Training

 

Image of a red bench in front of the sea, a white note on the back reads filming in progress in black.

 

Thinking about a career in TV and film? Getting into such a competitive industry can be tough, so we have compiled some information for you to get started.

Where To Begin?

The national agency ScreenSkills is a good place to start if you want to get an overview on available career paths in the film & broadcast industries.

Looking to Study or Train in TV and Film?
Kent has a multitude of colleges and universities offering courses in media, radio, TV, film and animation.

National TrainingScreen Skills Logo- Pink background with Screen Skills written in white, 5 white lines stack on top.

ScreenSkills is the national agency which offers many opportunities and advice on gaining the right skills for your entry into the film & broadcast industries.

 

Bfi Academy logo- two circles overlapping, one black with BFI in smaller white circles, one white with film academy written in black text

The BFI has a training remit for features via the BFI Network and regionally for short films and scripts via the BFI Film Hub Southeast, which is delivered through Film Wave Margate in Kent. BFI Film Academy runs yearly and is open to young people in the UK from any background. The programme provides talented 16-19-year-olds to study practical filmmaking elements from screenwriting, production and post-production skills, meet industry professionals and attend workshops and master classes by leading industry experts. Screen South has run the scheme since 2012 as the BFI partner for Kent.

Film London run the Microwave scheme.

The Production Guild icon. A gold upper-case P with a white lower-case g inside. Below, written in gold text, is GB.

 

The Production Guild is one of the UK’s top membership organisations for film and TV production management professionals and aims to support and deliver training to those working across a variety of production aspects. Their YouTube channel offers a range of tips and advice about getting started in the industry.


Equality and Diversity

Creative Access provides opportunities for paid internships in the creative industries for young people from under-represented black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, with a view to improving their chances of securing full-time jobs and, in the longer term, increasing diversity and addressing the current imbalance in the sector.

The Digital Orchard Foundation is a resource supporting underrepresented groups in film and television, focusing on technical on-set and post-production crew, with particular focus on:

• Those who are economically disadvantaged
• Those with caring responsibilities
• People who have physical impairments or are neuro-diverse
• Ethnic minority individuals
• Female, trans and non-binary individuals
• LGBQ+ individuals

The MAMA Youth Project aims to equip young people aged between 18-25 years with the skills and experience necessary to secure long-term, fulfilling employment in the TV and media industry, with particular focus on young people from under-represented groups or those with limited educational or employment opportunities.

Here are a set of resources from Press Reset, the BFI’s campaign to inspire authority figures in film and TV to reset practices involving disabled people and establish a new, more inclusive normal.


Work Experience and Trainee Opportunities

Finding work experience and your first paid job in the industry can be difficult, but we’re here to help with opportunities and guidance. You need to be 18 at the time of any placement and live or study in the Kent County Council & Medway geographic areas.

Kent Film Office deals in work experience/placements as part of your college or university degree or volunteering opportunities that are usually short term and offer expenses only or minimum wage payments, depending on the production and your status.If you are looking for paid industry work you should register with the Creative England database.

Runner Opportunities

Getting experience as a runner is a great way to learn about how a film crew works, looks good on your CV and can also give you some great contacts!

Although we initially accept anyone onto this scheme, please be aware that you will need to have a cv that shows some related industry, university, college, event management or PA experience or you are unlikely to be picked.

If you are lucky enough to be picked, please be aware that we request feedback from production to keep this a valuable service and something productions wish to take up. Last minute cancellations once you have agreed to attend, as well as feedback showing incompetence or misconduct will result in you being taken off this list.

If you would like to be notified of any entry level runner opportunities in Kent, please register via our website.

Kent Trainees

The Kent Film Office tries to negotiate longer term training opportunities for graduates with both visiting and local production companies when they are filming in the county for several weeks or months.

Please contact filmoffice@kent.gov.uk if you require longer term trainee placements and we will put you in touch with the relevant contacts at Kent Colleges and Universities who can facilitate this.

You can also check with Screen South for local opportunities or ScreenSkills for training across the UK.

Behind the scenes film showing what it is like to work in production, shot by Lancey Foux when they filmed a music video at Botany Bay.

Work Experience at a Production Company

To secure a work experience placement with a film or TV company, the best thing to do is write to production companies directly, either in a suitable area or around a chosen specialization. Online industry directories such as The Knowledge Online, 4rfv, KFTV and Kays are good sources for finding contact details for those.

Are You a Student Wanting to Film in Kent?

The student portal gives you guidelines and tips for filming in the county and how to get in touch if you need any advice!