M.A. in Film Production, at home or abroad!

johnny_ultimate

Hey guys, forum is quiet so mightn't get a response but still...

Anyway, I'm hoping to get some sort of video production job this year, but if I don't I'll probably do a masters in September instead. I've been looking around, and the Heuston School ones in Galway sound like what I'm looking for, but have heard mixed reports about the school itself. I'd like to do one in Dun Laoghaire since it is much closer to me than anywhere else, but I can't see a film production M.A. offered on their site, only TV/Radio production. I'd be willing to look into British and European courses too, although at the moment anywhere further abroad is probably too costly for me!

What I'm looking for specifically would be something more orientated towards specifically film related topics, and practical ones at that: so screenwriting, production, direction, editing etc... Of course, a film theory module would be nice, but not too much as I'm looking for a far more practical course than simply 'film studies'.

Anyway, have a rough idea of what's available through online, but advise from anyone whose actually done masters in film production would be nice

Cheers in advance.

BlitzKrieg

Currently doing a M.A in filmmaking in the London Film School (in London obviously)


There are two big MA courses in Uk from what I've seen so far. LFS and NFTS (national film and television school)

both give M.A's but are very different. What they do have in common is they are very practical oriented but really really really expensive.

I applied to both, NFTS is alot harder to get into because of how its designed and is generally looked on as the more professional of the two, but the allumni of LFS have a much more impressive resume (including Micheal Mann and recently Duncan Jones). There are issues and benefits to both.

NFTS is considered harder to get into because of its system of taking in a limited number of students to fill specific roles. So instead of getting a MA in filmmaking, you will get one in Directing, Editing, Cinematography producing etc. What you will find is its very hard to get into some of the big ones (directing and cinematography obviously) but others more specialised roles tend to be easier.

LFS on the other hand is a general MA in filmmaking, so you will be expected to fulfill multiple roles over a 2 year course. It will start out painfully simple if you've done much film production before as it is a course that is open to students applying from fields outside of filmmaking, so you can come to LFS with a BA in Fine Art. The school is designed that the first 2 terms will teach you pretty much everything a BA would.

You always work on film except maybe in term 3 and you will not always get to make *your* movie, the school pretty much gets you to fight the other students constantly and trust me there is alot of drama...too much most of the time.

So Term 1 its 16mm black and white footage shot on location using natural light and no sound. The term is split into groups of 6 and 2 films are made from each group. The scripts are written by everyone in the group and the two filmed are chosen by a vote within those groups.

I worked as editor and assistent camera. It was a fun term and a fun intro to the course as you are given 3 days to shoot each film which are about 3-5 minutes each in the end.

Term 2 is stressful as its again 16mm film on location, but now in colour with post sync sound. But everyone in the groups (newly formed at the start of term) get to direct 1 film each, and DP another film and be camera operator another etc. You must write your own script and you only have enough footage for a 1-2 minute film est.

Oh and you have to shoot it in 1 day. While shooting six films back to back. Very hectic but a good learning tool for the madness of production.

Term 3 is a documentary term and is different as it introduces the rating system. Now students pitch their film idea and it is rated by the school and using the rating directors try to form groups by enticing fellow students to their group. Once you have 6 people you have a group and can make your film. this is the only term until term 6 where you can choose your format, 16mm or digital and its the first one where you are given quite a bit of freedom on how you approach the topic.

But I spent 3 years editing and filming documentaries and magazine programmes so this was probably the most hohumm term for me and I focused on sound which was one of my two weakest skills.


Term 4 where I am right now...wow...eh.

f*ck!

35mm black and white film with 4 days on a studio where you build your set with synced sound and 2 days on location.

Again you need to have your script rated the term before and form a group. You dont need to be the best rated script to form a group but it helps to convince people to support you if the school support your script.

But this term is insanely tense and pressured. They will push you and keep pushing you and it will constantly feel like everything is going to fall apart.

I am directing this term (Yay! my script came 3rd!) and the pressure is imense. I start building next sunday and we are still casting as of today, the script is being requested to have another rewrite (draft 8! wooh!) the DP is getting all edgy. The Production Designer is trying to learn how to do his/her job and everything is really expensive so we are terrified of breaking it.

Overall this is where even if you have done a BA in filmmaking nothing prepares you for working with 35mm and directing a short film which if you add up the 2800 feet of stock, the budget (each term you get increasingly bigger budgets) and the cost of all the equipment/set costs the best part of 4-5 grand if it was all to be hired outside the college.

Term 5 is the same except in colour with increased budget and studio space.

Term 6 is unique in that there are no requirements, instead the school support you in finding funding and shooting your first short film/feature (has happened a few times) across the world. Essentially its a masterclass in independent filmmaking and drumming up funding and shooting in far off lands on the cheap. It also can extend to over a year long if you drum up enough funding for a feature.

So next christmas I'll be around with a empty can looking for some donations!

So my opinion of the school is mixed. It is great if you are willing to put in the work and strive forward, but there is a stupid amount of drama and b*tching between students the school can at times be horrible in its organization of classes and terms and its expensive. But you get to have proper hands on time with 35mm film which is quite rare (not sure if even NFTS do it) and it gets you an oppurtunity to try numerous fields of filmmaking. I've seen a few students shift focus from Director to DP or Producing over the last 4 terms.