Post Graduate Open Day
We are having our first post-grad Open Day of the year!! Come meet the Course Leader of the MA Filmmaking, Larra Anderson, who will answer all of your questions about the Course - and get a tour of our facilities here at the Northern Film School!
Tuesday Feb 7th, 5-7pm! See you there!
Postgraduate open evening - Leeds Metropolitan University
What's all this about then?
The brand new Filmmakers’ MA at the Northern Film School combines story development, filmmaking – lots of filmmaking – and intensive collaboration on an 18 month course that mirrors, modern independent filmmaking practice.
The MA is about the real world of filmmaking. It is a course unlike many others in that it focuses on true, creative, collaborative filmmaking not just individual specialist training (but we do some of that too).
Unlike many film schools out there we put the Creative Producer at the heart of the filmmaking process. We love low budget films that tell strong stories for a quantifiable audience. And although we adore low budget filmmaking, we give our films significant (!!!) budgets – unlike most film schools.
We don’t charge a lot of money compared to other equivalent film schools in the UK or abroad.
We are currently taking applications in the following head of department specialist roles:
Creative Producer, Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Designer, Production Designer and Actor.
Filmmakers' MA facebook page
Screen Acting facebook page
THE COURSE STRUCTURE
THE FIRST SEMESTER (September 2011 – January 2012)
Each student ‘authors’ three little films (or sketches), working with fellow MA students. You can do any job, and make any idea you want – so long as it’s practically possible and at a zero budget and about experimenting and trying new things out.
It’s different for the actors - they appear in all the films, not author them, although they are required to collaborate and engage in the evolution of the ideas.
Last year we made 81 little film sketches (including the Kodak Commercials) all in the first semester. That’s a hell of a lot of filmmaking!
Each film-sketch is developed over a week, in production for a week and then in post-production for a week. The films are shown and discussed in lively weekly screenings.
In this first semester students also watch a lot of movies and listen to practicing filmmakers who visit the school on a weekly basis. Last year we had talks from Sarah Boyd (editor of Lost), Tony Grisoni (writer Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Lisa Marie Hall (production designer This is England), Robert Benton (Bonnie and Clyde) and the list goes on…
THE SECOND SEMESTER (February – June 2012)
Students enter their specialist roles and begin to develop their Masters projects where the idea is born and planned – Heads of Department are attached and research on the project in your creative skill begins. Everyone is involved. Students also make 5 small short films with budgets of between £500 and £1200 that are linked to their Masters projects in some way.
Screen Performance students take a different, but no less exciting path: they get involved in ‘directing actors’ workshops; may appear in, and collaborate on the Masters films, be cast in graduation films from the undergraduate degrees at the school; voice animation films made on the BA Animation, and can choose from electives within Performing Arts courses to expand their physical repertoire and performance related skills.
During this semester students are given specialist workshops in their particular area.
Over both semesters students watch specially selected films that are presented by tutors or guest speakers and they have to research around the subject, or a subject of their choice and think about how these ideas relate to their own filmmaking practice. Students give a presentation and at the end of the year they hand in a journal of their research, their thoughts and observations.
THE THIRD SEMESTER (September 2012 – February 2013)
In the third semester you make your major piece of work in your chosen specialism. We make five Masters films.
We make 5 collaborative Masters Projects in the third semester with budgets of up to £10,000 per film – producers are encouraged to raise co-production finance.
For all heads of department this film is their Masters Project, excluding screen-writers and actors who have a different pathway. But there is nothing to stop producers attaching our writers and performers on the Masters projects, this is very much encouraged, it’s just not guaranteed.
In this semester you also develop a ‘Walk-Away’ project to take to the outside world when you leave the course.
Writers Masters Project:
Working with their tutors and in round table discussions, writers develop a spec feature script or television screenplay – hopefully developing over 2/3 drafts - as their masters project in the third semester.
Actors:
Screen Performers major project will be agreed in consultation with Course Leaders, and as long as it relates to Screen Performance and the (smaller) budget we give you, anything goes. You might be performing in an MA or undergraduate film/s, or you might want to explore the recording of a live performance, put together an installation, or develop a filmed project with an outside producer or other students on the performance or undergraduate film courses at the university… the possibilities are limitless.
2011 Tuition Fees
To find out about our fees for 2011 click here.
For this year only, unlike other film schools, we will not charge an application fee. It’s free!
Application Guidance
All applicants must submit a a personal statement and portfolio of work– it is the essential part of your application, it is how we decide whether, or not, this course is right for you.
Specialism
You must state your head of department role or ‘specialism’: Creative Producer, Writer, Editor, Director, Cinematographer, Production Designer, Sound Designer/Recordist and Screen Performer (actor).
Personal Statement
Your personal statement should be lively; it should describe why you do what you do and where you see yourself in the future. We don't want a list of achievements, your hobbies, what you did last summer or whether you can ride a horse. Your statement should be designed to help us understand why you want to be on the course. It must be between 1000-2000 words long.
Portfolio
What you include in your portfolio is up to you: films, scripts, photographs, graphic novels, poems, audio pieces, whatever you think represents you and your interests best. You must submit work in your creative skill and tell us what you’re interested in doing - fiction, documentary, experimental film etc. Be careful to keep it focused, simple and deliberate - don't include everything you’ve ever done, we’re not interested in lists. Put work on a CD or DVD and send it to us or if you want to upload your work on the internet - we like www.vimeo.com - then feel free to do so, just provide us with the link.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you send your portfolio DIRECT to the Northern Film School at Electric Press.
For letters send to :
Northern Film School
Leeds Metropolitan University
Electric Press Building
1 Millennium Square
Leeds, LS2 3AD
United Kingdom
Attn: Larra Anderson
For packages send to :
Leeds Metropolitan University
Broadcasting Place
Woodhouse Lane
Leeds, LS2 9EN
United Kingdom
Attn: Larra Anderson EP321
You can also apply online here.
For more information on the application process and open days etc. contact Larra Anderson the Filmmakers’ MA course leader.
Email: l.l.anderson@leedsmet.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 113 812 28021 or 28023
