills and knowledge required to work as a professional screen actor.
• Comprehensive: For students passionate about the various forms of performance, and who want to both return to the basics of screen acting, while also looking at the wider techniques and practices, such as commercial casting.
• Industry-Facing: Work collaboratively with students on other MA pathways, and develop skills in the latest industry technologies, exploring hybrid performance spaces such as Augmented Production.

What You Will Study

Over three trimesters, you will gain advanced insight into the craft of screen acting, and the professional requirements involved in working in the industry.

Trimester One works as both a refresher and a deep investigation into the core facets of screen acting. You will consider the different ways in which a performer connects to their audience, the camera, and their character or role, all while exploring what makes a compelling performance. In addition, you will work on dramaturgy, developing your skills in breaking down and acting scripts, and exploring improvisation.

In Trimester Two, you will build on this learning with more in-depth studies of industry areas. You will learn more about commercial performances and productions, put your acting skills into practice in technology-enhanced spaces, and collaborate with students from other MA pathways on a research project.

In Trimester Three, you will draw together your practical, theoretical, and industry understanding into the creation and delivery of a filmed artefact and complete your career plan as part of your progression into real world employment.

Thematic Overview

The overview below is not a complete list of MA Screen Acting modules.

Core Performance

During this part of the course, we go back to basics for a refresher and a deep investigation into the power of the actor in the Empty Space, as defined by Peter Brook. Drawing on a diverse range of storytelling models, you will devise and perform a ‘black-box’ performance piece stripped of the comforts of screen apparatus, and designed to foreground the fundamental ways in which a performer connects to an audience through narrative.

Screen Acting Craft & Imagination

You will engage with a range of practitioner-based techniques that offer a continuous cycle of performance and review to develop a detailed understanding of the individual’s relationship with the camera. In addition, actors will work on dramaturgy and develop their skills in breaking down and acting scripts, and exploring improvisation as a core component of the development of compelling screen characters and stories.

You will tackle the core voice and body-focused skills and techniques that need to be developed to build and sustain long-term health and vitality both in front of and behind the camera. You will also look at dialects and develop your portfolio for voice-over work.

Professional Profile

You will develop authentic and detailed career paperwork and supporting materials including a CV and personal profile. As part of the module you will be offered Elective Upskilling sessions – opportunities to develop screen industry skills outside of their chosen discipline or as part of their multi-skilling profile.

Commercial Performance & Production

You will explore the practice and techniques involved in commercial casting and performance, from conventional film and television scenarios through commercials, corporate video, and video games. You will also be offered production skills options – where you can step behind the camera and develop skills as producers, directors, cinematographers, and editors.

Technology Enhanced Performance

You will work on devising and performing sequences appropriate for technology-enhanced environments such as virtual production, green screen, and performance capture. You will work with movement coaches on developing your physical language for a variety of performance capture scenarios, as well as exploring hybrid performance spaces.

Practice-based Research

Building on your work throughout the course, you will gain a deeper insight into current theories, principles, and discussions relating to issues of diversity, sustainability, and ethics within the screen industries.

Final Project and Career Plan

Your final project gives you the opportunity to work independently to create work that demonstrates your development as a Screen Actor. This is an opportunity to deliver work that is creatively exciting, distinctive, and industry-facing. You will also present your career plan, including evidence of new skills to be assessed by industry employers as you prepare to enter or re-enter the screen industries on graduation.

Teaching, Learning & Assessment

We include a diverse range of teaching methods which include:

• Productions
• Seminar-style Group Teaching
• Tutorials
• Practical Group Work
• Formative Feedback through Critiques, Pitches, Screenings, and Reflective Sessions
• Work-integrated Learning
• Authentic Assessment

We use a wide range of assessment which include portfolios, performances, research, presentations, and reflective work. Please download the Course Specification below for more information.

Entry Requirements

Standard Entry Requirements

• Age: All applicants must be 18 years or older at the time the programme begins
• Education: A 2:1 honours degree from a UK university of overseas equivalent

Applicants should also hold an undergraduate qualification in a performance-based discipline, or have at least three professional acting credits.

