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This practical training course is designed to give new and early entrants the hands-on skills, technical understanding, and on-set insight needed to confidently step into the role of a camera trainee or junior assistant on professional productions and understand the career progression route available within the department.
Led by experienced industry professionals, the course will take you inside the world of the camera team — from building and breaking down professional digital cinema cameras, to slating scenes, handling lenses, supporting the video village, and managing camera media.
You’ll gain a clear understanding of each role within the department, the workflows involved, and how to be an asset on set from day one.
The course includes visits to set, giving you the opportunity to observe working crews in action and contextualise your training in the real-world environment.
With course fees subsidised by the Connery Foundation, who support the NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab, this course also provides an opportunity to work on one of the Lab’s prestigious short films, which are funded by BBC Film and will be shooting in Central Scotland in late September and October 2025.
This is a unique opportunity to work on a high calibre production as well as enhance your network by meeting and developing relationships with the Lab’s creative teams. The films from the first Sean Connery Talent Lab will premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival and screen on BBC iPlayer.
Whether you're starting out in the industry or looking to build on existing early entrant camera department experience, this course is built to prepare you for freelance camera department work on narrative film and television drama.
The course will be led by Director of Photography, Sean McDonald, with industry guests and partners supporting delivery.
The course will be delivered in Glasgow with travel to the NFTS site in Edinburgh to meet the Sean Connery Talent Lab also required.
Following the three week training course, you should also be available for the shoot (four days) of one of the Sean Connery Talent Lab films, which shoot at various locations in the Central Belt of Scotland between the 29th September and 7th November 2025 (with expenses paid).
The course is delivered in partnership with No Drama.
The course will cover:
Introduction to the Camera Department
Equipment Orientation
The 2nd AC / Trainee Role
Lens & Filter Knowledge
Working with the Focus Puller
Camera Systems
Data Management & DIT Liaison
Workflow & Post Considerations
Industry Standards & Documentation
Career Preparation and Feedback
You should have some experience of working within the camera department and know that developing your skills and progressing within this department is the right route for you.
This experience may have been gained as an undergraduate student, working on short films, or you may already have some initial industry experience in feature film and HETV as a trainee.
To apply, please complete the application form and submit your CV to scotland@nfts.co.uk