Do you need more experience?

Experience doesn’t just help you to convince us that you’re a good candidate. It will also help you to choose the course that best suits your talents, skills and aspirations. For all courses, you will need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the practical skills and theory in your chosen specialisation. We consider applicants on the basis of their whole application and on evidence of their ability to benefit from the course and to complete it successfully. Our courses are designed for people with at least a little experience, even if it's just making your own short film. Most students are in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties when they arrive here.

We are looking for people with talent, commitment, passion, a voice of their own and the ability to engage with others. Many of our successful applicants have a degree from a British or overseas university but we will also consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record, even if in an alternative medium such as theatre.

You can add to your experience in a variety of ways.

Be Practical

  • Become a volunteer and get work experience on other people’s films
  • If you’re over 18 and have a few weeks free, you can send your CV to the school Studio Office via offering to help on NFTS productions. Volunteers are not paid, but you will gain valuable experience and contacts.
  • Become a runner for a studio, post production facility or independent production company. This will give you invaluable experience. You will work long hours, do the dirty work, you’ll need to be flexible, bright, helpful and willing to work for low wages and make the tea. Show you’re keen, go the extra mile and you’ll probably get asked back. Companies that use runners are often willing to place them in their area of interest so if you want to get experience in a particular department, say so.
  • One way to find out who’s in production, and who needs help, is to look at networking sites for filmmakers, some of which send out regular e-bulletins listing offers of work and requests for volunteers:

More are listed at

  • Make your own films, designs, write plays, scripts. Show them to as many people as you can and take note of their feedback.
  • Enter competitions and festivals
  • Experiment with a variety of techniques and technologies, from Photoshop and basic editing packages to any time you can spend with video cameras, or other filmmaking equipment or creative software.
  • Attend seminars, lectures, and workshops
  • Find an experienced mentor who can give you advice and feedback

Do Your Research

Learn as much about the industry as you can in order to see where your particular skills, interests and talents could fit in. Then you’ll know the right questions to ask, and who to talk to.

Find out what’s available in your area. Television stations, studios, local production companies may want volunteers or may have placement programmes.

Skillset can help with career and training advice:

Regional Screen Agencieshave been replaced by a national agency, Creative England. It has strong local and regional linkswith offices in Salford, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham and Elstree Studios. It invests in and supports creative ideas, talent and businesses in film, TV, games and digital media.

Some of the previous Regional Agencies have kept their name, such as Screen South and Film London. They may offer workshops or short courses or provide small project funding for new local filmmakers. Check out:

BothSkillsetand Edinburgh International Television Festival’sThe Networkrun programmes to help develop new talent:

Read the trade papers to keep abreast of what’s going on in the film and TV industries:

Screen International

Broadcast

Variety

Useful reading

Getting into Films and Television,Robert Angell

A Careers Handbook for TV, Radio, Film, Video and Interactive Media, S. Llewellyn & S. Walker

The Guerrilla Film Makers Handbook,Jones & Joliffe

The Guerrilla Film Makers Pocketbook: The Ultimate Guide to Digital Film Making,Jones, Joliffe & Zinnes

First Facts 2, Andrea Cornwell

Useful websites

Search the web imaginatively via Google to find film related information and training opportunities. Make the search engine work for you. Here are some starters:

training and career advice

of all film and media courses in the UK

networking site

Directory with help wanted noticeboard

newcomers to TV

Edinburgh International Television Festival

for beginners or experienced

and short courses in London

for 5– 19 year olds

Filmmaking courses for 7-18 yearolds

A Creative Skillset Film Academy