This unit requires students, through a process of research, dialogue, reflection and evaluation, to identify and prepare for specific Higher Education or employment progression routes appropriate to their ambitions. The unit will give students the opportunity to explore aspects of entrepreneurship and marketing and enable them to demonstrate the practical, intellectual and communication skills necessary for progression.
My research paper explores the various progression routes and educational pathways I can take to start my career within the media and film industry. All of the educational courses and apprenticeships that I reference in my paper are organised below.
Designed to develop the creative, technical, commercial and practical skills required in digital film production, BA (Hons) Film Practice is geared towards industry.
BA (Hons) Film and Television combines intensive hands-on practice in a range of genres, forms and formats from experimental film-making to mainstream TV. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the key movements, makers and theories that have shaped film and television in the 21st Century.
Our course is predominantly practice-based – we believe in learning through doing. Along the way, you’ll get the chance to have your coursework screened at national and international competitions and festivals before graduating with the strong portfolio of work, sought-after specialist skills and practical film making experience that employers really want. Right from the outset, you’ll be part of a close-knit creative team, making films on digital and 16mm cameras just as you will in the film industry. You'll learn about the business of film, explore the production process from beginning to end and develop networking and communication skills that will set you up for your career.
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-film-production/
If you want to work on major movies and TV shows then our BA (Hons) Film Production course at UCA Farnham will you the tools, knowledge and confidence you need to forge an exciting career behind the camera.
This four-year option gives you the chance to work alongside Photography students as you learn moving and still image skills, as well as the fundamentals of editing, before going on to your in-depth three-year study.
https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-film-production-4-year/
Our 2-year BA (Hons) Filmmaking is geared towards the real-world and offers professional film education in a practical setting and within our in-house studios. Our teachers are industry professionals, working in film and television.
Throughout the course you will gain a thorough grounding in the key areas of the film making process, from script to screen, and become multi-skilled and adaptable, favoring the art of collaborative storytelling rather than working as a solo auteur. You learn how to quickly adapt to the professional world as you start your career in the industry.
This three-year degree is one of the best-known film courses in the world, with an international reputation for its academic and practical teaching. You'll learn to collaborate creatively as you develop production specialisms in areas such as writing, producing, cinematography, directing, production design, editing and sound. You'll also gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.
Most of the university courses I am interested in, require prior industry experience and a suitable video portfolio. Due to the Corona Virus pandemic I cannot attend open days at universities this year unless they are virtual, which I don't like. I want to be on a campus in person and communicate with teachers and lecturers about courses and facilities face to face. The current climate has halted my plans on finding an internship or becoming a runner, which would help me get my foot into the very gate-keeped media industry through networking and acquiring experience. Therefore I have decided to take a gap year and focus on my personal career goals and my photography.
Currently I have a small photography portfolio consisting of photos I have taken of my friends on my Canon DSLR. I don't think that I have any video work that is good enough to submit to universities yet. My plan is to travel to take photos and make short films that reflect my ability, while showing my aesthetic and style. Renting out a studio and doing some editorial style photography with a model or working for a studio is a potential plan of mine. A gap year is also a good way to discover ones self and to explore the different career paths and opportunities in the media, fashion or photography industry, I have many goals including networking and getting onto a film set that i want to achieve in my time off education, while still deciding which vocation I want to pursue, wether that be a creative director, photographer or cinematographer. Creating a professional level portfolio to send to universities alongside my grades and personal statement that will make me stand out from other applicants and showcase my experience with cameras and passion for making creative visions come to life.
Gaining experience in the industry is essential to being taken seriously as a creative and to learn new skills. Many studios take on interns and runners for projects, it's simply a matter of calling in and asking if they need any help with productions. Some places offer internships and brands do advertise entry level jobs like being assistant, intern or runner online. There are many websites like Mandy and My First Job in Film that advertise jobs in the industry, however those jobs receive hundreds of applications so I don't think that those websites are very effective unless you have an extensive CV with a lot of experience in various studio jobs, that will make people notice you. A smarter and quicker way to apply to industry jobs is through either being an extra or signing with a runners agency that will assign you jobs on film sets. Just runners are an agency that I have my eye on. Through becoming a runner one can network with so many people and it is an opportunity that can open many doors into jobs within the industry.
Our apprenticeship programme offers you everything you’re looking for. It’s a minimum 12 month PAID programme within one of our departments, and during your time here, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience from working with industry experts, and we’ll guide and support you every step of the way. Opportunities are available in London, Manchester and Leeds, as well as some of our regional offices, and previous placements have focused on our Legal, Studio Production, News, Business Services, Marketing, Commissioning, Technology, Finance and Global Entertainment departments.
