Jack from Littlehampton in Sussex was clear as a teenager that he wanted a career in production. For him knowing that nearby was Screen and Film School, Brighton with its excellent facilities, great teaching and first class industry links was a clear advantage “I knew I did not have to study in Hollywood to get the education I needed.”
Following a film and media studies course at Chichester College which gave him solid theoretical grounding, he was keen to get his hands on equipment to start learning and mastering the practical craft of TV and film production. Hence he studied on the Filmmaking degree course at the Screen and Film School, Brighton which was endorsed by ScreenSkills Select during his time there.
Alongside the course and its location near to home, Jack also felt Brighton was an ideal place to study because of its growing number of production houses, many of whom relocating from London. This was in addition to the fact that Brighton is being seen more and more as an ideal film and TV location. Jack made the point that alongside being a very creative city, Roger Deakins, the Academy Award –winning cinematographer praises Brighton for the quality of its light which is great for filmmaking.
When asked to describe what was great about the studying at Screen and Film School, Brighton, he listed a number of reasons.
Firstly, it was “getting his hands-on” industry standard equipment which meant that he would have confidence in starting a career because he was trained to use real life equipment. He said this was a difference with some other colleges and universities where this equipment is not always available
He also was very clear about the importance of not just the quality of teaching but also the fact that his lecturers and course leaders were still working in the industry when they were not teaching. It means they were still very enthusiastic about the industry but also they were completely up-to-date with the world of production – the equipment, techniques and industry needs. This helped students like Jack to learn the craft because those teaching were doing so from a practical real-world perspective.
Their industry links also helped to open the door for students to be able to get roles whilst studying and more so, when leaving. There was a clear line of sight from studying to working in the industry. Jack was clear when asked about the endorsement from ScreenSkills Select and said: “The fact that the course was endorsed by ScreenSkills Select whilst I was studying there is proof of the quality and commitment of the teaching and the links to the industry.”
This is something that Jack has certainly taken advantage of given he is now an edit assistant at The Edit in Brighton; A post production house focussing on factual TV and whose recent credits include Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr, Night Coppers, Saving Lives at Sea and Sir Alex Ferguson – Never Give In.
One thing that was reinforced during his studies, albeit it is clearly part of Jack’s DNA anyway, is the need to both keep learning and also be aware of the whole end to end process. For example, even if sound is not an area that you wish to move into, understanding how it “works” and its importance to the success of the whole production is vital. As well as working as an edit assistant, Jack is also now studying to be online editor in parallel so that he can broaden his skills and experience.
When asked about what advice he would give students who are looking for a degree course, he was clear about the need for them to decide beforehand what they want to achieve from their studies: “Do you want to learn about the history of production or do you physically want to get your hands on kit?. If you know what you want, then you are more likely to find relevant work after you graduate.”
In terms of advice for current students on his course, he was also clear that it was vital to get a foothold in the industry so apply “for any roles that come up but don’t go overboard – a five hour drive away is not sustainable. It is important not to limit yourself and runner positions are perfect for gaining experience and also for expanding your contacts.”
He also emphasises the importance of being able to “communicate, hold a conversation, understand people and work out problems very quickly. Asking relevant and timely questions to get an answer is also crucial.“ Jack also saw time management as being crucial so you must “turn up early and meeting deadlines is vital. NEVER turn up late for a shoot”. Commitment and hard work is also the norm in Jack’s eyes too.
Jack has clearly benefited from studying on a high quality course with great teaching, access to equipment and links to industry. It has given him the opportunity to start his screen career and given his tenacity and commitment, further opportunities await for Jack alongside a highly successful long-term career.
