COURSE OVERVIEW
Give yourself a head start launching your career in film or TV production.
As the creation of content skyrockets and studios continue expanding across the UK, productions are actively seeking to fill vital Production Management roles that are at the heart of all film and television productions and are integral to their success. This highly practical Postgraduate Diploma will give you the skills you need to step straight into a role in production, as you graduate with up to ten film and television credits to support you.
Content Tabs
We believe the best way to prepare you for a career in production is to learn the essential skills and put them straight into practice, working to industry standards using professional processes, software and systems on real productions. This unique course combines taught sessions with extensive hands-on production management of our frequently award-winning short drama films, animations, documentaries, live and multi-cam TV shows. As a Production Manager at the NFTS, you will collaborate across the many departments on several productions, filmed on location and in our cutting-edge studios, on 16mm and digital formats to experience setting up many different types of shoots.
Working to Industry standards and with the full production budget costs and equipment provided by NFTS, you get to focus on managing the production and working closely with the creatives - there’s no better way to hone your production skills.
Delivered in partnership with the BBC and working with leading industry partners, the course aims to give students the specialist knowledge and practical work experience needed for a successful career.
You are encouraged and supported to undertake work experience during the course. Previous students have enjoyed placements at EON Productions, Carnival Films, IMG, Neal Street Productions, Hartswood Films, Endemol, Bedlam Productions, Kudos, Keo, BBC Studios, Renegade, World Productions, See Saw Films, and Revolution Films.
COURSE FACILITIES
The NFTS offers the largest production facilities that you will find at a film school in the UK, including Industry standard film stages and a 4K Television Studio, giving you unparalleled on-set experience and training.
Alongside the intensive practical experience, you will receive invaluable training sessions taught by Industry professionals.
Specialist workshops cover a range of relevant topics across many genres of production, including setting up a shoot, health & safety, budgeting and cost reporting, contracts and legals.
Specifically students will learn about:
- Budgeting on Movie Magic and Excel
- Contracting cast and crew and union agreements
- Setting up a production in a studio and on location
- Copyright
- Production paperwork
- Production logistics and planning
- Health and safety and risk assessments
- First aid
- How to use relevant industry software (e.g Silvermouse, Movie Magic and Final Draft)
- Child licensing
- Location management
- Production insurance
- Scheduling a shoot, including using Movie Magic Scheduling
- Cash flow and cost reporting
- Filming overseas
- Wrapping a shoot and delivery paperwork
- Post production
- Management and leadership
- Preparation for the industry - working freelance, preparing a CV, networking
You will need to be well-organised, effective under pressure, resourceful, a problem solver, computer literate, financially minded and have good leadership skills. You will probably already have some experience in the film or TV industry, perhaps as a runner, PA, or in the production office, or you may have completed a degree in filmmaking. You may also have a background in business/financial management, or a job with transferable skills and be looking for a career change.
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
The following item(s) should accompany your online application:
- Please tell us of an event/production/gathering that you have organised. Include information on whether you had a budget and if so how successful you were in keeping to it; what preparation you did and what you would have done differently. No more than approx. 1000 words.
Applications open 8th January 2025. We are happy to receive applications from 8th January until the midnight of the application deadline date.
Funding Available
There is generous scholarship funding available for this course, courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery Access, BBC, Sargent-Disc and NFTS. For September 2024 and 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery Access will be fully funding two scholarships per year with an additional £5000 support available to assist with living costs to help to widen access into the industry.
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.
Tutors
Graduate Success
Production Management roles are key to any production. Course graduates go on to fill vital roles such as Line Producers, Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators on high-end film and television.
Graduate credits include...
House of the Dragon Series 2
Unit Production Manager Bryony Chaplin
Graduate Success
Production Management roles are key to any production. Course graduates go on to fill vital roles such as Line Producers, Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators on high-end film and television.
Graduate credits include...
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Producer's Assistant Athena Sammy
Graduate Success
Production Management roles are key to any production. Course graduates go on to fill vital roles such as Line Producers, Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators on high-end film and television.
Graduate credits include...
The Rig
Studio Manager Aaron Hiller
Graduate Success
Production Management roles are key to any production. Course graduates go on to fill vital roles such as Line Producers, Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators on high-end film and television.
Graduate credits include...
The Great
Production Supervisor Alicija Kielbasa
Graduate Success
Production Management roles are key to any production. Course graduates go on to fill vital roles such as Line Producers, Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators on high-end film and television.
Graduate credits include...
Hussain Casey-Ahmed
Production Executive for Disney+ Star
Graduate Success
Production Management roles are key to any production. Course graduates go on to fill vital roles such as Line Producers, Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators on high-end film and television.
Graduate credits include...
Good Omens
Production Coordinator: Pre-production Hussain Casey-Ahmed
Graduate Success
Production Management roles are key to any production. Course graduates go on to fill vital roles such as Line Producers, Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators on high-end film and television.
Graduate credits include...
Top Gun: Maverick
Production Coordinator: Additional Photography Sofia Guiotto
