Masters Degrees in Film Directing, United Kingdom

This programme takes a project-led, practice-based approach to studying for an MA in Film Directing (Documentary) which integrates practical film making with analysis of contemporary film practice. Students choose to make a creative documentary or a non -fiction film which defies genre definition and pushes the boundaries of narrative. We develop these through workshops and tutorials. Our students work within an integrated framework that helps them question the form of their films and enables them to find the right language for their storytelling.

The programme encourages ways of working as a film community that foster the important exchange of ideas, with inspiration from international visiting film makers through Scottish Documentary Institute and support from our team of documentary practicioners. All tutors are top professionals currently working within the industry as directors, producers, editors, cinematographers or sound designers. A newly built Avid edit teaching space, and a new screening space helps us encourage a fresh approach to emerging technologies.

Graduate films do well internationally regularly winning BAFTAs, RTS Awards and awards at international festivals. Over the last five years students have received an Oscar nomination for an MA film made here and an Oscar shortlist for a film made by a recent graduate. We work closely with the Scottish Documentary Institute, the University’s internationally-acclaimed research centre in documentary film making.

The aim of the Film Directing programmes at ECA is to:

• challenge boundaries, encourage original thought, and develop intellectual and critical approaches to making films
• combine the contemporary energy and discipline of current creative approaches to film practices with the professionalism of industry practices, in order to produce innovative and grounded work
• facilitate the interrelationship between different cultural traditions, traditional and emerging screen technologies, and classical and non-traditional cinematic genres and conventions.
• provide postgraduate education in film making that constitutes a clear progression from undergraduate education whilst maintaining distinctiveness from industrial training- that gives scope for taking risks
• foster filmmakers able to work and compete internationally

Programme structure

This programme is project-led and delivered through workshops and regular individual tutorials. It integrates practical studio work with theoretical and written studies from the Screen cultures course (see separate description) which is run independently from the Film Department.

The first semester, Design Studio is organised round a series of micro-films which lead to a growing awareness of film language and enhancement of technical skills to creatively support filmic vision. Cinematography and sound workshops are delivered by visiting lecturers. Directorial voice is built up also through tutorials in which an idea for a graduating film is developed and evolved. Awareness of current international documentary practice is built through regular seminars and screenings, collaborations with Film Festivals such as Take One Action and also supported by Scottish Documentary Institute. This is also to inspire students to push boundaries in their approach to narrative structure and visual language and not to get locked in conventional approaches. We want to encourage bold work that takes risks. At the end of the first semester all students pitch their films using a trailer or short excerpt from their research material. They also develop a treatment with feedback from tutorials.

Semester two is spent preparing and shooting the graduate film and is backed up with edit tutorials as well as project support from weekly meetings with a tutor. Students also receive seminars in production process including contracts.

Semester three is when the film is edited and finished with input from group crits, tutorials. Students also attend or often volunteer with Edinburgh Film Festival and the Edinburgh Pitch in order to observe and engage with key players from the international documentary world through hearing feedback from commissioning editors.

Alongside the ECA learning structure, students also have a pool of potential collaborators from Screen Academy Napier including the possibility of working with cinematographers, editors and producers.

Career opportunities

Our students go on to a wide range of roles, including producer, director, writer, production or location manager, researcher, editor, assistant director, cinematographer, or journalist. Graduates have found work directing for the BBC and making work internationally for top broadcasters and film funds. Related fields include advertising, community films, academia or film development agencies.

Creative Skillset

MA/MFA Film Directing has been awarded the Creative Skillset Tick, the industry kitemark of quality, following a rigorous assessment process by experts working in the Creative Industries. The Creative Skillset Tick is awarded to practice-based courses which best prepare students for a career in the industry. Screen Academy Scotland is one of only 3 Screen Academies in the UK along with National Film School and London Film School.

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This course provides an environment in which directors can find their individual style and their own distinctive voice. Supported by the David Lean Foundation, this is the UK’s premier MA course in directing.

-Unique specialist course.
-Students of all key film-making disciplines work together on productions.
-Purpose-built film and television studios.
-Industry standard post- production facilities.
-The MA Course in Directing Fiction is supported by the David Lean Foundation.
-Flare Studio scholarship available. More info here: https://www.flare.studio/foundation-projects/nfts-scholarship-award
-Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School.

We welcome EU/EEA Students. Those accepted onto courses starting in 2018 will have their fees guaranteed at the UK rate for both years of the course. Postgraduate students can apply for a loan to help with their studies via the Student Loans Company Loans. A £ 10,000 loan is available to contribute to course and living costs. The Post Graduate Loan is only open to EU/EEA and UK Students who normally live in England. It is not currently available to Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland Students. Find out more here: https://nfts.co.uk/fees-funding/funding-guide

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course commences in January each year. The MA course at the NFTS provides two years in which directing students will be adding depth and understanding to their abilities whilst regularly producing work. This is an environment where they will be both challenged and supported by staff and fellow students. The tutor to student ratio is high, thus allowing the teaching to be specific to the needs of the individual director. One great advantage of having different departments within the school is not only that students gain from the practical experience of working with the other specialisations but that their thinking is informed by the various collaborative engagements that together convey an idea to the screen.

The essence of the course is the practical experience of film-making, combined with a wide-ranging series of work-shops emphasising performance, mise-en-scène and an examination of how narrative works in cinema and in television. Engagement with students of other disciplines at the NFTS is a crucial aspect of the course. The curriculum of each specialisation is designed to link with the others throughout the course, so that students work together on projects of varying scale and complexity, increasing their understanding of the various specialist roles involved in film and television programme-making. The course includes weekly sessions on film and television culture, both contemporary and historical, and opportunities to learn from the work of more established directors through masterclasses and set visits. It also involves interaction with other disciplines, ranging from visual art, literature and architecture to installation and performance art.

