Film Production Masters - NUI?

Zillah

I'm currently planning to do a Masters in Film Production and I was looking for some opinions on my options. There are plenty of courses in England, but I'd rather stay in the country if possible. As far as I can tell the only course of its type is in Galway. The website makes the course sound interesting but when I went over there to take a look (and drop in my application on the last day :pac:) I was quite disappointed to be honest. They have one building that looks like a very old building that was converted, and a pre-fab outside. It seriously looks like it should have been given another coat of paint five years ago.

Granted, all of that doesn't say anything about the quality of the course, but if things look so shabby they either A) Don't have the budget to keep their facilities in good order, or They don't care, neither of which is very encouraging.

So, if anyone has any direct experience at the Hudson School of Film and Digital Media or has any advice for similar courses I'd be very grateful.

Nolanger

Sounds like a waste of €6K. A production and direction course that teaches Irish cinema, theory, history? Then you have to write essays and do an exam? More like a film studies course where you have access to some equipment? What use is a Masters in film anyway?

Average-Ro

I wouldn't recommend it at all. For a Masters course, the standard isn't that high. They take in students with any type of higher degree, regardless of experience. I did a 3 year Film & TV course in GMIT. 5 people who graduated with me applied for this Masters course (all as mature students). None of them were accepted. Instead, they took on people who had higher degrees in psychology and business and the like. One of the lads they rejected had his documentary aired on RTE, and another got a solid job with a BBC TV show; shows what they passed up on.

I never understood why they did this, as it compromises the quality of their work. I've seen their end of year projects; and I don't think much of them at all (personal opinion of course) They used to come to the Galway Film Centre and ask for camera equipment (before they goy their own); the techie would ask them what type of camera, and they wouldn't have a clue!

I always thought they should bring in people who have some sort of previous training in Film, so that they don't have to start from the very basics. I've worked with one of their graduates; he was the director, I was on lighting. He didn't have a clue what to do. Every time someone would ask him what was next, he'd pause and then ask "What do you think we should do?". One of the actors (an older, well known gentleman) lost the head at him. The actor would ask him questions about his character, the director would reply with "What do you think?". He was completely out of his depth.

I've heard that their screenwriting course is alright though (maybe that's why it's only screenwriting students in their "student testimonials" video)

May I ask why you want to get a Masters in Film? If we know the reasons, we might be able to suggest something better, and cheaper.

Zillah

My degree is Audio Visual Media, and while TV and Film Production was one major class, there were five others and I would like to specialise more. By the sounds of what you've said though I'd have little to gain from it, I've already directed short films and been on a dozen different productions. I was originally planning on doing the Screenwriting course but I decided the more practical one was more likely to lead to work. Doing a masters is also a good way to kill a year while the economy gets back on its feet. Afterwards I'd love to get into film and tv production, ideally starting off as production assistant or assistant director.

I've applied for both and I'm still not sure which to go with if I get offers for both. If they take psychology and business students am I going to spend half the year learning things I already know waiting for the rest of the class to get up to speed? I just got an email from them asking if my degree was level 8 (it is), but surely they should check that out themselves rather than just asking me?

You sound like you know what you're talking about Average-Ro, could I possibly pick your brain on MSN at some point? Drop me a PM if that would be ok.

singingfish

It might be worth considering this:

www.filmmasters.ie - its new and seems to be quite practically focused so might hit the requirement for a course aimed at filmmakers.