BCineSkills Article Category: Resources and Learning
Creative Cities Convention announces new skills summit
Creative Cities Convention has announced its first ever Skills Summit, created to provide freelancers and emerging talent with the expertise to meet the challenges facing the industry. The Skills Summit will run on 7 and 8 May, alongside the main conference in Bradford. Day one is aimed at freelancers with at least five years’ experience in the screen industries and features … Read more
BSC Mentorship
GUIDING LIGHT Mentees and mentors have been paired and 2024’s BSC Mentorship scheme is in full flow. We speak to BSC Education Committee chair Oliver Stapleton BSC about changes made to the scheme, benefits past mentors and mentees have enjoyed, and how cinematographers can get involved. “I’m always interested in the column called ‘Other interests’ … Read more
Industry Wide Shot / VFX training
Behind the screen: navigating downturn VFX experts highlight investments in training and advocate for diversifying content creation to ensure industry longevity. During industry downturns, focus naturally narrows with the expectation of eventual recovery. However, this outlook predominantly favours established professionals, leaving aspiring individuals longing for their breakthrough overlooked. Moreover, companies seeking to train new recruits … Read more
Software
Get with the programme Be it through image editing, 3D models, or just written notes, software is a crucial tool with which cinematographers communicate their creative intentions. “Software has become a completely vital part of my prep and shoot today,” says Adam Suschitzky BSC. For him this begins with Scriptation, the Emmy Award-winning app for … Read more
BSC x LSA Workshop Programme
Igniting a spark Education is a key tenet of the British Society of Cinematographers and its recent workshop programme, in collaboration with London Screen Academy, gave underrepresented communities a hands-on – and in some cases life-changing – insight into the camera, lighting and grip departments. Some 85 participants from across the UK descended upon London … Read more
MetFilm School
INSPIRING FILMMAKERS OF THE FUTURE MetFilm School is a leading film and television media school with an approach to learning embedded in the industry. When writer-director Nikyatu Jusu’s psychological horror Nanny won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year, it not only acted as international calling card for its cinematographer Rina Yang BSC but … Read more
BSC Education Masterclass
LEARNING FROM THE BEST As part of the BSC’s ongoing mission to foster education and training opportunities for cinematographers of all levels, its second Masterclass, led by a selection of award-winning DPs, marked a study weekend with a star-studded difference. The second BSC Education Masterclass took place across the weekend of 21-22 January at the … Read more
Safety
SAFE SPACE The launch of the Mark Milsome Foundation’s Film and TV Online Safety Passport Course has reignited vigorous debate around on-set health and safety. “At the inquest into Mark’s death, the coroner concluded that on that set, the risk of Mr. Milsome being harmed or fatally injured was not effectively recognised, assessed, communicated, or … Read more
BSC Education cinematography and camera department workshop
ON COURSE FOR CAMERA CAREERS In October 2022, the BSC and London Screen Academy ran the inaugural Cinematography and Camera Department Workshop for “early career creatives” as part of BSC Education. The Cinematography and Camera Department Workshop was conceived two years ago by BSC president Christopher Ross and aimed at those from marginalised groups or … Read more
BSC Education
EXPERT FOCUS An inspiring new training initiative from the British Society of Cinematographers aims to boost the skills sets of both existing DPs and those breaking into the industry with a series of expert-led events. BSC Education, a new committee from the British Society of Cinematographers, held its inaugural Masterclass in late August at the … Read more
Tomorrow’s talent
The shortage of skilled crew amidst a production boom has been well-documented, but a post-pandemic flurry of apprenticeships and training schemes hopes to boost the talent pipeline. Is it enough? It’s something of a miracle that UK film crew enjoys the international reputation it does, with recruitment largely lacking even a semi-formal system of qualification … Read more
Apps
TOOLS OF THE TRADE Every DP today carries with them a powerful mobile device that can serve as notebook, viewfinder, light meter, compass and much more besides. Apps can help visualise and communicate, prep and plan. “What professional DP is going to line up a shot on a movie using their phone? You’re mad. It’s … Read more
Filmmakers Academy review
YOU NEVER STOP LEARNING BAFTA Breakthrough cinematographer Aaron Reid explores Filmmakers Academy and shares his views on the site and its educational content as a resource for DPs and filmmakers at all stages of their careers. Over the last four weeks, alongside prepping a TV drama, I have spent my time going through the Filmmakers … Read more
Health and Safety: Safe Shooting
A positive outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increased global attention towards health and safety within social and professional environments. But has it been enough to transform the film and television industry to avoid the tragic and high-profile deaths of American camera assistant Sarah Jones and British camera operator Mark Milsome? The overall … Read more
ScreenSkills
Opportunity Knocks Spotlight / ScreenSkills Opportunity Knocks Spotlight / ScreenSkills BY: Michael Burns With production in the UK booming, the newly-formed ScreenSkills is dedicated to keeping the talent pool well-stocked. The film industry is traditionally seen as one of the most difficult to break into, but that might not be strictly true. “I think there … Read more
The Skills Gap
Mind the Skills Gap Special Report / Skills Gap Mind the Skills Gap Special Report / Skills Gap With the UK in high demand as a base for international production, the domestic business is having to expand capacity on two fronts: the physical shooting stages and warehouses; and more film and creative sector crew to … Read more