CURRICULUM

In the first year, Directing Fiction students take part in a series of workshops exploring all aspects of directing, acquiring a solid understanding of current practices and technology across related specialist crafts. The workshops are supported by seminars on screen language and history, as well as individual tutorial sessions; which can guide students in self-motivated research to supplement their particular learning needs. Besides the weekly Screen Arts programme of screenings and seminars, the Directing Fiction department has regular sessions of screenings, scene by scene analysis and discussion led by tutors and students.

The Directing Fiction department workshops focus on isolating and building on skills used in collaboration with other departments. Each series of workshops culminates in a practical production exercise. Production experience is considered essential because the ability to maintain clarity of ideas and their expression within the conflicting demands of script, cast, crew and practical parameters – it is the test of the learning that has come before.

The first year work is aimed not only at developing skills, but at exposing weak areas of understanding and concept. In the final term of the first year, the directors collaborate with a team to make the First Year Film. This is a project which, apart from temporal and budgetary restrictions, gives the students considerable freedom and which encourages them to take responsibility for their work. During the first year, the student will have begun work on developing second year projects and their dissertation.

The second year of the Directing Fiction course provides more of an opportunity for the self- motivated student to develop his or her own voice through two different types of production experience. The dissertation allows for examining a particular area in depth and should be complementing and informing further work. Longer form storytelling is developed through the digital production. The primary collaboration on this production is focused on director/cinematographer/actor.

Short form storytelling and collaboration with a larger crew is developed through a film production called The Summer Fiction. Both it and the Digital Film are heavily supported by individual tutorials.

The productions also include scheduled workshops/seminars/tutorial support for casting, rehearsals, shot planning, set procedures and working with the A.D., as well as intensive and continuous viewings and critiques of rushes and edits. Editing, Sound and Music tutors also provide tutorials during post-production.

Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School. In addition you will be given a cash Production Budget. NFTS students are engaged in more productions as part of the curriculum than any of our competitors.

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The MA Filmmaking (Directing Fiction) is the premier place to develop your skills as a director, working on a range of projects from personal ‘essay’ films to large-scale shoots with professional actors and feature crew- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-filmmaking-directing-fiction/

This Masters, a pathway of the MA Filmmaking, will enable you to gain a full understanding of how to collaborate on all stages of filmmaking, from scripting and pre-production through shoot, post-production and marketing/exhibition of your work. It will build your skills and confidence in expressing your unique vision and conveying it to your team.

What we offer

The programme is housed in a new purpose-built media facility equipped with state-of-the art teaching spaces including film and photography studios equipped with Arri lighting and Greenscreen, Avid Media Composer, Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Film Editing, Animation, Digital Special Effects, Pro Tools Audio Postproduction and Foley suites.

We have extensive production facilities and informal rehearsal and meeting spaces where you can discuss and collaborate with scriptwriters, actors, producers and your shoot team.

We also have established relations with casting directors, agents, production designers and other professionals who will both advise you and provide their skills to enhance your productions.

You work on at least one film per term in your specialist role, culminating in a major production towards the end of the degree. In addition to your specialist area, you attend classes in related disciplines such as Film Directing and Editing and collaborate with students across specialisations on film projects. This framework is designed to stimulate collaborative practice by providing you with a breadth of filmmaking knowledge combined with a high level of expertise in your chosen filmmaking discipline.

Our students say...

"The course gave the opportunity to delve into practical movie directing projects together with talented mentors and international peers on a daily basis."
"Each film we created together progressed technically, aesthetically and thematically, and our screen storytelling abilities matured."

Expert guidance

Experienced tutors enhance the flow of your individual research, experimentation and artistic achievement. The guests have all provided expert guidance at Goldsmiths.

Gillies Mackinonn (Above Suspicion; The Village)
Asif Kapadia (The Warrior; Senna)
Danny Boyle (Trainspotting; Slumdog Millionaire)
Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham; Bhaji on the Beach)
Stephen Frears (The Queen; Dirty Pretty Things)
Sally Potter (Orlando; The Man Who Cried)
Michael Winterbottom (Wonderland; 24 Hour Party People)
Alan Parker (Angel Heart; Mississipi Burning)

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the Department of Media & Communications

Modules & Structure

For two terms you will spend a full day a week in specialised contact with your specific programme convenor, plus a further day in Screen Lab working with colleagues across the programme in a Talent Campus-style project-led learning structure with:

Masterclasses
Pitches
Role-plays
Exercises aimed at using your skills specialism in a variety of live shoot situations
You will also have a variety of research projects to undertake, as well as other module options.

The third term will be taken up with your final substantive project, and in writing up a process paper on your work and research over the year.

Screen Lab

You will also advance your collaborative skills by working in teams with fiction and documentary producers and directors and sound and edit students, on a variety of projects and at least three scheduled films across the year.

You will leave the programme with a diverse portfolio of moving-image work that may span a variety of formats – music video, web series drama, documentary, campaign/commercial, experimental art pieces and feature-scale short fiction films.

Screen School options

As well as your Cinematography specialism, you will undertake three short courses to enhance your other skills and critical approaches.

If you are passionate about fashioning an exciting career for yourself as a cinematographer in an environment that promotes innovative filmmaking, this course is for you.

Skills and careers

On completing the programme you will be equipped to enter the global job market, armed with an enhanced understanding of your practical, intellectual and creative capacities as a cinematographer.

