Northern Film School

FdA Film & Television Production

The emphasis here is ‘learning by doing’ and the focus is on gaining industry skills. The primary aim of the course is to equip students with the training and contacts to enable them to get their foot on the first rung of the industry ladder.

The Foundation Degredd is currently being re-designed to be delivered on a one day a week model, specifically to allow students to continue in full time work, whilst taking advantage of student loans and all the university facilities and support.

Central to this is the Work Based Learning Module where all students undertake a work placement and not only ‘learn on the job’ but use the opportunity to network and forge links for future employment.
As one of the longest running Foundation Degrees we have forged good regional links with ITV, Leeds United Television, The Sheffield and Leeds Film Festivals and independent production companies such as True North and Warp who all provide regular placements for our students. Quite a few students decide to go further a field for their placements such as London based Maverick TV and Leopard Productions, and even New York and Mumbai. Other fortunate students have managed to get placements on blockbusters such as Quantum of Solace, the Harry Potter franchise and the BBC and Sky Sports.

As well as the majority of the tutors on the course being current practitioners, we also have regular industry guests to do presentations and specialist workshops. Our relationship with Screen Yorkshire, SkillSet, BBC, Warp and Studio 81 means that students have the opportunity to make key contacts at an early stage in their career. Students are also supported by staff in endeavours which develop their professional practice, a recent example being the Bride of Frankenstein where students were involved with all areas of production, resulting in full time traineeships with BBC Manchester.

The course has a strong ‘Widening Participation’ ethos- this means that we welcome people from ‘non traditional’ backgrounds. We are especially interested in applications from people under-represented in the industry such as those without formal qualifications, females, ethnic groups and those with a disability.

latitude Whilst the FdA is designed as a stand-alone course to lead into the workplace, some students decide that they would benefit from an extra year of study.

The Northern Film School currently offers the opportunity to ‘top up’ the FdA to a BA by transferring onto the third year of the BA in Film & Moving Image - and we are very proud that some of our students have used the FdA as a direct stepping stone onto both our MA Filmmaking as well as the acclaimed and highly competitive National Film and Television School.

Graduates from the FdA in Film and TV Production can be found throughout the industry in all departments, from Camera through to Production, Locations and Art Department with production credits ranging from Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince through to The Damned United and Lost in Austen and the Red Riding Trilogy.

Student Quotes about the FdA

“ really set me up for the working of a film set and I recommend it to everyone who asks as it’s so practical and in this industry with so much competition it is better to be able to (for instance) set up and use a camera rather than write an essay about doing it.
I'm now a freelance Unit Manager and a combination of my course and having the gumption to go out and do the work for free in the beginning means I'm in a very good position to say I'm only 23.”
(Kayleigh Cruickshank Graduated 2006)

“I consider moving to Leeds for that course one of the best moves I've ever made.”
Adam Sales Graduated 2006. (Currently 2nd AD on ‘Emmerdale’ for ITV - Yorkshire after working there for a Level 2 WBL Placement.)

“I'm a freelance Camera Assistant, currently working as a Central Loader on features. Whilst at The Northern Film School I did lots TV drama work, which I used towards Work Based Learning.
Then after graduating I continued to camera trainee on "Brideshead Revisited", then "Harry Potter 6" which we finished last summer. Then I stepped up to central loader, did the UK shoot of Tim Burtons "Alice in Wonderland", then Guy Ritchies’ "Sherlock Holmes". I’ve just started "Robin Hood", which is a Ridley Scott movie, its chaos for 20 weeks, more cameras than you can shake a stick at and a wicked fast pace but good fun and its pretty much the biggest film being made this year so its all good!”
Luke Selway Graduated 2006.

“I'm working over in Manchester for Manchester United TV(MUTV) as an editorial assistant. My job basically involves editing football matches on avid and working on outside broadcasts as an EVS operator. I was lucky enough to walk straight into the job shortly after leaving Uni. I started as a runner on match days just helping out with camera equipment, making tea etc. and then within about 3 months was offered a job full time I. couldn't of done it without the help of all you good peeps at the film school.”
Scott Lawson Graduated 2006.

Latest news

Orchard Barn - Work Based Learning

First year Film & Moving Image Production Foundation degree students have just completed a Flash animation as part of their work-based learning project.

Orchard Barn is an environmental centre nr. Ringshall in Suffolk, that encourages and supports community in re-learning how to work, rest and play together, co-operatively with nature, for the greater good. They run a variety of courses both at the site of the 17th Century Barn and in the local community. These included composting workshops for school children and professional courses in traditional building skills like Green Oak Timber framing, Cob building, Cobbling and Building with flint.
The Flash animation was made by the first year students who liaised with the client and produced this work in response to their wishes for an animation, that explains simply, the process of turning trees into timber. The work is now being used to support the environmental work at Orchard Barn’s Tree to Timber events.