ITV currently dont have any apprentiship schemes open and there is not a lot of information about it online. I would be interested in applying next year. However the studio is based in london so the question of travel costs would arise as it is a weekly apprentiship. ITV has international studios, so if i did the scheme I could find a job abroad as part of the studio. The only issue is that ITV is a Tv studio/company and the Tv industry is not appealing to me. Finding work within a film studio like Pinewood and Warner Bros is more suited to me and my career goals.
https://bestapprenticeships.com/job/itv-apprenticeship-programme/https://www.itvjobs.com/blog/technology-at-itv-what-sets-us-apart
During this scheme you will get first-hand work experience and hands-on training in production while studying towards a Level 3 apprenticeship. You could be working in TV, radio, digital or social media content, but wherever you’re based in your placement you will learn about the end-to-end production process, from developing and pitching an initial idea to final transmission. You may also have the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of production. You could be focussing on developing ideas and stories (editorial), mastering how to use technical kit (craft skills) or learning how to schedule and set up filming, editing and running a production office (production management).
By the end of the apprenticeship, not only will you understand all the different stages of the production process from start to finish, but you will also have working knowledge of how the different roles work together.
I will consider applying to the BBC apprenticeship scheme because I like their focus on creativity and drive within a person rather than the amount of industry experience they have. Whatever department i'd be placed in, i'd get the hands on experience and the opportunity to specialise in one area of production. I wouldn't mind being part of the editorial department which is more creative or a part of production. The salary is a good £18,932 if based in London which would help me gain financial stability aswell as the gold industry bbc training from industry professionals. The only issue with the course is that they dont want applicants to do the course as part of their gap year which was my initial intention. I would have to call BBC and find out more about why they dont want gap year applicants because I dont quite understand why and they dont list a reason on their website.
One department, 14-24 months, and a Level 3 or 4 qualification in a related subject at the end of it. You’ll learn who’s who, what’s what and where your department sits in the overall scheme of things. A range of in-depth projects will immerse you in the detail and count towards your qualification. We’re not looking for specific qualifications, but you will need to impress us with your passion for your chosen area and have the potential to stand out from the crowd.
Currently their applications are closed and would start in autumn next year. The apprenticeship does look appealing however their departments are businesses like, ranging from finance to advertising and research and development. From what I understand it's mainly pre production and the marketing side of media and television. Also this apprentiship and the ones I have listed above are in TV not in Film, the film industry is what I would want to go into. Both sides of the media industry are similar and different. Tv covers presenting, cartoons and sitcoms, reality tv, a wide range of productions which presents a wide variety of work, however film to me is an art form, and going into the film industry can open doors to film festivals and many other independent film studios that could offer me work.
https://careers.channel4.com/4skills/apprenticeships
A Placement or Apprenticeship at WarnerMedia will offer you the opportunity to gain direct experience within a supportive and encouraging business environment. As well as being a valuable member of the team, you will be enrolled onto our in-house training programme, which provides essential skills and knowledge to help you achieve success in your role and onwards in your career.
Placements- All placements start each summer in July and run through to July the following year. The majority of our placements are based in central London either at our WarnerMedia offices at Old Street or Warner House in Holborn. To apply, you must be a university student in your 2nd year of an undergraduate course, looking to spend your 3rd year on placement as part of a sandwich course
Apprenticeships- If you’re looking for an alternative to University, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Simply put, you’ll work for us full time earning a competitive salary, and in turn we will pay for you to gain a professional qualification, giving you time off to attend college/training with your peers.
All Apprenticeships start on a salary of £18,000 and increase annually
We will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge required for future employment.
We usually have 2 cohorts per year, one starting in January, and another starting in July.
I like the fact that their placement scheme works with a placement year at university, I can always consider this when I go to university and have to do a work experince year. Warner bros is geared to the film industry which is what I want to go into. I wouldn't mind being in ther marketing or PR sector if it means networking and getting my start in the industry.
https://www.warnermediaearlycareers.com/about/why-warnermedia
My first job in film https://www.myfirstjobinfilm.co.uk
Mandy https://www.mandy.com
Backstage https://www.backstage.com
Screenskills https://www.screenskills.com
In the past I have applied to monthly subscriptions for My first job in film, Mandy and Backstage. All are amazing websites that list a variety of jobs, auditions, apprenticeships and internships within the industry. My Favourite being My first job in film, which helped me discover the different types of London based film studios that offer apprenticeships, even if my job application wasn't successful, I can approach certain studios in the future. Backstage as-well as Mandy, is good for finding acting and modelling work which I will definitely get involved in on my gap year. My only query with these websites is that there is a very low chance for someone like me who does not have any proper industry experience to get noticed and be successful within a job application. Employers look for a wide range of experience within certain departments and a undergardauate like me would simply not get noticed among the hundreds of other applications.
Screenskills is the best website for all industry job knowledge. They list job descriptions for industry roles, advertise online courses and overall give amazing career advice and guidance for those starting out in the industry. Their section on how to write a cover letter helped me learn how to construct and organise a cover letter to an employer. I sent off three letters a few months ago to some studios that i'd love to work or intern for. I got no reply, however I now know how to approach potential employers and how to write an effective cover letter. Screenskills lists different apprenticeships schemes and all information about different sectors of the media industry, wether its animation, film, Tv, VFX or games. They give career advice and resources, from getting into the industry to networking, approaching employers and short courses. To me the website is a valuable resource and it is the reason that I find it easier to naviagte my way through my career path and its how I find ideas and opportunties that I can use in my progression route.