Possibly the most important skill we furnish you with is the rigorous discipline of working collaboratively under pressure as part of a creative team on challenging projects.

In addition to your practical filmmaking skills, we enable you to develop a variety of transferable intellectual, organisational and communication skills to equip you for a broad range of employment opportunities across the arts and media landscape (film, television, online, the creative arts, advertising and related hybrid forms).

Our graduates

Recent alumni are active in the film, media and cultural industries around the world as:

directors of photography
cinematographers
camera operators
lighting designers

Other entry requirements

Please note that unless you are exempted (Please check your status with our Admissions Team: [email protected]) overseas students require an English language qualification of IELTS 7.0 in order to be considered for a place on the MA Filmmaking programme.

If you have not yet achieved IELTS 7.0, we advise you to sit your IELTS exam at the earliest opportunity and to submit your application immediately after receiving your result. The annual IELTS deadline for the programme is April 30th.

Because funding deadlines and requirements vary around the world, applications are considered on a rolling basis and places on the programme fill up across the recruitment cycle. For this reason, we strongly advise you to submit your completed application as early as you can.

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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Realise your ambitions and take the lead in the creation of a film project that showcases your individuality and talent. The first three semesters follow the MA Filmmaking course to give you a thorough grounding in collaborative filmmaking. Then, mentored over two semesters, you will make an extended piece that develops your own style as you become a confident and experienced filmmaker.

Working on your own project or taking a head of department role alongside a fellow MFA student, your expertise will be tested in a dedicated specialism such as directing, producing, cinematography, animation, screenwriting or editing.

Whether your ambitions lie in fiction, documentary, animation, experimental films or screenplays, this course will allow you to develop your idea into a professional piece of work. We will give you the independence and freedom to realise your project, complemented by the support of our expert tutors.

Visit the website https://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/filmmaking_mfa/

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

The MFA (Master of Fine Arts) is a highly respected qualification in the US and is growing in significance in the UK. More importantly, you will graduate with a fully realised film project that extends your portfolio and demonstrates who you are as a filmmaker. Your experiences on the course will prepare you for the collaborative nature of the filmmaking industry.

Careers advice:
The dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course Benefits

We will give you the independence to make the film you want to make. Our expert team will provide tutorial encouragement, supervision and advice, and you will have access to industry-standard equipment and resources at our Northern Film School.

From cinematographers to producers and editors to animators, our teaching team is made up of highly respected film and television professionals, many of whom are still active in their fields. We will aim to match you with a tutor who specialises in your area of interest so that we can provide you with bespoke advice and guidance.

As the first and only film school in the UK to receive JAMES accreditation in recognition of the expertise of our staff, the professional level of our facilities and the opportunities we provide for our students, the Northern Film School is one of the best schools in the UK to explore and develop your ideas as a filmmaker.

Keith Dando

Senior Lecturer

"The wonderful thing about the new MFA Filmmaking course is that it is just that - filmmaking, pure and simple. It’s a struggle to launch a film career and get to make the films which are important to you, that speak to an audience. This is what we’re aiming to achieve and we are eager to see the results."

Keith’s career has included work on short and feature films, television series and computer games in projects for the BBC, Channel Four, Channel Five and many independent film and TV companies. Keith has also co-written screenplays that have reached the finals in the prestigious Zoetrope and Final Draft screenwriting contests, and worked with up and coming, respected filmmakers such as Clio Barnard and Penny Woolcock.

Facilities

-Electric Press
Based at the Electric Press, our Northern Film School has dedicated facilities and equipment for you to use. These include studios, camera and grip equipment, lighting equipment, edit suites for post-production and a 75-seat HD viewing theatre.

-Film Studios
Based in the Electric Press, our two expansive production studios, East and West Side enable the building of substantial film sets. This affords film students the opportunity to fully explore set design and prop building.

-Sound recording & editing facilities
You'll have access to a suite of professional music studios, including film composition and audio post production rooms, instruments, together with portable field recording equipment and extensive computer workstation facilities.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

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The Director is central to the creative process in media production and this course has been designed to build and develop your knowledge of the industry, enabling you to step up to the challenge of delivering winning productions. This hands-on course provides many opportunities for practical production across platforms and genres. It will enhance your storytelling skills and build your technical understanding of film, television and transmedia production, developing advanced skills as a director in line with current industry practice.

The Faculty of Media & Communication encourage dynamic collaborations between students across courses. Working with the producing, scriptwriting, cinematography, sound and editing students you will create a showcase of your skills as a visual, creative storyteller. Many of these collaborations have continued beyond the course as students set up their own production companies. This comprehensive course will equip you with the skills to understand and manage the entire production process, from effective planning and pre-visualisation to overseeing creative post-production work alongside our editing students.

Under the guidance of experienced media professionals, you will develop your own directorial flair and style, and will gain a sound theoretical grounding of the social, cultural and intellectual context for media production work. The final production project will allow you to use the technical and directorial skills you have developed to mastermind your own portfolio of work in collaboration with other students within The Faculty of Media & Communication. As an alternative, you can choose a research-based option to undertake a detailed study of an aspect of directing.

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Introduction

This intensive course gives you a unique insight into an actors conservatoire training, giving the director the intellectual and artistic tools to better communicate and stimulate a creative performance from actors on film. Directing means working with performers and developing a methodology that balances the needs of the actor against the grinding pressure of the shooting process. This course equips and enables the director to find their own voice whilst developing the skills needed to balancing these difficult demands. During the course you will work closely with the acting cohort developing your directors voice and vision to tell story through narrative drama, focusing on an understanding on the importance of genre, casting and story telling with the actor.

