London Film School, offer full-time MA Degree courses in both Film Making and Screewriting.

Unit 3 - Synthesis

Industry and Independents

FIFTH TERM EXERCISE:
In the fifth term students make a drama up to fifteen minutes long, in colour and 35mm, on location and in the studio. This continues the form of the fourth term, but at a higher level. Scripts written and developed over the previous year are chosen by the students. Crews are built around the scripts. Scripts are broken down by producers and presented to production conferences with heads of the various departments. Sets are designed; models built and discussed.

The excitement - and successes - of lighting are at an even higher level than the previous term. The programme of directing workshops continues. As in the fourth term, the number of films scheduled is high given the number of students. This means that students work on more than one film, and that students from the lower terms are drawn in as assistants in all departments. The integral learning process of each film is shared widely. Classes and workshops include directing actors, stereo sound and preparation for the Sixth Term graduation project.

MATERIALS FOR EACH UNIT:
35 mm Panavision Gold for studio, 35mm Moviecam Superamerica for location; 3600 feet of Kodak Colour; studio and location lighting equipment; Nagra V digital recorder; edit on Avid Media Composer; Tracklay on ProTools 24 Digital Audio Work Station. Final mix in Dolby SR.

THE GRADUATION FILM:
Students are assigned a budget by the school to build a project. They can work individually or pool their budgets and efforts. They can shoot on any format and at any length they can budget and schedule. Students are strongly encouraged to raise funds and build coproduction deals, with production companies and/or other graduate film schools, either here in the UK or abroad.

Each project’s script, schedule and budget will be examined and discussed with the Term Tutors. The Development Process is supported through specialist workshops in directing, camera & lighting, and postproduction led by LFS faculty in collaboration with industry specialists. Pre-production is monitored by the Term Tutor and relevant Heads of Department. Before a project is given the green light all necessary paperwork must be in place and approved. Delivery requirements match those of the major international festivals.

In addition to advising on the festival strategy for each graduation film, the school supports the transition from student to professional in a variety of ways. To begin, the school’s Director takes each graduating filmmaker through a week-long workshop on international industry practice, thus providing the context for their entry into the profession. This is followed by job club, for specific strategies for opening doors and gaining experience, as well as work. In addition to this core curriculum, industry guests meet with graduating filmmakers to discuss presentation techniques, preparing CVs and showreels, and networking. Finally, there is the mentoring programme. Students are invited to select a mentor and put together a mentoring plan in consultation with the Term Tutors. This programme is currently supported by Skillset.

LFS is committed to supporting its graduates in developing a strategy for their entry into the expanding and fast-changing media industries. Through the growing network of associates LFS maintains and develops contacts throughout the world to support this work.

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