United Kingdom

National Film and Television School

Assistant Directing and Floor Managing

University degrees: Courses

Course length: 1 year full-time

This unique 13-month diploma course aims to give students the skills and capabilities for a successful future career as a First, Second, Third Assistant Director and/or Floor Manager.

Overview


This unique 13-month diploma course aims to give students the skills and capabilities for a successful future career as a First, Second, Third Assistant Director and/or Floor Manager. It is delivered in partnership with the BBC and with the support of the Assistant Directors Association and the Production Guild.

Being an Assistant Director or Floor Manager is a demanding role that requires a level head, self-confidence and strong communication to ensure a production is delivered successfully. They are responsible for the operation of the shooting set/television studio. Their objective is to provide the director with everything they need to realise their vision.

Students will collaborate with those in other specialisms to make films and TV entertainment shows – with all production costs met by the School. A 10-day work experience placement is included.

All NFTS students can attend the School’s masterclasses programme, with recent guests including Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve), Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna, Diego Maradona),  Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here, We Need to Talk About Kevin), Louis Theroux, and M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Glass).

​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.​

The NFTS wants to encourage applications from the brightest and best talent out there, whatever your background. That’s why we have made scholarship funding available for this course – find out more here.

What you will study

This course combines practical experience on fiction films and TV Entertainment shows with industry work experience placements and intensive training.

During the course there will be a range of other specialist workshops on a range of relevant topics, such as Working with Talent, Tracking Vehicles, Stunts and Special FX.

Specifically students will learn about:

  • Reading a script and developing a shooting schedule
  • How to use relevant industry software (e.g Movie Magic and Final Draft)
  • The impact of budget, cast availability and script coverage on the shooting schedule
  • Supporting the hiring of locations, props and equipment
  • Leading a technical recce
  • Set and Studio Floor protocols and etiquette
  • Liaising with the production office to create call sheets, movement orders and other production paperwork
  • Managing a set or studio floor with confidence during a shoot
  • Managing talent
  • Health and Safety and First Aid

Fees and funding options

Fees for this course are as follows:

Home/EU/EEA £8,500 (for September 2019 intake)

The tuition fees for September 2020 intake will be confirmed in the spring of 2020.

This course is only open to UK and EU/EEA applicants.

The NFTS does not charge you extra for the cost of productions or materials.

A non-refundable deposit of £500 is required against the cost of your fees on confirmation of your place.

Students are expected to provide their own laptops.

At the NFTS you will get far more time learning directly from tutors, in real production facilities and on real projects, than in the vast majority of film schools or universities. The specialist nature of our courses mean that our students gain the relevant skills and experience they need to go straight into the industry.

 

Programs, Courses, Workshops