Please note: recruitment to the Writing pathway is currently suspended.

Content

This postgraduate course prepares you for work in film and television and related fields by bringing together the key artistic disciplines and skills needed to make high quality filmed drama. You will explore in detail Stanilavisky's unique scene study methodology which lies at the heart of Drama Centre’s conservatoire training. From storyboard to working on the subtext with the actors on set you will be enabled to develop your own distinct artistic voice.

At the heart of MA Screen: Directing, Writing is the growth of individual creativity, achieved through constant opportunities for working on camera-based projects with colleagues from other pathways. You will work on two filmed productions, in our film studio and on location. Supported by a professional producer, director of photography and editor. You will take an active part in a Mike Leigh type devising project where you will help shape the story's stimulated by the characters that the actors develop over nine weeks of intense rehearsal. You will understand the rhythm of a working film set and develop the confidence to use your own voice on future projects, confident in the knowledge that you know how to work creatively with actors. You will be given in depth preparation for the profession including interview technics and wide range of lectures from visiting professionals, such as agents, casting directors, working producers and directors.

Distinctive features of MA Screen: Directing, Writing are:

An insight into actors' conservatoire training

A performance-led approach to recorded drama

A company operating model

The acquisition of a deep understanding of the processes leading to the creation of high quality films

A quasi-professional learning model that prepares you for direct entry to the world of work

The realisation of new writing or adaptations through performance-led models

A focus on the technical aspects of production

A mentoring scheme connecting students with experienced professionals.

Structure

MA Screen: Directing, Writing lasts 45 weeks over 12 months and is structured as units - class-based to begin with, but increasingly project-geared over time. This postgraduate course is intensive. You'll be expected to commit 40 hours per week to classes, rehearsals and shoots, and to your own independent preparation and learning.

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The MA Filmmaking course is very practical. It includes two years of training in Directing, Cinematography, Editing , Sound , Production Design, Screenwriting and Production. Please click here to view the full course curriculum - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/curriculum. There are 5 exercise films and a graduation work in the MA Filmmaking programme, shot on film and digital. One film is prepared, shot, delivered and screened in every 12 weeks of your work. Students normally work on quite a few more depending on their time and specialty.

Students are taught by working UK filmmakers. Exercise films are made on built sets, shot on professional level film and digital cameras, recorded on Nagra V, edited on Avid Composer and given a professional dub in Soho.

Our 2-year postgraduate multi-discipline MA Filmmaking course requires that you have a 3-4 year degree which does not have to be media related, or a minimum of 3 years relevant work experience. Read more about admissions requirements here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/admissions. We have students who not only come from various geographical locations but also with varying media knowledge. What they do have in common is their love, passion and genuine interest in film and filmmaking as a craft. We have had lawyers, doctors, engineers, illustrators enrol on our courses so having an unusual background is welcome here.

The London Film School (LFS)

Since 1956 the school has trained thousands of directors, cinematographers, editors and other film professionals now working across the globe. It is the most truly international school anywhere, with at least 60% of its students from outside Great Britain.
We have thousands of high profile alumni, including Michael Mann, Mike Leigh, Duncan Jones, Tak Fujimoto, Franc Roddam, Mark Goldblatt, Bill Douglas, Ho Yim, Anne Hui, Oliver Hermanus and Danny Huston.

LFS is based in Covent Garden two minutes’ walk from Soho, centre of the European entertainment industry. It is one of only three institutions accredited as a Creative Skillset Film Academy, recognised by the UK industry body as a Centre of Excellence.

We teach filmmaking, on stages, and in workshops rather than in classrooms - the building functions as a working studio. LFS is a living creative film community. The school is an independent non-profit establishment run by passionate and experienced filmmakers; full-time faculty and a varied and hugely talented group of visiting lecturers, technicians and artists.
Please get in touch for more information about our MA programmes in Filmmaking, Screenwriting, International Film Business, the Doctoral Programmes, as well as our expanding range of continuing professional development courses.
We have three intakes a year on May, September and January. We are currently operating a rolling process but please do apply as soon as you can for any intake. You can read more about the admissions process and deadlines here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/admissions

VISIT US

Choosing a film school is a big decision; you may want to visit us or talk to a student or a graduate. We have open afternoons every other Thursday during term time and we can show you around – please click here to sign up for a place - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/book-tour. If you cannot attend any of those days, please do get in touch on [email protected] to schedule an alternative time; our students are our priorities and as such the working studios are their space.

‘The beauty of a good film school is that it invites you to make mistakes, but never dampens your enthusiasm. At LFS I made plenty, and ignited a passion.’ Duncan Jones, Director of MOON (2009), SOURCE CODE (2011), WARCRAFT (2016), MUTE (2017)

Further Information

The need to follow and understand the intensive course of lectures, and the high pressure of group work make it imperative that all students must have a satisfactory knowledge of the English language. Read the requirements here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-screenwriting/admissions/admission-requirements

On our website you can view testimonials - http://lfs.org.uk/films-and-filmmakers/testimonials from recent LFS graduates, and we can put you in touch with one from your country. One recent alumni said of his experience: “I always speak very highly of the Screenwriting MA at LFS when prospective students email me. I learnt so much there and have it to thank for a lot, so thanks!” Ben Cleary, MA Screenwriting, 2016 Shorts Film Oscar Nominee for STUTTERER


The MA Filmmaking has three intake dates: January, May and September

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Overview

The MA Film & TV is a flexible, student driven course designed to fit in with learners’ professional and personal commitments. Delivered online by guiding practice, the curriculum is adaptable to student needs and accommodates current media industry developments.

