MA in Filmmaking - Additional information

Time Commitment

• Prospectus information
• Introduction
• Programme overview
• Best Short Script competition
• Project costs
• Guidelines for applicants

The MA Filmmaking is a demanding programme which requires a high level of commitment and self-motivation. Essentially, the course is full-time during term time. Generally, formal teaching takes place across three weekdays. Occasionally, additional classes will be scheduled for which you will be given advance warning.

Outside of taught classes, you are expected to work individually and in groups on campus - arranging production meetings, location scouting, casting, experimenting with techniques, storyboarding, scheduling and a host of other preproduction and postproduction tasks. Often you will find yourself in preproduction for one project, while shooting another, while in postproduction for another.

The Spring and Summer terms are the most teaching intensive in terms of hands-on filmmaking; preproduction for the main projects takes place during the summer break; and the Autumn term is devoted largely to production and postproduction of the main film projects.

 Within reason, you are expected to devote a significant amount of time during the Easter and Summer breaks to preproduction.

“In which other university programme are you given the assignment to convince someone that they should give you their expensively equipped hospital ward for free, allow you to bring a cast and crew of twenty people along with a truck full of equipment, and permit you to turn everything upside down for two days ? While many Film Schools glamorize the industry, Goldsmiths opts for a very pragmatic approach: confronting you with what you actually need to learn is prioritized over distracting you with big names and famous faces. I never thought it was possible to learn so much in a year. The diversity of individuals like ourselves, who come to Goldsmiths to put their talent to the test and join together in making something worthwhile, is a great resource which should not be underestimated.”

Arnar Sigurdsson
Student Filmmaker / Producer

 

”The Goldsmiths MA in Filmmaking was a real eye-opener into the world of film production and I am very grateful to have had the chance to experience it. The course had a great balance between practical filmmaking and film theory. This meant we learnt about the origins of film ideas and were able to try out our own theories in our films. I had the opportunity to collaborate with my class-mates across the whole spectrum of filmmaking craft roles, as well as specialising in my own area of interest which is Sound Design. Looking back over the year I spent at Goldsmiths, I am more than delighted that I came here. If I had to choose again I would do so in a heartbeat.”

Cormac Meegan
Student Filmmaker / Sound Designer