The Filmmakers' MA BA (Hons) Animation BA (Hons) Film & Moving Image Production FdA Film & Television Production Short Courses & Workshops Documentary Staff Students Associates Alumni News Contact NFS About NFS Links & Partnerships Equipment & Facilities Festivals International	FdA Film & Television Production The emphasis here is ‘learning by doing’ and the focus is on gaining industry skills. The primary aim of the course is to equip students with the training and contacts to enable them to get their foot on the first rung of the industry ladder. The Foundation Degredd is currently being re-designed to be delivered on a one day a week model, specifically to allow students to continue in full time work, whilst taking advantage of student loans and all the university facilities and support. Central to this is the Work Based Learning Module where all students undertake a work placement and not only ‘learn on the job’ but use the opportunity to network and forge links for future employment. As one of the longest running Foundation Degrees we have forged good regional links with ITV, Leeds United Television, The Sheffield and Leeds Film Festivals and independent production companies such as True North and Warp who all provide regular placements for our students. Quite a few students decide to go further a field for their placements such as London based Maverick TV and Leopard Productions, and even New York and Mumbai. Other fortunate students have managed to get placements on blockbusters such as Quantum of Solace, the Harry Potter franchise and the BBC and Sky Sports. As well as the majority of the tutors on the course being current practitioners, we also have regular industry guests to do presentations and specialist workshops. Our relationship with Screen Yorkshire, SkillSet, BBC, Warp and Studio 81 means that students have the opportunity to make key contacts at an early stage in their career. Students are also supported by staff in endeavours which develop their professional practice, a recent example being the Bride of Frankenstein where students were involved with all areas of production, resulting in full time traineeships with BBC Manchester. The course has a strong ‘Widening Participation’ ethos- this means that we welcome people from ‘non traditional’ backgrounds. We are especially interested in applications from people under-represented in the industry such as those without formal qualifications, females, ethnic groups and those with a disability. Whilst the FdA is designed as a stand-alone course to lead into the workplace, some students decide that they would benefit from an extra year of study. The Northern Film School currently offers the opportunity to ‘top up’ the FdA to a BA by transferring onto the third year of the BA in Film & Moving Image - and we are very proud that some of our students have used the FdA as a direct stepping stone onto both our MA Filmmaking as well as the acclaimed and highly competitive National Film and Television School. Graduates from the FdA in Film and TV Production can be found throughout the industry in all departments, from Camera through to Production, Locations and Art Department with production credits ranging from Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince through to The Damned United and Lost in Austen and the Red Riding Trilogy. Student Quotes about the FdA “ really set me up for the working of a film set and I recommend it to everyone who asks as it’s so practical and in this industry with so much competition it is better to be able to (for instance) set up and use a camera rather than write an essay about doing it. I'm now a freelance Unit Manager and a combination of my course and having the gumption to go out and do the work for free in the beginning means I'm in a very good position to say I'm only 23.” (Kayleigh Cruickshank Graduated 2006) “I consider moving to Leeds for that course one of the best moves I've ever made.” Adam Sales Graduated 2006. (Currently 2nd AD on ‘Emmerdale’ for ITV - Yorkshire after working there for a Level 2 WBL Placement.) “I'm a freelance Camera Assistant, currently working as a Central Loader on features. Whilst at The Northern Film School I did lots TV drama work, which I used towards Work Based Learning. Then after graduating I continued to camera trainee on "Brideshead Revisited", then "Harry Potter 6" which we finished last summer. Then I stepped up to central loader, did the UK shoot of Tim Burtons "Alice in Wonderland", then Guy Ritchies’ "Sherlock Holmes". I’ve just started "Robin Hood", which is a Ridley Scott movie, its chaos for 20 weeks, more cameras than you can shake a stick at and a wicked fast pace but good fun and its pretty much the biggest film being made this year so its all good!” Luke Selway Graduated 2006. “I'm working over in Manchester for Manchester United TV(MUTV) as an editorial assistant. My job basically involves editing football matches on avid and working on outside broadcasts as an EVS operator. I was lucky enough to walk straight into the job shortly after leaving Uni. I started as a runner on match days just helping out with camera equipment, making tea etc. and then within about 3 months was offered a job full time I. couldn't of done it without the help of all you good peeps at the film school.” Scott Lawson Graduated 2006. Latest news Orchard Barn - Work Based Learning First year Film & Moving Image Production Foundation degree students have just completed a Flash animation as part of their work-based learning project. Orchard Barn is an environmental centre nr. Ringshall in Suffolk, that encourages and supports community in re-learning how to work, rest and play together, co-operatively with nature, for the greater good. They run a variety of courses both at the site of the 17th Century Barn and in the local community. These included composting workshops for school children and professional courses in traditional building skills like Green Oak Timber framing, Cob building, Cobbling and Building with flint. The Flash animation was made by the first year students who liaised with the client and produced this work in response to their wishes for an animation, that explains simply, the process of turning trees into timber. The work is now being used to support the environmental work at Orchard Barn’s Tree to Timber events.