Why choose this course?

Students negotiate their own learning from the first module onwards, defining aims and approaches that are relevant and feasible within their individual context. They review and adapt these plans along with their emerging expertise to develop projects that can be applied to their local context. Student negotiated modules accommodate rapid technology-driven, creative and increasingly globalised business changes with ease.

Emerging filmmakers who enter the course with a clear sense of direction can make their project funding applications and development plans more coherent and their career plans more feasible. More established participants can enhance their digital and management skills to future proof their interactions with emerging technologies and institutions. All participants can grow their management and leadership skills by reflecting on the implementation of their plans within their specific environment.

The course is led by award-winning film and TV producer Carl Schoenfeld. Carl has over two decades’ producing experience in the film & TV industries, laying the groundwork for fresh approaches across filmmaking procedures and talent development initiatives. His ventures with the BBC, Channel4/Film4 and BFI, among others, have embraced emerging technology, explored new workflows and kick-started the international careers of the talent involved.

What will I learn?

Students apply to the course specifying their unique combination of ambitions and accomplishments. Their statement serves as a foundation for the My Learning Trajectory Assignment, detailing attainable course goals (aligned with employers’ agendas, where applicable, or industry research), outlining the strategies the student adopts to achieve them. The module My Film & TV Knowledge Base enables students to deepen their understanding of, and widen their range of practical, conceptual and theoretical investigations at postgraduate level. Following these introductory modules, students embark on their very own learning journey structured through four negotiated modules towards their personal stated - and regularly reviewed – attainment goals.

How will this course be taught?

Students will receive individual mentoring by both a postgraduate mentor and an experienced professional, who is usually working in the film or TV industries in a leading capacity. Students can also participate in regular web conferences together with peers led by a module leader, as well as optional face-to-face events coinciding with key industry networking opportunities such as international conferences and film festivals.

The course is designed for global delivery in a world where cameras and edit computers including smartphones are widely available - but expertise in using these devices in an effective way is hard to come by. Accordingly, we expect students with a professional background and ambitions to have access to their own equipment relevant to their chosen specialism, and would be able to complete practical course work submissions (which students negotiate themselves) using a recent smartphone. The course adopts a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ ethos, and students are being guided to plan practical work that they can complete relying on accessible equipment only.

How will I be assessed?

The journey starts with formative assessment of student blogs detailing the films, programmes and people that influence their plans and build towards both oral and written presentations of their plans, working towards the production of creative work and relevant business structures. As assessment on this course is highly integrative, these assignments look forward to later, student negotiated modules, and engage learners in evaluating and supporting the feasibility of their plans (whilst the evaluative parts of later assignments ask students to reflect on these earlier plans and the journey in between). Moreover, establishing a constant cycle of observing, theorising, planning and film TV programme making encourages students to experience the connections and synergy between all these stages and to develop habits that enable lifelong learning.

Screenwriters may use some of the earlier and smaller negotiated modules to lay out their story in an industry style ‘treatment’ or ‘step outline’, analyse ‘successful’ screenplays in their genre or made by intended collaborators, research future industry collaborators in depth before writing a full-length feature screenplay for their Major Project.

Directors can relate their aims, past work and approaches to industry practice, pursue a work placement if they are early in their career, or investigate and experiment with different ways to develop a visual strategy for a project, rewrite screenplays, look at performance and directing styles, or research successful case studies and potential collaborators.

Producers may evaluate a variety of past, ground breaking or potential future projects, research potential markets, audiences and finance sources including standard industry investors and crowd funding to build a detailed business case e.g. for their Major Project. Students focusing on technical grades may choose work placements (which they in the first instance identify, approach and negotiate as part of earlier negotiated course work), support practical work with in depth research including history and context, or experiment with new workflows.

Entry requirements

Those with relevant experience are encouraged to apply for admission with advanced standing through Accreditation of Prior Learning or Prior Experiential Learning, where appropriate. Students entering with advanced standing will be advised of the procedure for claiming accreditation of prior experience or learning, and of the regulations governing the amount of credit that can be claimed (see below). Advice will also be given on the extent of the match between their experience/learning and the relevant course outcomes.

Applicants have to meet their own equipment needs on this course. This includes a recent computer (laptop, desktop or versatile tablet, less than 5 years old, including software relevant to their specialism) and a broadband connection, as well as access to filmmaking equipment (e.g. camera, sound recording, postproduction facilities and other relevant resources) that may be required to produce practical course work to the technical standard that they specify in the early modules.

Each application will be required to include a ‘statement of intent’ (500 words for applicants meeting all admission criteria, 1500 words for applicants using APL/APEL), and applicants may be required to provide other supporting material, e.g. full marks/results records, or examples of their practical, professional or academic work. Eligible applicants will be interviewed by videoconferencing (e.g. Skype).

Overseas students may apply directly to the University. Students for whom English is not their first language should meet the appropriate English language standards. This course requires IELTS 6.5 or above. If you don’t have the required level of English then view our range of Pre-Sessional English courses.

How to apply

To find out more about how to apply, click on the Apply For This Course button above. Many of our courses offer a part-time study option. Note that the part-time mode of study is not applicable to international students, unless you hold a relevant visa – please check with the international office.

Please note: we have a range of taught postgraduate awards to suit your needs, from Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma to a full Master's Degree (MA, MBA, MSc, LLM). In most cases you can decide to exit at Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma level, without carrying onto the full Master's qualification.

Further information

If you click on the Order a Prospectus button above, we will send you a printed Postgraduate Prospectus; alternatively you can download a pdf prospectus.

