Producing
- Course overview
- Recent credits and successes
- What you will study
- Fees & funding options
- Showcase
- Entry requirements
- How to apply
Location Beaconsfield
Duration 2 years
Commitment Full-time
Next intake January 2024
Application deadline Contact Registry
Scholarships available
Overview
Could you develop, finance and produce a feature film or major TV drama? This course trains creative producers in the four key skills they will need to succeed in the industry: creative development; hands-on producing; finance and business affairs; and distribution/sales. Recent Graduate Emily Morgan won a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a Writer, Director or Producer for I Am Not A Witch. Our students lead teams made up from the other disciplines at the School to produce at least three films to industry standard – with all production costs being met by the NFTS. They also undertake a Cannes Festival work placement and are individually mentored by a successful producer through the second year of the course. Course alumni move on to work as producers or as executives in the UK and internationally. Typically, new graduates combine their own project development with paid employment in various roles across the film and TV industries (assistants to producers, development associates, producing short commissions). All NFTS students can attend Masterclasses. Recent guests include David Fincher (Fight Club), Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave), Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Ben Wheatley (Free Fire), Rapman (Blue Story), Louis Theroux, Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone), Denis Villeneuve (Bladerunner 2049), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), Sam Mendes (1917), Asif Kapadia (Senna), Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), Russell T Davies (Doctor Who) and Rebecca O'Brien (I, Daniel Blake).
This course is industry recognised by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries, and carries the ScreenSkills Select quality-mark which indicates courses best suited to prepare students for a career in the screen industries.
Recent credits and successes
What you will study
Development skills: script analysis and script editing; developing a project from source material; working with writers and directors; pitching; negotiating the deal.
Producing skills: budgeting and scheduling; casting; managing the production; post-production techniques; editing, sound and music, business skills: publicity, marketing; sales, distribution; financing, co-production and legal/business affairs.
Television-specific strands include: developing a drama proposal to a broadcaster’s commissioning brief; understanding the television commissioning process; financing a TV drama series; the international market for UK drama; HETV tax credits.
Industry placements for students are encouraged in the summer break of the First Year, and Second Year students are formally teamed with individual industry mentors as well as undertaking work placements at the Cannes Film Festival. More than 30 senior industry tutors contribute to the course with specialist seminars over its two-year span, and students undertake visits to leading companies in the market such as Aardman Animation, NBCUniversal and ITV.
Download programme specification (PDF)
Head of Department
The course is led by Head of Producing, Chris Auty (Stealing Beauty, Blood and Wine, Crash).
Current or Visiting Tutors
Senior tutor is Karin Bamborough (Food Of Love, The Children), and course tutors also include Myf Hopkins, (Producer & former Head of Production at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop), and Tabitha Jenkins, (Producer & former Head of Production at Ealing Studios).
Showcase
Every year, our students produce a number of short films.
Entry requirements
We’re looking for people with a lively and proven interest in film, television and the world about us. The ideal candidate will have a strong personality; good communication skills; a commitment to story-telling; and the ability to work collaboratively. The role of producer is a many-sided one that encompasses creative intelligence, team leadership, and problem-solving skills, and this course equips alumni to succeed equally well as producers or as successful executives in the film and television industry. 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. For international students, more information about our entry requirements, including Visa and English language requirements, can be found on our What You Need To Know section of our Students From Abroad page. As a part of our admissions selection process, following a successful interview applicants are required to attend a selection workshop for five days, which has a fee of £150. If you have any questions, please email info@nfts.co.uk.
How to apply
Application deadline: Contact Registry
Applicants should supply the following supporting material as PDF files. All materials should have the applicants full name at the top of the page.
- A proposal written by you for a feature film or TV drama, either original or adapted from a novel or other source. Tell us why you would like to make it and what you believe its audience appeal could be. If it is an adaptation please give us the title and author of the source material (one side of A4).
- A brief analysis of three films or television programmes that you have seen in the last 12 months. Include comments on the directorial style (one side of A4).
- An analysis of a favourite film or television programme and your personal response to it (one side of A4).
- Choose a British or European producer (film or TV) whom you admire, explain why (one side of A4).
- Describe briefly key lessons about producing you have learnt from any book about producing or producers that you have read. Please name the book. (One side of A4).
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