National Film & TV School - Student View

It has an excellent reputation in the industry as a competitive and well-respected film school, and has many famous alumni. Students specialise before they arrive in one of ten disciplines - fiction, direction, producing, screenwriting, documentary, animation, production design, cinematography, post-production sound or composing.

There are also short courses, and a one-year diploma in location sound. Courses are very much hands-on, with the emphasis on practical projects rather than classroom learning, although the MA involves seminars on screen studies and a dissertation. School is difficult to reach. Most students live in London and commute via Marylebone (a reduced-price rail pass available through the school for this, about £400 per year). The school offers no accommodation; up to students to find their own place.

Facilities at the school in terms of specialist equipment is excellent and there are three large studios but facilities such as computers and internet are mediocre. Having a job during termtime is next to impossible; fees are heavily subsidised, and many scholarships are available. Life at the school is fun but very intense. Most of the students treat the place as a job and socialise outside the school, but the atmosphere is friendly. Very international and a huge range of backgrounds represented. Maximum of 6 places on each course a year, so very competitive.

Past students: Directors: Beeben Kichon, Peter Hewitt. Michael Coton Jones, Elaine Proctor, Michael Redford, Danny Cannon. Documentary: Molly Dineen, Nick Broomfield, Jane Bokove, Chris Cox. Cinematographers: Dianne Tammes, Oliver Stapleton, Gabriel Berenstein, Cinders Forshaw, Andrez Sekula. Animators: Nick Parks. David Anderson, Joanne Woodward, Mark Baker. Writers: Shawn Slovo, Alrick Riley, Nicholas Martin. Music Composers: Julian Wastall, Trevor Jones, Philip Appleby, Julian Nott. Editors: Ena Lind, Alex Mackie, David Freeman. Sound: Ronald Bailey, Danny Handbook, George Richards. Producers: Jennifer Howarth, Steve Morrison, Steve Bayly. Art directors: Laurence Dorman, Carmel Collins.