To find out more information about Postgraduate Study at Coventry University, including finance and funding and the benefits of further study, see our Postgraduate Study pages.

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This unique two year course is designed to equip you with the skills to write, direct and animate award winning films.

-All production costs covered by the school, making NFTS Animation one of the best value courses in the country.
-Being the only animation course situated in a film studio, we can cater for big ideas.
-Students have their own work spaces and equipment to make their graduation film.
-Films are finished in professional sound stages and post-production facilities.
-Production team members become invaluable colleagues when you leave and work on future projects.
-A Creative Skillset-Accredited Directing Animation MA course.

We welcome EU/EEA Students. Those accepted onto courses starting in 2018 will have their fees guaranteed at the UK rate for both years of the course. Postgraduate students can apply for a loan to help with their studies via the Student Loans Company Loans. A £ 10,000 loan is available to contribute to course and living costs. The Post Graduate Loan is only open to EU/EEA and UK Students who normally live in England. It is not currently available to Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland Students. Find out more here: https://nfts.co.uk/fees-funding/funding-guide

COURSE OVERVIEW

We offer an exciting two year MA course that helps you direct the film that you have always wanted to make.

The first year is packed full of inspiring workshops led by talented filmmakers and industry professionals. These include, improving your animation skills, writing better narratives and developing fresh approaches to design and techniques.

In the second year, you will direct a full production team to bring your vision to life, using the school's state-of-the-art production facilities.

We encourage all forms of visual storytelling; including drawn and stop-motion animation, life-size pixelation and even puppeteering. Students are inspired to push the boundaries; to find interesting new animated techniques and fresh approaches to storytelling.

Learning to work with a team is central to the course. Collaborative workshops with other filmmaking disciplines, help animation directors understand the role of each crew member and the skills they bring to the filmmaking process.

Our aim is to help you create films that will steer the animation industry into new and exciting directions.

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A unique course, the only one of its kind in the UK, designed to fast track you into the industry.

-Exclusive scholarship available for this course with RSPB.*
-Students will gain the skills and expertise needed to direct science, natural history and wildlife productions and the know-how to produce entire shows.
-The course gives students the ability to generate science and natural history programme ideas and formats.
-Gain the confidence and know-how to pitch those ideas to commissioning editors.
-Graduate with brilliant list of industry contacts and relevant skills for building a sustainable career as a Producer/Director.
-Work experince at the UK’s major wildlife production companies.
-Sir David Attenborough will deliver a masterclass/lecture to the students.

'A new MA designed to bring on the next generation of natural-history programme makers' BBC Wildlife

'You are the future. It’s up to you to change things about the way you look at the natural world, using formats I haven’t dreamed about.' Sir David Attenborough, NFTS Masterclass 2017 (Picture: Sir David Attenborough with Science and Natural History Students)

We welcome EU/EEA Students. Those accepted onto courses starting in 2018 will have their fees guaranteed at the UK rate for both years of the course. Postgraduate students can apply for a loan to help with their studies via the Student Loans Company Loans. A £ 10,000 loan is available to contribute to course and living costs. The Post Graduate Loan is only open to EU/EEA and UK Students who normally live in England. It is not currently available to Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland Students. Find out more here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=22757-Postgraduate-Loan

COURSE OVERVIEW

New technology and a greater variety of formats are challenging the traditional boundaries of Science and Natural History Programming and driving greater audience demand. British production companies are at the forefront of leading innovation in formats and high-end content, with growing opportunities to work with North American and international broadcasters.

This course will give you:
-The skills to direct science and natural history productions.
-The know-how to produce entire shows.
-A practical working knowledge of current science and natural history television production methods.
-The ability to generate science and natural history programme ideas and formats.
-Knowledge of how the business works and current trends, including co-productions etc.
-The confidence and know-how to pitch those ideas to commissioning editors.
-Brilliant industry contacts and relevant skills for building a sustainable career as a Producer/Director.
-Access to NFTS's Masterclasses led by major creative figures from film, television and games.

The National Film and Television School’s Science and Natural History Masters focuses on developing Producers and Directors. Therefore, as part of the course students will be exposed to the development and production challenges of specialist factual genres, such as Landmark / Blue Chip (interchangeable terms for high budget, high production value programming mainly used in a pure wildlife context), mini landmarks, Children’s, People and Nature, Live, Expedition films, Magazine formats, Obs-doc etc. In addition there will be a focus on promoting cross-genre ideas to foster creativity.

Editorial policy and standards, together with codes of practice relating to science and the filming of animals, and Health and Safety will be fully explored.

Students will gain practical experience in both the research and development of programming of this type whilst also developing a body of work that showcases their practical film making skills and innovation within the genre.

*RSPB Scholarship
An exclusive scholarship is available for this course, kindly provided by course partner, RSPB. This scholarship is open to students who live within the RSPB’s conservation remit of the UK and UK overseas territories including Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island & Tristan da Cunha), Turks and Caicos Islands, Pitcairn Island, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

How To Apply For Scholarship
-If you are accepted onto the Directing & Producing Science & Natural History MA, you will be invited to submit a funding application to apply for the scholarship.
-Funding applications are only open to successful applicants.
-Applicants will be asked to provide proof of citizenship to qualify for the scholarship.
-Click the link to download further information about the RSPB partnership: https://nfts.co.uk/sites/default/files/u102/Documents/Funding/RSPB_Scholarship_04_2017.doc

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'NFTS' reputation and facilities should make this practical course a 'must' for anyone wanting to direct commercials’ Sir Alan Parker
This unique part-time diploma course delivered in partnership with D&AD, will equip students with the skills required to become a successful Commercials Director.