Applicants must also submit:

A personal statement of at least 500 words. The MetFilm School online application form details the information that your personal statement must include.

Students Not Meeting Academic Requirements

Students without a degree, but who can demonstrate relevant industry experience or a degree below a 2:1 equivalent are still able to apply. They will need to submit the following:

• A professional industry reference.
• A professional showreel.
• A 750 word statement of why you wish to enter the screen industries, indicating the ways in which you think they are changing.

Equipment Requirements

Students receive the Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud License for the duration of their course. For more information, please check Equipment in the Study with Us section for your chosen course, and the Location sections for the range of equipment and resources available on each of our campuses.

Application Information

For more information on MA Entry Requirements, language requirements, funding, and the application process, please visit:

• Study with Us

Dates & Prices

London

• 22 September 2025 - 25 September 2026
• £20,000 – UK Students
• £20,000** – EU/EEA Students
• £22,000** – International Students

Berlin

• 22 September 2025 - 25 September 2026
• €17,500 – EU/EEA Students
• €19,500** – International Students

EU/EEA students with settled status.International students or EU/EEA students without settled status.

Program Outline

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MA Screen Acting

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Degree Overview:

The MA Screen Acting course offers students consolidated, bespoke, and advanced training for actors with existing experience in acting and/or performance. The program aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to work as a professional screen actor in a demanding and competitive industry.

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Objectives:

• Develop strong performance skills for the screen.
• Gain advanced understanding of the craft and industry requirements.
• Create a professional profile and cultivate entrepreneurial skills.

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Outline:

The MA Screen Acting course is structured across three trimesters, each focusing on different aspects of screen acting and the industry.

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Trimester 1:

• Core performance skills and techniques.
• Deep investigation into the power of the actor.
• Dramaturgy and script analysis.
• Improvisation.
• Building core voice and body-focused skills.
• Exploring dialects and portfolio development for voice-over work.

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Trimester 2:

• Commercial performance and production techniques.
• Technology-enhanced performance, including virtual production, green screen, and performance capture.
• Collaboration with students from other MA pathways on a research project.

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Trimester 3:

• Creation and delivery of a filmed artefact as a final project.
• Completion of career plan and development of skills for real-world employment.

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Assessment:

The MA Screen Acting program utilizes a diverse range of assessment methods to evaluate student learning and development. These include:

• Portfolio: Students showcase their work and progress through a curated collection of projects and performances.
• Performance: Students demonstrate their acting skills and technique through live performances and filmed projects.
• Research: Students engage in independent research and analysis relevant to screen acting and the industry.
• Presentations: Students present their research findings and projects, showcasing their communication and critical thinking skills.
• Reflective Work: Students reflect on their learning and development throughout the course, providing insights into their growth and understanding.

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Teaching:

The program employs a variety of teaching methods to cater to different learning styles and engage students. These include:

• Productions: Students participate in practical productions to apply their skills and gain real-world experience.
• Seminar-style Group Teaching: Students engage in interactive discussions and group activities to explore different concepts and techniques.
• Tutorials: Students receive individual feedback and guidance from faculty on their performance and development.
• Practical Group Work: Students collaborate with peers on projects and activities to develop teamwork and communication skills.
• Formative Feedback: Students receive ongoing feedback through critiques, pitches, screenings, and reflective sessions.
• Work-integrated Learning: Students gain practical experience through industry placements and collaborations.
• Authentic Assessment: Assessment methods are designed to reflect real-world scenarios and industry expectations.

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Careers:

Graduates of the MA Screen Acting program are prepared for a variety of career paths within the film and television industry. These include:

• Screen Actor
• Film and Television Actor
• Stage Actor
• Voice-over Artist
• Commercial Actor
• Performance Capture Artist
• Acting Coach
• Drama Teacher

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Other:

The program offers additional benefits to students, including:

• Professional Development: Students receive support in developing their professional profile and career plan.
• Access to Advanced Technology: Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

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Additional Notes:

• The program is offered at both the London and Berlin campuses.
• Entry requirements include a 2:1 honours degree from a UK university or overseas equivalent, and relevant industry experience or a degree below a 2:1 equivalent.