Getting the most from your time with us
Learning television craft is mostly a matter of repetition with good feedback. Our sessions are built around short exercises that you do yourself, are watched doing, and then repeat with the tutor's notes in mind. That pattern works for framing a shot, delivering a line to camera or tightening a script.
Because groups are small, tutors know what you are working on. They can compare your first attempt with your third and tell you plainly where it has improved and where it has not. We would rather you hear that in a classroom than for the first time from an editor under deadline.
The courses also overlap on purpose. A reporter who has spent time on framing writes better to pictures, and an operator who has sat through a scripting session understands why a reporter asks for a particular shot. The joint sessions bring those two views together on a real shoot.
Between sessions you will usually have a modest task to complete, such as filming a short sequence, rehearsing a delivery or editing a brief package. Bring the result next time and your tutor will go through it with you. Keep tasks small and regular rather than leaving them to the night before.
If something is unclear, ask. Tom handles questions about timetables and course choice, and the tutors answer anything about the craft itself. You will get a straight reply, whether you are a newcomer or an experienced professional.
Useful things to prepare
- A recent clip or script, however rough, to show where you are now
- Your own camera, microphone or tripod if you have them
- Sturdy outdoor clothing for field sessions in any weather
- A notebook for tutor feedback and reading list titles
- Two or three questions about the course you are considering
- Your preferred contact details for the written quotation