-Leave the course with a professional standard show reel of three commercials
-Attend weekly talks from key speakers in the advertising industry including Creative Directors, successful Commercials Directors and Brand Managers
-Based in London amongst the hub of the commercials industry
-One evening a week (with additional production activity as required)
-Improve career prospects by gaining an unrivalled knowledge and an invaluable list of industry contacts
-Access to NFTS's Masterclasses led by major creative figures from film, television and game
-The course is supported by a wide range of commercials production companies, agencies etc. For example Great Guns and Blink have been integral to the design of the course and will contribute teaching sessions to the course.

We welcome EU/EEA Students. Course fees charged at UK rate.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Working as a director in commercials involves a unique skillset. Not only does it require creative vision and technical knowledge but a successful director will have a good understanding of how to successfully negotiate working in a commercial environment in a highly collaborative way.

ABOUT D&AD

Since 1962, D&AD has been inspiring a community of creative thinkers by celebrating and stimulating the finest in design and advertising. The D&AD Professional Awards are recognised globally as the ultimate creative accolade, entered and attended by the best from around the world. But it's much more than just awards. Members join a vibrant global community, whilst creatives and clients are inspired by a world-class Training programme. As a non-profit advertising association, all D&AD's surpluses go straight into programmes such as New Blood, inspiring the next generation of creative talent and stimulating the creative industry to work towards a fairer more sustainable future.

CURRICULUM

This course will facilitate students making three commercials combining practical production experience and specialist training.

Specifically students will learn about:
-The commercials market
-Developing ideas
-Creating moodboards and storyboards
-Pitching
-Managing the client
-Working with agencies and production companies
-Responding to briefs
-Understanding brands
-Casting
-Shoot processes and protocols
-The use of music in commercials

Each term, a key project will be to direct a commercial. By the end of the course you will have made three commercials.

The course has been developed to meet industry demand and NFTS students are engaged in more productions as part of the curriculum than any other film school. And, unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the NFTS and productions are given cash production budgets.

The diploma course is 12 months part-time, one evening a week (with additional production activity as required) and is delivered in central London. Each week Creative Directors, Successful Commercials Directors, Agency staff, Brand Managers etc will speak to students to elucidate a different aspect of the commercials sector.

Participant production activity will be supported by NFTS students studying on craft courses including Cinematography and Production Sound.

NFTS BENEFITS

Directing Commercials and Promos course participants will have full access to our creative masterclasses and clubs, including: Cinema Club, Screen Arts and NFTS Masterclasses - these strands see major creative figures from film, television and games screening their work and discussing with students in the campus cinema. Recent speakers include David Fincher (Director, Seven, Gone Girl), Graham Linehan (The IT Crowd, Father Ted), Dougal Wilson (award winning commercials director), Abi Morgan (Suffragette, The Hour), and Christopher Nolan (Interstellar, The Dark Knight).

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Met Film School Berlin will be launching the MA Directing programme in October 2015. This programme will aim to provide students with practical work relevant skills, with teaching delivered by industry professional tutors.

The programme will be divided into six 20-credit modules followed by a 60-credit module. Students will complete a portfolio of filmmaking projects, plus a final Master’s Project. Students will attend a series of lectures screenings, seminars, practice-based exercises and workshops, as well as work independently to produce projects for their portfolio, demonstrating craft and creativity to an advanced degree. In addition, students will be required to conduct scholarly research as the basis of critical and reflective written work that links to their chosen field (Directing within screen arts). Students will also receive 1:1 tutorial support throughout the year.

This programme is designed to give students a comprehensive grasp of the creative and technical responsibilities of directors today within a historical, cultural and industrial context.

The programme takes directors through the process of production from script to screen focusing on the core elements of visual language, narrative storytelling and performance. Students will learn and practice a variety of directing styles, techniques and strategies for narrative as well as non-fiction storytelling. The goal of this programme is to develop the craft skills and technical proficiency that ultimately frees the director to take creative risks.

This programme is validated by The University of West London.

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This unique diploma course delivered in partnership with the BBC and with the added support of the Assistant Directors Association and the Production Guild, will equip students with the skills and capabilities required to foster a successful future career as a First, Second, Third Assistant Director and/or Floor Manager.

-Unique course
-Delivered at NFTS in partnership with BBC
-Intensely practical
-Hands-on experience of working on a wide range of drama and entertainment productions
-10 day work experience placement guaranteed
-Just 12 months long
-Work and learn with the UK's next generation of talent
-Access to NFTS's masterclasses led by major creative figures from film, television and games

We welcome EU/EEA Students. Course fees charged at UK rate.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Being an Assistant Director or Floor Manager is a demanding role that requires a level head, self-confidence and strong communication skills in order to ensure that the crew and the production meet the challenges of demanding conditions and time constraints.

Assistant Directors and Floor Managers are responsible for the daily operation of the shooting set / television studio. Their objective is to provide the Director with everything he or she needs to realise his or her vision. They are at the heart of ensuring a production stays on track and is delivered successfully.

Assistant Directors and Floor Managers, among many other things, make schedules, attend to the cast, direct extras, oversee the crew as each shot is prepared, create detailed reports of each day's events, and are looked to by cast and crew to solve the many problems that continually arise on set.

The expectation is that on this course you will learn to:
-Be a team-leader and motivator
-Be a team player
-Have organisational and time-management skills
-Plan ahead
-Trouble-shoot
-Pay close attention to detail
-Be an excellent communicator
-Have tact and diplomacy skills
-Routinely deal with problems and handle pressure well
-Prioritise tasks
-Multi-task
-Be flexible
-Have a positive approach

CURRICULUM

This course combines practical experience on Fiction films and TV Entertainment shows with industry work experience placements and intensive training.

