[J4ckie]

Hey,

Can't seem to make my mind up whether to accept an offer from the FP and Cinematography course at Wiltshire College. Was just wondering if anyone has accepted an offer from this course and why? I hear alot about BU having a good reputation but I'm not convinced that the Salisbury course is worthwhile. When I went to the open day and interview, I was disappointed. This was due to the crummy campus, lack of facilities and the seemingly dogmatic head tutor who just wants students to use 16mm instead of digital.

Are my feelings wrong? Or does this course offer something that I missed which will give Salisbury students and bigger head-start in the industry after graduation?

Thanks,
Jack

[StephanieRose92]

As a current student of this course, I thought I may be of some help.
I wasn't crazily convinced from my open day/interview, but I think it's because they have so many applicants and just want to see who's keen.
The campus is rubbish, i'll give you that, but you're there for 3 lectures a week and for a couple of meetings, most of the time you're filming or in pre-production, so you're hardly there. Not 100% sure what you were expecting from the facilities, the editing suites aren't fantastic but they do their job and the technicians are really good at what they do.
I think one of the reasons that Bournemouth has one of the best reputations is because of what people work on while they're there and after they leave. The Industry Case Study that you undertake in the second year gives you the chance to shadow some industry professionals, and some of the people you work with have had fantastic insights into the industry already, such as working on the Harry Potter films and channel four programmes.
The first year is where you learn how to work as a group, using the most basic cameras and equipment to start off with. You then move onto using a bolex camera (16mm) to learn the basics of film and how to use a steenbeck editing suite - personally, one of my favourite things so far.
We're currently in pre-production for our last project of the year, a collaborative, where we use an arriflex 16mm camera, the same one that was used for Black Swan - showing the quality of the kit that they have.
In the 2nd year you use the arri camera again and use the Canon 5D Mark II, so a large amount of the second year is digitally based too...

There's a reason that it's one of the top courses in the country.

p.s the head of the department is one of the best producers that the BBC's ever seen... he's allowed to be dogmatic. If you end up on the course, you'd learn a hell of a lot from his years of experience.

[J4ckie]

Thanks for the reply, StephanieRose92. I'm sorry if my post came across harshly, I probably could have put across my concerns better. Your insight and opinion of the course has been very helpful.

I was also curious to know whether students are expected to specialise in one particular aspect of film-making (e.g. editing, camera-handling or sound) after the first year or do students practise all of the different skills throughout the whole course?

[StephanieRose92]

No worries, I didn't come across well either! Definitely a side-effect of being in pre-production. There have been quite a few negative posts about the course, but it's so good and I felt like someone needed to be backing it

A lot of people want to specialise, but the first year is really about finding out and learning about the industry as a whole so you know where you want to fit in. For the collaborative project, you sign up to do the roles that you want to do most and are interviewed for them. Then you do a personal development plan (which i'm halfway through writing now) that asks you loads of questions to help discover where in the industry you would fit in. You're definitely not expected to specialise, but by the end of the course you should know what you want to do, or specifically what part of the industry you would want to work in. But you do learn everything, this is where I learnt that I don't want anything to do with a camera and would prefer to work as a producer. Similarly, there are some third years who knew from the minute they came on the course that they wanted to work as a DoP and the department have nurtured that and helped them work with some of the best in the industry... You'll be helped, whatever you decide.

If there's anything else you wanted to know, I'll be happy to help

[lufc_lewis]

This may sound like a stupid question but is this course good if you would like to be a director?
Also, how are the social aspects of the area (like clubs etc)?
Thanks

[StephanieRose92]

Whatever you decide that you want to do on the course, the department will help you. Everyone at some point has to do everything. Even if you 'know' you want to be a director (like I thought I did when I came here) you will also learn how to do sound mixing etc, just so you have an all round knowledge of the industry.
The social aspects aren't good. I wont lie to you..There are a few bars, like two clubs (which are pretty much the size of an average kitchen). But it's the people that make it (as stupid as that sounds). Because the campus is so small, you know everyone and they become like a family (as sad as that sounds). You pre-drink at halls, go out with everyone (1st, 2nd and 3rd years) and fill up the club, it's full of your friends and obviously other people too - but it's not really a nightlife if you're used to going out in cities like I was...

