LO1: Understand employment and education opportunities in the film industry.

Education Opportunities:

Local Higher Education Choices:

1. Film and Media Production at Sheffield Hallam:
This course is the most appropriate for me as it's both close to home and focuses on the different qualities and aspects that are needed for students to make it in the film industry. It covers things from script writing to the video editing, whilst also allowing you to develop your own creative style. It does this through teamwork, guided lectures, independent studies and also sharing your own work through screenings to receive feedback to improve from and better develop your own style.

2. Digital Media Production at Sheffield Hallam:

This course is also local and instead of focusing on film, it varies across multiple media industries such as film, animation, web, and games. It teaches you to work with a range of different professional equipment and software. You learn how to work industry-standard systems that allow you to create, store, edit and distribute the digital media you create and also gain experience through working on live projects which helps to build your portfolio and employability. The course uses specialist workshops, lectures, projects and your own interests and hobbies to develop your knowledge and experience in the different digital media sectors.

National Higher Education Choices:

3. Creative Film Production at University of Northampton:

This course in creative film production sets to equip students with knowledge and understanding of the technical expertise needed to develop their film production skills. They will cover modules such as; Developing practical skills and an understanding of films, a 90-second short film project, analysis of documentaries and a group creative film project where you form a group and take up different roles to help produce a film for the project.

4. Film Production at Salford University:
This course is based in Manchester, where it is surrounded by a variety of professional film producers and broadcasters. They give you a creative environment to work in and create film projects and live briefs from the industry, it also allows you to choose your own modules to help create your own career path. The modules range from film theory, production design, VFX techniques, scriptwriting, audio design, and distribution.

5. Film Production at Winchester University:
This course gives you full access to the industry-standard equipment and facilities to help you build a portfolio of work that helps improve your employability. The work created will show the specialist skills and practical film-making experience an employer would value and be looking for. The course helps you to realise your own creative style, gain knowledge from award-winning professionals and also the choice to go overseas to film festivals.

Apprenticeships:

6. Apprentice Editor/Video Production Assistant:

This apprenticeship by Flapjack Films teaches you to undertake a variety of roles, such as; Video editing on software such as Final Cut Pro where you would work with raw footage, music, and interview audio to put together products for Youtube and Facebook sites. Filming on-site for companies teaching you to work with their Sony cameras, tripods, sliders, and gimbals as well as lighting and sound, whilst you record live-action footage such as interviews and live events. You will also develop creative ideas to help create content for clients whilst communicating with them to gain feedback and amend them.

7. Video Editor Apprenticeship:

This video editor apprenticeship by Shoot It Yourself Ltd gives you full training in Adobe Premiere by showing you how to; organise project files properly, pick out high-quality footage over poor quality, composing the footage in the project to give a clear narrative or point, importing music and audio mixing. They also teach you to export and compress the project for websites and DVDs for the clients to use.

8. Level 3 Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeship:

This apprenticeship by Eternal Wedding Films Ltd prepares you as an apprentice by first teaching you simple editing techniques such as syncing, organising and backing up footage as well as exporting and compressing footage onto DVDs. After this, they will increase your workload to make it more challenging by moving you onto creating video projects. You will also gain experience in filming by bringing you to live venues and events to film using DSLR cameras and a variety of lens, you will also have opportunities to work with Go Pros, gimba, s and jib cranes.

Jobs:

9. Editor:

This editor job requires you to edit footage the company has into a clear narrative that gets the story or point across to the audience. You would need to use the experiences and techniques you learned in video editing to create the product the clients want. Such as organising the footage and selecting the best quality shots out of other takes, putting together the footage using a variety of editing techniques and finally, the exporting of the project, typically into an MP4 format.     

10. Runner:

A runner's job is to assist with a production, typically for a film or TV show and is an junior role for a production department. They have to be independent, organised, quick thinkers and good at communication to work in the fast-paced environment.You also need experience in software such as Microsoft Word and Excel to create documents which help the production.


References:

1. Sheffield Hallam University (2018) 'BA (Honours) Film and Media Production degree at Sheffield Hallam University' 'https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/find-a-course/ba-honours-film-and-media-production-fulltime' (Accessed 19/03/18)

2. Sheffield Hallam University (2018) 'BA (Honours) Digital Media Production at Sheffield Hallam University' 'https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/find-a-course/ba-honours-digital-media-production-fulltime' (Accessed 19/03/18)

3. Solihull College (2018) 'BA (Honours) Creative Film Production (University of Northampton)' 'https://www.solihull.ac.uk/course/ba-hons-creative-film-production-university-of-northampton/' (Accessed 19/03/18)

4. University of Salford, Manchester (2018) 'Film Production' 'http://www.salford.ac.uk/ug-courses/film-production' (Accessed 19/03/18)

5. University of Winchester (2018) 'BA (Hons) Film Production' 'https://www.winchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/ba-hons-film-production/' (Accessed 19/03/18)

6. GOV.UK (2018) 'Apprentice Editor/Video Production Assistant' 'https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/-256057' (Accessed 28/03/18)

7. GOV.UK (2018) 'Video Editor Apprenticeship' 'https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/-247515' (Accessed 19/03/18)

8. GOV.UK (2018) 'Level 3 Apprenticeship in Creative Digital Media' 'https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/-248541' (Accessed 19/03/18)

9. Production Base (2018) 'Editor' 'https://www.productionbase.co.uk/film-tv-jobs/editor-hackney-03.18.0201140' (Accessed 21/03/18)

10. Indeed (2018) 'Runner for Alexis Production' 'https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Alexis-Productions/jobs/Runner-31c4a71f5cbc5b11?q=Production+Runner&vjs=3' (Accessed 21/03/18)