University degrees: Courses
Course length: 1 year full-time
This course aims to prepare students for a successful future in multi-camera studio entertainment production. Students specialise in one of the three disciplines: camera/lighting, sound or vision mixing.
This unique 12-month course aims to prepare students for a successful future in multi-camera studio entertainment production
Students specialise in one of the three core disciplines of multi-camera studio operations:
The course is run in partnership with Sky, the largest pay-TV broadcaster in the United Kingdom, who host a number of the modules and provide a six-week internship as part of the course. Sky guarantees to employ at least one graduate of the course each year.
Students will collaborate with those in other specialisms to shoot TV shows in our state-of-the-art 4K TV studio – with all production costs met by the School.
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).
Students will apply for, and be accepted onto the course in one of three craft specialisations:
Cameras and Lighting – Practise the core skills of camera operators: positioning, framing and focus. Learn to use broadcast cameras, repositioning and changing shot as the director demands while the vision mixer cuts and mixes the show. Learn to develop shots, moving with artists or in sympathy with music to create dynamic and exciting television. Begin to light simple interviews and more complex multi-camera lighting techniques.
Vision Mixing – Train on sophisticated broadcast vision mixing consoles, build and realise complex live visual effects to the director’s brief. Using these high-end production tools, vision mixing is like editing – but in real time. Cut, mix and wipe between cameras, pre-edited clips and other video sources live. Learn how to mix a variety of genres from situation comedy to fast paced entertainment and music shows adding digital effects and captioning in real time.
Sound – Learn how to choose and place microphones for the best results for a variety of shows including live music. Train to use ‘Fisher booms’ – in great demand for sitcoms and soaps – to pick up drama dialogue. Mix studio sound in real time using sophisticated broadcast desks. Enhance the show with spot effects, music cues and audio processing to create atmosphere and energy. Learn how to manage TV comms including studio talkback systems allowing key production team members to communicate and collaborate effectively.
