What are your goals for the new year? Do you want to develop your film and TV production skills? Maybe you've no experience but have been wanting to break into the industry for a while.
Here's a select range of short courses specialising in different areas of the screen industry, taking place around Scotland in 2019.
Hit the Ground Running
If you're trying to find work as a runner in film and TV drama, Hit the Ground Running with BECTU Vision’s intensive and interactive, FREE two-day training course. The course is specially designed for people at the start of their career who have been trying secure their first job, as well as those with a couple of credits looking to improve their professional practice and fill the gaps in their understanding.
2019 Course Dates:
Edinburgh and the East | Edinburgh | 24 - 25 January
Glasgow and the West | Glasgow | 21 - 22 February
Rest of Scotland | Aberdeen | 7 - 8 February
Cost: Free
Deadline: 7 January 2019, 9am
More information: https://www.hit-the-ground-running.co.uk/htgr
Camera Assisting
Train as a camera assistant for a career in television drama, features and commercials. This short course, specifically developed for delivery in Scotland, is highly practical and will help you better understand where the Camera Assistant’s role fits into the wider Film and TV crew.
You will gain experience working with industry professionals, understanding the equipment, processes and practices involved in assisting the camera team. It is ideal for junior employees and freelancers working in the Film and TV industries and those wanting to get a foothold on the first rung of the career ladder.
2019 Course Dates: 4 - 6 February
Cost: £545 (Freelance Rate)
£1050 (Corporate Rate)
Bursaries, supported by the Scottish Government, are also available for those who are eligible. Visit www.nfts.co.uk/scotland for details. The bursary deadline for this course is 18 January 2019 at 5.30pm.
Location: Glasgow City
More information: https://nfts.co.uk/camera-assisting
Deadline: 1 February 2019, 5.30pm
Adult Learning Programme
In February 2019, Screen Education Edinburgh will launch their new Adult Learning Programme, offering courses in short filmmaking, screenwriting, film studies and animation.
2019 Course Dates:
Introduction to Short Filmmaking | Starts Saturday 2 February, 10am – 5pm
Introduction to Screenwriting | Starts Tuesday 4 February, 7pm – 9pm
Introduction to Film Studies | Starts Friday 7 February, 7pm – 9pm
Cost: £150 (25% concessions available)
Location: Edinburgh
More information: https://screen-ed.org/2018/11/21/see-adult-learning-programme-2019-launch/
Introduction to Screenwriting
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s 2-day course offers an introduction to the art of screenwriting. The course will strip the film script down to its basic elements, discussing each one in turn and then exploring how the elements merge and work together to form a coherent ‘blueprint’ for a moving picture.
Students will study script excerpts and film examples throughout the course and be introduced to the industry standard layout for a screenplay. Students will work from this to develop an understanding of how to write for screen. Teaching will also consider characters, character relationships and dialogue and explore the difference between ‘reality’ and ‘film reality.’
2019 Course Dates: 22 June 2019 - 23 June 2019, 10am - 5pm
Cost: £140
Location: Glasgow City
More information: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/lifelong-learning/screenwriting-short-study/
Deadline: Friday 21 June 2019
Working in Locations
Covering all aspects of the film and TV Locations department, this 3-week course can be accessed as a whole or as three individual weeks, including several stand-alone days. A mixture of theory, practical work and location visits - the course will provide participants with the framework on which to base any role within the department.
Developed and delivered specifically for NFTS Scotland, this course is led by Lloret Dunn, a freelance Supervising Location Manager, who after working for over 25 years in Scotland's Film and TV sector is still relishing the challenges and exhilaration of the industry. Her credits cover a diverse range of productions including Sky Atlantic’s Patrick Melrose, T2 Trainspotting and World War Z.
2019 Course Dates: 18 February - 8 March 2019
Cost: Various course fees, available to view on https://nfts.co.uk/working-locations
Bursaries supported by the Scottish Government are available for those who are eligible. Visit www.nfts.co.uk/scotland for details. The bursary deadline for this course is Friday 1 February 2019 at 5.30pm.
Location: Glasgow City
More information: https://nfts.co.uk/working-locations
Deadline: 15 February 2019, 5.30pm
Introduction to Filmmaking (for ages 11-14)
If you want to start learning how to make your own films, this summer school will introduce you to the basics including how to shoot the best frame, work from a storyboard, write the strongest characters and teach you how to edit your finished film.
2019 Course Dates: 1 July 2019 - 5 July 2019, 10am - 5pm
Cost: £275
Location: Glasgow
More information: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/lifelong-learning/introduction-filmmaking11-14/
Deadline: Friday 28 June 2019, 2pm
Working in the Assistant Director's Department
This intensive practical course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a successful future career as a Third, Second and First Assistant Director. The course will be taught by top industry professionals and will also include certificated Health & Safety and Carbon Literacy training. Following the two weeks training students will be given the opportunity to work as 1st Assistant Director on a Royal Conservatoire of Scotland student 3-day film shoot.
As part of the course students will undertake Health & Safety training as well a Carbon Literacy training day.
2019 Course Dates: 4 - 15 February (plus 3 days filming and 1 day Carbon Literacy training to be confirmed)
Cost: £845
Bursaries supported by the Scottish Government are available for those who are eligible. Visit www.nfts.co.uk/scotland for details. The bursary deadline for this course is 18 January 2019 at 5.30pm.
Location: Glasgow City
More information: https://nfts.co.uk/working-assistant-directors-department
Deadline: 1 February 2019 at 5.30pm.
Sound Recording for Artists & Filmmakers
Employing a mix of practical exercises and critical reflection, this introductory weekend course provides an overview of fundamental techniques for recording and editing voice, location and foley sounds for film and art installations using industry standard software and popular, high quality microphones and portable recording devices including recording direct to camera.
Topics include properties of sound, microphone selection and placement, gain structure, effective planning, boom operation, noise limiting and reduction, sound editing, sound dynamics, sound processing and spatial effects, editing sound to picture. Computer experience is required.
2019 Course Dates: 23 - 24 March 2019, 11am - 5pm
Cost: £155.00 (Concession £135.00)
Location: Edinburgh
More information: http://www.stills.org/courses/beginners-courses/sound-recording-and-editing-for-artists-filmmakers
Deadline: 23 March 2019.
More courses
To find more courses and development opportunities for working within the screen sector in Scotland, visit our Skills and Talent section and Creative Scotland Opportunities.