Former student
MA in Film and Television Production
“I chose the University of Bristol because it offered a postgraduate course that had the elements I was looking for. I wanted to do a Masters in film making, but in Ireland there didn’t seem to be any course that was suited to me. Practically all of the MAs offered throughout Ireland were film studies, and I wanted to make film, not study ones already made. I extended my search to the UK and found quite a few courses that I could consider. I still felt that they weren’t quite what I wanted to do, but I was willing to compromise. Then I found the Masters course in Bristol, and it offered everything all the other courses seemed to lack.
“My passion is editing, and in this course I got taught editing on Avid, which is a professional software system by someone who has actually been out in the industry in Hollywood editing for film. All the other areas of film and TV production are catered for too, such as cinematography, sound, directing, design and producing. Each member of the class gets to taste these areas and can then choose which two to learn further. Very few courses that I found gave that much hands on experience. My degree was in Computing from the Cork Institute of Technology and not from an Arts background like they preferred. However I showed my enthusiasm for film and TV, got an interview, and got offered a place on the course. Since being here I have found my computing background to be a benefit.
“The course itself was broken into two terms. For the first term we did three subjects which were Production in Practice, Narrative Grammar and Critical and Conceptual Issues. Sessions on cinematography and sound were held for everyone in the Production in Practice course, and a lot of the first term was spent in various groups doing short film exercises. Research areas of other members of the faculty such as photography, National Identity, New Media to name a few were examined in the Critical and Conceptual Issues subject. For the second term we did three more subjects, Project Development and two choice subjects. I did editing and sound. Project Development included guest speakers, but was mainly the process of getting your final film made.
“I am living in University accommodation in Bristol. It is convenient as I am very close to the Department of Drama, and I am living with people who are also doing their postgraduate degrees. I happen to live with two other members of my course!
“The social life in Bristol is great, because you are living in a city. There are film festivals and events on throughout the year, and the music scene here caters for each and every taste. I have found it’s a very lively city to live in. I had plans to move back home once I finished this course, but I am instead looking to stay on here for the foreseeable future. I came to Bristol University with a desire to work in film, but the course has opened my eyes and I am presently looking for a job in Post Production in TV here in Bristol.”
