This module requires students to engage with the world of business, computer graphics and visual effects. Students must setup small business like structures managing staff, budgets and researching ideas and opportunities for business.

A business plan will be developed for each group, which outlines the proposed mission with the intended goal to create small visual effects houses. Students will attend and run their business on one day per week for the entire day.

Students will study the UK and international industry of visual effects to analyse the geographical market and workflow of how the non-stop global industry operates.

Students will research and develop knowledge of UK and international animation and film festivals, competitions and online communities. Finalising with a short visual effects production. Additionally groups must source and complete work experience during this module too.

Students will also be taught skills in:
- Camera and lighting training for VFX shooting
- Idea generation and basic screen writing
- Lighting green screens
- Pre-viz
- Project planning and scheduling
- Creating a company portfolio website
- Developing networking opportunities
- CV writing
- Guidelines on freelancing
- Conducting appraisals and feedback sessions with other students in their company and other companies at the review periods.
- Development of business and communication skills

The coursework for the module takes the form of a portfolio

50% Practical based on the completion of a group project (Learning outcomes 1 and 3)
25% Team presentations (Learning outcomes 2 and 4)
25% Log book showing development work, analysis and reflection on the completed work, demonstrating an individual's contribution to the group project. (Learning outcome 4 and 5)

1x2 Hour Laboratory per week
1x1 Hour Lecture per week

Students will attend and work for the business for an additional 8 hours per week as their student centre independent learning. Specialist guest lectures will also be provided on managing businesses in the media world.

D'Souza, S., 2007. Brilliant Networking: What the Best Networkers Know, Say and Do 1st ed., Prentice Hall.
Finance, C. & Zwerman, S., 2009. The Visual Effects Producer: Understanding the Art and Business of VFX, Focal Press.
James, J., 2009. Fix It In Post: Solutions for Postproduction Problems illustrated ed., Focal Press.
Maschwitz, S., 2006. The DV Rebel's Guide: An All-digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap 1st ed., Peachpit Press.
Okun, J.A. & Zwerman, S. eds., 2010. The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures 1st ed., Focal Press.
Rickman, C.D. & Roddick, D.A., 2005. The Small Business Start-up Workbook: A Step-by-step Guide to Starting the Business You've Dreamed of, How To Books.
Tassel, J.V. & Poe-Howfield, L., 2010. Managing Electronic Media: Making, Marketing, and Moving Digital Content, Focal Press.

Autodesk Maya
PFTrack
Suitable camera and lighting equipment
Digital Academy Forum

1. UNDERSTAND THE USE OF PIPELINES IN THE VISUAL EFFECTS INDUSTRY.
[Analysis; Enquiry]

2. EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE IDEAS AND GOALS IN TEAMWORKING AND NETWORKING SITUATIONS. [Communication]

3. DEVISE A PRE-PRODUCTION STRUCTURE AND PRODUCE A VFX SHOT
[Application; Learning; Problem Solving]

4. DOCUMENT A PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO A GROUP PROJECT.
[Reflection]

5. DEVELOP SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES ON A LARGE COMPLEX PIECE OF WORK
[Knowledge and Understanding]