COURSE OVERVIEW
Could you develop, finance and produce a feature film or high-end TV drama?
During the course you will learn the core skills that every producer needs: Identify great story ideas and secure intellectual property, creative development, business affairs and film / TV financing, physical producing across filming and post production, and the routes to your audience.
Content Tabs
As a student on the MA Producing course, you will produce at least three short films to industry standard, with a team comprised of students from the other disciplines at the school. You will undertake a Cannes Film Festival work placement and will be individually mentored by a successful film or TV professional during the second year of the course. You will learn the business of film and television in detail, and script development skills including writing script reports and giving notes to writers.
As a graduate, you may well go on to work as a producer, an executive producer or a development or production executive in the UK and/or internationally. Typically, new graduates combine developing and producing their own projects with paid employment in various roles across film and high end TV (for example as assistants to producers, development associates, script readers or in physical production).
COURSE FACILITIES
As a student of the School, you will be given full access to the largest production facilities you’ll find at a film school in the UK. As a student here, you will gain access to an exhaustive range of high-end equipment relevant to your studies. This includes Dolby Atmos certified dubbing theatres, full-scale film stages, two cinemas, over 50 top-of-the-range cameras, the latest editing software, prop stores, 280-degree green screen room, motion and performance capture facilities, cutting-edge computer labs and Virtual Production facilities. And that’s just the start.
You will be taught by Industry professionals in the five core skills that every producer working in film and television needs:
• Identify great story ideas, and secure intellectual property
• Creative development
• Business affairs and film / TV financing
• Physical producing (shooting and post production)
• Route to your audience
The course is divided into three core strands:
- Creative producing: identifying a great idea and securing IP, writing treatments and outlines, script analysis and script editing and working with writers and directors;
- Physical production: producing short films, foundation in crew roles, Movie Magic budgeting and scheduling, casting, managing the production and post-production.
- The Business of Film and Television: publicity, pitching, marketing, sales, distribution, financing, co-production and legal/business affairs.
During your second year, you are formally teamed with individual industry mentors, and will undertake work placements during the Cannes Film Festival and with a film / TV company in the UK.
We’re looking for people with a lively interest in storytelling across the spectrum of film and television. You’ll ideally have good communication skills, a vivid sense of curiosity, attention to detail and the ability to work collaboratively. You might have a background in film and TV already, or you might be coming in from another industry with lots of transferable skills.
While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.
International students Visa and English language requirements
If you have any questions, please email info@nfts.co.uk
Along with your online application, you should supply the following supporting material. During the process you will be given access to a templated Word document where you can fill in each answer, before submitting/uploading it.
- A synopsis/short treatment for a film/television drama that you would like to produce (either an original story or adapted from stage or real life events). Please then tell us who you propose as Director, Writer, and Lead Actor for the project. Tell us why you want to make it. (400 words max).
- Name one of your favourite films or TV dramas. Tell us why you chose it. Explain its strengths AND its weaknesses. (250 words max).
- List 2 Producers (not directors) whose work interests you, and explain why. 75 words max each (150 words max in total).
- Name a book about filmmaking that has influenced you, and explain how and why. (150 words max).
- What are two strengths, and two weaknesses, of your own country’s film/television drama culture? (200 words max).
We are happy to receive applications until the midnight of the application deadline date.
Funding Available
The NFTS awards more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK. If you’re successful at gaining a place on the course, you will be contacted by our funding team with details on how to apply for one of these scholarships.
Student Showcase
Crab Day (Trailer)
2023 graduate animation
Director - Ross Stringer
Producer - Bartosz Stanislawek
Crab Day won the award for Best Short Animation at the EE BAFTAs in 2023
Tremolo (trailer)
2022 graduate fiction film
Director/Writer - Jade Li
Producer - Thijme Grol
A young Chinese violinist battles with a tremble in her right hand that resurfaces during her first week as a soloist for a prestigious British orchestra.
Do Not Feed the Pigeons (trailer)
2021 graduation animation
Director - Antonin Niclass
Producer - Jordi Morera
Do Not Feed the Pigeons won the EE BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation in 2021.
The Leper (trailer)
2022 graduation film
Director - Hugh Mulhern
Producer - Alexander Handschuh
The Leper is a comedy drama about Frankie, a paparazzo reflecting on the encounter that made him question his career.
Tease (trailer)
2021 graduate documentary
Director - Jessica Brady
Producer - Danielle Goff
Tease was named the Best Student Documentary at the Grierson Awards 2021.
*Video contains adult content, intended for mature audiences only. Viewer discretion is advised.*
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
The Gentlemen
Producer Laura Jackson
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
The Enfield Poltergeist
Co-Executive Producers Jonny Persey and Vesna Cudic
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
Heartstopper
Producer Zorana Piggott
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
Who Is Erin Carter?
Series Producer Nuala O'Leary and Producer Tabitha Jenkins
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
The Other Fellow
Producer Michelle Brøndum
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
God's Creatures
Co-Story/Producer Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly
Fodhla is an Academy Award and BAFTA nominee.
Graduate Success
Course alumni go on to work as producers or as executives, both in the UK and internationally. Recent graduates include...
Blue Jean
Producer Hélène Sifre and Co-Producer Marie-Elena Dyche
Nominated for EE BAFTA 2023 for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director and Producer.