The course has been developed to meet industry demand and NFTS students are engaged in more productions as part of the curriculum than any of our competitors. Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School and productions are given cash production budgets.

The diploma course is 12 months full-time and is delivered at the NFTS:

Specifically students will learn about:
-Reading a script and developing a shooting schedule
-How to use relevant industry software (e.g Movie Magic and Adobe Story)
-The impact of budget, cast availability and script coverage on the shooting schedule
-Supporting the hiring of locations, props and equipment
-Leading a technical recce
-Set and Studio Floor protocols and etiquette
-Liaising with the production office to create call sheets, movement orders, location agreements and other production paperwork
-Managing a set or studio floor with confidence during a shoot
-Managing talent
-Health and Safety and First Aid

PLACEMENT

Each student will complete a minimum of 10-days work experience. This is a requirement to pass the course. Students are encouraged and supported to complete further work experience as appropriate.

SPECIALIST WORKSHOPS

During the course there will be a range of other specialist workshops on a range of relevant topics, such as, Working with Talent, Tracking Vehicles, Stunts, Firearms & Special FX.

NFTS BENEFITS

Assistant Directing and Floor Managing course participants will have full access to the NFTS’ optional creative stimulus strands, including: Cinema Club, Screen Arts and NFTS Masterclasses - these strands see major creative figures from film, television and games screening their work and discussing with students in the campus cinema. Speakers have included David Fincher (Director, Seven, Gone Girl), Graham Linehan (The IT Crowd, Father Ted), Abi Morgan (Suffragette, The Hour), Christopher Nolan (Interstellar, The Dark Knight) and Hamish Hamilton (Director, Super Bowl XLVIII).

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The NFTS has a tradition of enabling documentary filmmakers to find a distinctive voice that both prepares them for the Industry and makes their work a force for changing it.

-Develop a personal voice.
-Put storytelling at the centre of your process.
-Study in a multi-disciplinary filmmaking environment.
-Shoot on digital formats.
-Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School.

We welcome EU/EEA Students. Those accepted onto courses starting in 2018 will have their fees guaranteed at the UK rate for both years of the course. Postgraduate students can apply for a loan to help with their studies via the Student Loans Company Loans. A £ 10,000 loan is available to contribute to course and living costs. The Post Graduate Loan is only open to EU/EEA and UK Students who normally live in England. It is not currently available to Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland Students. Find out more here: https://nfts.co.uk/fees-funding/funding-guide

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course commences in January each year. The goal of the course is to give our graduates the tools and the confidence to become successful members of the international documentary community. Our students have won the Grierson and Sheffield Student Awards two years running, IDFA and the Royal Television Society last year, and win prizes at the most prestigious festivals round the world: Sundance, IDFA, Hot Docs, Berlin, Sheffield and many others. The most important thing, however, is to prepare them for life as committed documentary storytellers, wherever that may lead.

In the UK, getting a first commission can be a daunting task but last year, for example, Marc Williamson, made a First Cut for Channel 4 from his Sheffield student award winning graduation film which this year won him the Grierson Prize for Best Newcomer. Some use the contacts they make in the last phase of the course, to put together deals with TV production companies and non-TV source as Sam Blair did with Adidas for his brilliant feature debut about sprinters, Personal Best. Since students direct and shoot five films in different genres during the course, many progress swiftly by using their unique skills to contribute to productions throughout the industry, like James Newton who won a Grierson last year as one of the directors of The Year the Town Hall Shrank.

CURRICULUM

YEAR ONE
Built around a series of four practical exercises, increasing in length and complexity, informed and inspired by relevant traditions. Each exercise isolates and focuses on the techniques and content of a specific documentary genre: observation, character–led narrative, image/sound poetry and investigation. Students collaborate in various combinations with editors, cinematographers, sound designers and composers and also work alone using digital video equipment.

YEAR TWO
Includes three projects: a graduation film in which students synthesise what they have discovered in the first year, and use it to confidently challenge conventional approaches to documentary: an MA dissertation in which they reflect on a practical question that has intrigued them during the course so far and a proposal/taster tape for a project to take into the professional arena.

The final stage consists of visits to film festivals, broadcasters, independent producers and other relevant institutions, together with seminars dealing with the commissioning process, legal requirements, finance and festival potential.

Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School including an above-the-line cash production budget. NFTS students are engaged in more productions as part of the curriculum than any of our competitors.

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The MA Directing course equips you with a comprehensive skillset to work across all screen platforms – film, TV, commercials and online. During your studies you’ll do a unique industry project that will give you real-life experience with external clients, not offered by any other film school in the world.

- Practical. 70% of the curriculum is practical, hands-on experience. You will have an opportunity to work with professional actors, shoot on location and participate in moving camera exercises.

- Teamwork. Work collaboratively with students on other MA courses (Cinematography, Screenwriting, Producing etc.) as a creative crew to mirror the industry practice. Experience what it takes to deliver the project from start to finish, and develop your communication, negotiation, and project management skills.

- Real-life experience. Learn the importance of working to a creative brief as a director while doing a project for an external company. Our students have worked with companies like Mad Dog Casting, The Imaginarium, Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube and many others.

- Industry-facing. Learn from the best industry professionals, including Cinematographers, Casting Directors, Location Managers and Production Designers. Our recent guest speakers include Oscar-winning directors: James Marsh (The Theory Of Everything) and Pawel Pawlikowski (Ida).

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