Film production / studies

4

Hi, I've been stressing a lot about whether to do film studies / production or languages or both. I want to go into the film industry, but I also love languages and aspire to be able to speak 3 or more (my native is English and I do Spanish A-level) do I need to do film production or film studies in order to get necessary connections and shoot films, or will it be fine to do just languages? I still aspire to shoot films during university no matter what to develop my name. Please help!!!

Reply 1

LSBU

Official Rep

11

Original post

by Megmeg223

Hi, I've been stressing a lot about whether to do film studies / production or languages or both. I want to go into the film industry, but I also love languages and aspire to be able to speak 3 or more (my native is English and I do Spanish A-level) do I need to do film production or film studies in order to get necessary connections and shoot films, or will it be fine to do just languages? I still aspire to shoot films during university no matter what to develop my name. Please help!!!

Hi there,
It’s completely normal to feel torn between two passions, especially when they both connect so well, like film and languages. The great thing is that you don’t have to choose one entirely over the other; you can absolutely find ways to bring both interests together during your degree and future career.

If your main goal is to work in the film industry and gain hands-on experience in shooting, editing, and producing films, then a more practical course like Film and Television Practice - BA (Hons) or Media Production - BA (Hons) at London South Bank University (LSBU) would be a great choice. These courses are accredited by ScreenSkills, meaning they meet professional standards for the UK film and media industry. They’re very practical and industry-focused, you’ll get to work with professional cameras, editing software, and sound equipment while collaborating with other creative students to make your own projects from day one.

On the other hand, studying languages can also be incredibly valuable in the film world. Being multilingual can open up international opportunities, whether that’s working on global film sets, collaborating with international crews, or even producing content for different audiences. Since you’re already studying Spanish, you could continue developing your language skills through optional modules, travel, or even by creating bilingual or cross-cultural film projects while at university. LSBU actively encourages students to work on creative projects that reflect their personal interests and backgrounds, so you could easily combine your love of languages with your film work.

If you decide to focus on film production, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to pursue language learning on your own or through online platforms, and the creative freedom to include your linguistic skills in your storytelling. But if you choose to study languages, you can still build your filmmaking experience independently or through student collaborations, as many filmmakers do outside of their degree.

Ultimately, if your dream is to shoot films and build a career in the film industry, a course like Film and Television Practice or Media Production at LSBU will give you direct access to the skills, equipment, and professional network to make that happen, while your love for languages will only enhance your creativity and global outlook.

If you’d like to explore both courses further, LSBU has an Open Day on Saturday 15th November, where you can visit our studios, meet lecturers, and talk to students who are combining different creative interests, including film and language-based projects.

👉 You can sign up here: LSBU Open Day.
👉 You can also chat with our students through our Unibuddy platform: Chat with our students.

You’re already thinking like a true creative, blending art, culture, and communication, and whichever path you take, you’ll be building a unique voice in the film world.

Reply 2

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

18

Hi there @Megmeg223
It’s totally understandable to have more than one passion — that’s actually a great thing! I study Media Production at Birmingham City University, and honestly, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
BCU has so many amazing creative courses, and from what you’ve said, I think you’d be a great fit for either Media Production or Filmmaking. I’m currently in my third year, and I’ve already made so many valuable connections. All of our lecturers are ex-industry professionals with strong links to the creative world, and they’re always excited to share opportunities with students.
Explore the courses:

•

Media Production —vBCU Media Production BA (Hons)

•

Filmmaking — BCU Filmmaking BA (Hons)

Check out some of the facilities you’ll use:

•

Curzon Street Studios

Interested in seeing it all for yourself?

•

Book an Open Day

If you love being creative and want hands-on experience in the industry, BCU is definitely worth checking out!

Reply 3

ARUStudents

Official Rep

14

Original post

by Megmeg223

Hi, I've been stressing a lot about whether to do film studies / production or languages or both. I want to go into the film industry, but I also love languages and aspire to be able to speak 3 or more (my native is English and I do Spanish A-level) do I need to do film production or film studies in order to get necessary connections and shoot films, or will it be fine to do just languages? I still aspire to shoot films during university no matter what to develop my name. Please help!!!

Hello! I’m Joe and I’m a second year Film Studies student at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge!

ARU offers something called the ‘Anglia Language Programme’. These are courses that allow you to learn, or improve your skills, in a language of your choice! The options are French, Japanese, or Spanish!
These courses can either be taken as an optional, credit-bearing module as part of your degree, or as a standalone course.

Please note that only certain courses offer the language programme as an optional module. However my course, BA Film, does!!

You can read here for more detailed information: https://www.aru.ac.uk/student-life/student-experience/anglia-language-programme

I hope this has been helpful. If you have any questions, about either BA Film, the Anglia Language Programme, or anything at all, let me know!

Joe :smile:

Reply 4

De Montfort University

Official Rep

17

Original post

by Megmeg223

Hi, I've been stressing a lot about whether to do film studies / production or languages or both. I want to go into the film industry, but I also love languages and aspire to be able to speak 3 or more (my native is English and I do Spanish A-level) do I need to do film production or film studies in order to get necessary connections and shoot films, or will it be fine to do just languages? I still aspire to shoot films during university no matter what to develop my name. Please help!!!

Hiya Lovely

It’s totally normal to feel stuck between film and languages — but the good news is you don’t need a film degree to get into the film industry.

Lots of people working in film come from completely different degrees (languages, English, history, even sciences). What really matters is the portfolio you build, the experience you get, and the contacts you make.

If you love languages and want to get fluent, a languages degree is absolutely fine it can even help in film, since the industry is very international. You can still get plenty of filmmaking experience at uni by joining a film society, shooting your own shorts, helping on other students’ sets, and submitting to student festivals.

A film production/film studies degree gives you structured access to equipment and ready-made networking, but it’s definitely not essential. It just depends on whether you want that structure or you’re happy being self-driven alongside a different subject.

Whichever route you pick, I’d really recommend starting a LinkedIn. It's one of the advice I took to heart when starting university.
Even now, it’s a great way to connect with student filmmakers, follow production companies, share your projects, and start building a name for yourself.

In short: choose the subject you’d enjoy studying for three years and make films regardless. That’s the part that will actually move your career forward.

Kind regards Aneta PhD Chemistry

Reply 5

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Megmeg223

Hi, I've been stressing a lot about whether to do film studies / production or languages or both. I want to go into the film industry, but I also love languages and aspire to be able to speak 3 or more (my native is English and I do Spanish A-level) do I need to do film production or film studies in order to get necessary connections and shoot films, or will it be fine to do just languages? I still aspire to shoot films during university no matter what to develop my name. Please help!!!

Hi,

You don’t have to study Film Production or Film Studies to get into the film industry, especially if you’re motivated to make films on your own. Many people gain experience through independent projects, short films, internships, or university societies while studying something else.

Studying languages is also a great option. Being multilingual can be a real advantage in the industry, opening doors to international projects and networking opportunities. If you enjoy languages, there’s no need to give them up, and you can still build filmmaking experience outside of the classroom.

Formal training in filmmaking, such as film studies or production courses, can help with technical skills and portfolio building, but they aren’t essential if you’re proactive about creating your own work. Joining film societies, collaborating on projects, or making your own short films can be just as valuable for gaining experience and connections.

Here’s a range of courses at LJMU you may be interested in if you do decide you want to study film at university https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/subjects/journalism-media-and-film

Hope this helps,

Tayba
Student Rep

Film production / studies

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