The film industry is made up of lots of roles across many departments and whether you’re drawn to directing, cinematography, screenwriting, production design or acting, there are countless paths to pursue your passion.
At Young Film Academy, our filmmaking and acting programmes are only available to those under 18, so we have laid out an overview of what steps you can take to continue your education and bring your film career to life.
Pursuing a degree or certificate in film, media, or related fields can provide you with structured learning, practical experience, industry knowledge, and valuable networking opportunities. It’s important to consider what balance of theory and practice you want to get out of your course. Always check the curriculum, go to open days and research past-students’ experiences. However, you don’t always need a formal degree to get started in the industry! Gaining practical experience can be just as important.
Film school degrees focus on the craft and business of filmmaking through practical learning. They can offer an all-round foundation of filmmaking skills or in-depth training in specific disciplines.
This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some institutions you might want to consider that have a wide range of filmmaking undergraduate degrees, including Film Production, Screenwriting, Visual Effects and many more:
Ravensbourne University London
If you’re interested in a broader education that explores production alongside analytical skills, you may want to consider a Bachelor’s Degree in Film Studies, Digital Media or Journalism.
This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some institutions you might want to consider that have a wide range of broader media undergraduate degrees:
Short Courses are more affordable than traditional degrees and focus on specific areas of filmmaking to hone your skills, such as learning how to use a particular software or costume design. They can also be useful for testing out a discipline before committing to a full time course.
Here are some examples:
National Film and Television School
Work experience schemes, internships and entry level jobs are great ways to gain industry experience, meet professionals, and build your resume. You can look for opportunities on schemes like BBC Writers and ScreenSkills TraineeFinder, or reach out on relevant Facebook Groups (UK Film Jobs, London Filmmaking Network, and Film/TV Production Crew UK) and to local production companies.
Ultimately, the best way to learn filmmaking is by doing it! It’s also great to have work you can share with your network or show potential employers.
Here are some ideas to start building up a portfolio:
Further education and gaining experience are both essential for developing your screen acting craft, building your career, and opening doors to professional opportunities. There are many options for pursuing your education. To decide which one is for you, consider how specialised or broad you want your training to be and the time commitment that suits you best.
Attending a specialised acting school is one of the most traditional and structured paths to becoming an actor. Acting schools provide rigorous professional training in various techniques, such as classical training, modern methods, improvisation, voice work, and movement. Finishing with a showcase in front of agents and industry professionals, drama schools directly lead their actors onto active careers in the industry. With thousands of applicants and low intakes, drama schools are prestigious institutions that can take several years of auditions to get into. However, if you are serious about becoming an actor, it can be worth committing to getting in. When looking for the right drama schools that have industry recognition, the Federation of Drama Schools is a good place to start.
Here are some examples they recommend:
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
If you want a broader education while also pursuing acting, you can consider a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Studies, Drama, Performing Arts or Applied Theatre. These programs usually combine acting with broader studies in literature, performance history, and theory. These degrees can lead to broader career paths in the performing arts world, such as a stage manager or educator, but do not offer as rigorous and focused acting training as drama school.
Here are some examples:
If you don’t want to commit to full-time study at an acting school or university, workshops and acting classes are a great way to start. They allow you to gain hands-on experience and explore different acting techniques more flexibly.
Here are some examples:
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Developing a portfolio helps you to gain hands-on experience and is vital for showcasing your talent and availability to casting people.
Here are some ways you can build up a portfolio:
APPLE PODCASTS / SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / AMAZON
New episodes every 2-weeks
Explore our library of over 60 episodes, where we interview industry professionals who have worked on the biggest TV shows and movies, discovering how they broke into the industry, and learning what they did during their teenage years to set themselves up for success. From sound design to directing, there will be an episode for you.
Subscribe to our alumni newsletter for up-to-date opportunities. Ask us to add you to our list by emailing info@youngfilmacademy.co.uk