[lufc_lewis]

Thanks for the response, the course sounds good and everything but by the sounds of it the nightlife is a bit of a let down haha.
I'm not going to base my choice on the night life, because if the course is worth doing and will help me get the job I want then it should be worth it.
Sorry, just one last question. Do you think the course is worthwhile and do you know of any success stories from this course at all?

[J4ckie]

Thanks Stephanie, I only have a couple more questions, if you don't mind

Firstly, what are your general opinions on the tutors that teach the course? What sort of guidance do they give?

Who awards the degree (just to clarify), is it Bournemouth Uni or Wiltshire College?

Are you allowed to borrow equipment to use on your own independent projects outside of coursework?

How much creative freedom do you get regarding the production of coursework? Do the tutors try and push you towards certain genres? Are you encouraged to make productions that are conventional? Or are you encouraged to be as creative as possible?

I hope those last couple questions made sense :P
- Jack

ps. I'm sorry if I sound like I'm interviewing you, I just didn't know what the right questions to ask were at the time of the interview/open day :L. Your replies are very appreciated and thanks again

[StephanieRose92]

I love the course and haven't for a second doubted it. There are 2 main tutors and they're brilliant, they know everything that you need to know and if they don't they have the contacts to help. Their office is open all the time for a chat and will help you get what you want, although encourage you to do it independently.

Bournemouth degree

You can take kit when you need it, but there's a booking system so of course some kit wont be there, but it's free to use on personal projects.

You work in groups at all times in the first and second year and so its a creative decision between the group of you. You're not pushed towards certain genres, for example a zombie film and a silent film have both been made this year. If an idea is liked, the idea goes through. They want you to take advantage of their experience and the kit as well as encouraging you to use everyones skills to make good films.

The night life isn't a proper uni night life, but I knew that when I came here and being used to a good nightlife in Bristol, i was pretty impressed.

There's a huge list of sucess stories outside the department and I can't for the life of me remember what many of them are. But loads of people have worked on the harry potter films, the batman films, doctor who and sooo many more

[J4ckie]

Thanks

[StephanieRose92]

I went to the department to see the list.
Four weddings and a funeral
The F Word
Inception
Chocolat
Alfie (2004)
Holby City
Stardust
London Boulevard
Munich
The Wolfman
Doctor Who
Eyes Wide Shut
Hugo Cabret
MOBO Awards
Mrs Brown
Bourne Ultimatum
Starter for Ten
Foyle's War
Calendar Girls
Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares
Alice In Wonderland
War Horse
Eastenders
Finding Neverland
Goal!
Band of Brothers
Event Horizon
Mamma Mia
Hotel Babylon


Just to name a few

[DaniD]

Hi StephanieRose92
I am really interested in that course as well, but dont have much experience. How much experience did other people on that course have when they started? Never really had an opportunity to do any camera work etc but always wanted to get a job in that direction. Do you think I would still have a chance to be accepted for next year? How is the application process?

I hope its ok if link myself into this thread

Daniela

[StephanieRose92]

Hey DaniD,

I've only just seen this message - sorry.
I didn't have much experience at all when I applied, but they take you from the beginning, so even people who have done loads of filmmaking before are at the same place as you.

It's probably too late now, but I think you've got just as good a chance as any during the app process it's all about the personal statement and what you're like as a person.

Steph

[hgrm1991]

Hey - I don't know the exact details for the start of this academic year... from what I gather, the courses all seem to start on the 15th? If that is the case, when will I need to Enrol? And when will I need to sit my first lecture? Are all the dates the same for every course?

I'll be starting the BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography course (hosted in the Wiltshire, Salisbury campus)...

Any advice would be great.