Well yes, I study Film and Television production. To some this might suggest that I get to spend all of my time on Netflix and living my best life. While in some cases this is true, there is a lot more that takes place on Campus East, where I find myself most of the time.
Contact hours
First of all the lectures, screenings and seminars, or together – the contact hours. In the first term, we don’t get more than four hours per day, therefore it is a relatively light schedule and you get a lot of free time to fill with whatever projects you come up with.
For me, the day usually starts at 8am. If I have a 9.30am lecture (the earliest on the timetable) I would have breakfast until 9am. (Yes, I do like to start my morning calmly by taking 1 hour to enjoy breakfast or catch up on reading or homework). Then around 9ish, I would head to TFTI or Pizza building which can both be found on Campus East.
As I am living in Halifax college it takes me about 20 minutes to get there. I am also always late so a little run to TFTI second floor’s Holbeck Cinema is included. (If you are late, always choose the top floor entrance!). Here we usually have a 1-hour lecture, followed by a 2-hour screening of a film/tv show related to the lecture and seminar we have later that week.
The people and the place
Second of all, lecturers and overall atmosphere. For me, it is very important that my study place and people around me are open to new ideas and creations. I guess that’s what a creative course is all about. So, on the first day when our programme leader introduced herself and the rest of the staff by talking about llamas, it felt right – ideas started to flow again. When you are overwhelmed by all the things you need to do prior getting into uni, creative block becomes very real. It was really nice to come to an environment where it streams back in.
But, so you don’t think that it’s just my first impression excitement, I will add that every day walking to or from lectures together with my coursemates, we almost always discuss new projects, ideas or just have a little philosophy break. Moreover, if some of these ideas form into actual projects, lectures and seminar leaders are very willing to help.
How I do it
Lastly, everything in between and individual studying. Studying a creative course might seem like an easy route to pursue. Having just 4 contact hours per day seems lemon-squeezy. However, that’s just a great illusion. The truth is if you are only going to do the stuff that’s in your curriculum you might as well skip uni altogether. The most experience I get is from everything that I do in between lectures.
After sitting through my lecture and screening, I usually would go home to have a short lunch break. Then I head to YSTV (York Student Television) or the library or masterclasses or meetings. I cannot stress enough how important it is to do other things on the side. Speaking with 2nd and 3rd years they also agree. Having other projects related to your course is the best way to learn a lot of skills that uni doesn’t have time to teach. For example, we just finished the world’s first live-interactive drama, which was the best project that I have worked on whilst being in uni and maybe ever.
Working with creative people
Anyhow, I wouldn’t be a film student if my day or week or this article wouldn’t end where it started – Netflix. Aside from lectures, seminars and projects – yes – Netflix or DVDs rented from the library is obviously included. Sometimes, you get together with your housemates and introduce them to the great laugh that Wild Tales (Relatos Salvajes 2014) provides. Or most of the time, you look back at whatever you watched on screenings to know what to talk about in seminars.
This is also an analogy to life of filmmaker (or probably anyone somehow creative). At times you will be surrounded with like-minded people bursting out with new concepts and thoughts. Although, a lot of times you will find yourself alone in your room/studio trying to figure out why and how?
The fun part – sometimes you do!
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