Sky Studios bosses have praised the NFTS’ Broadcast Production diploma and snapped up 6 out of 9 graduates from last year’s course giving them job contracts at its London studio.
In a video interview, Sophie Turner-Laing the Managing Director (Content) at BSkyB and Darren Long, Director of Sky Production Services applaud the unique 12 month course for providing the skills that prepare to people to work in a modern multicamera studio environment. Watch the video film with Sky and students here
The course offers training for Vision Mixers, Camera/ Lighting operators and Sound Mixing specialist to work in television entertainment. These are the core disciplines of multi camera studio operations and people trained at a high level in these craft areas are hotly in demand.
The course includes working on NFTS 1st year TV Entertainment gameshows and graduation projects as well as a six-week internship with Sky Studios in London where some of the modules are taught.
“You can teach theory but you actually really learn when you are deep in it and it’s a reality,” says Sophie Turner-Laing.
"It's unlike any other course...working with Sky you're giong to get a true understanding of what it takes,"adds Darren Long.
Students are exposed to the creative challenge of working across a range of entertainment programming, including: Situation Comedy, Magazine Shows, Talent Shows, Panel Shows, Game Shows etc.
Vision Mixing graduate, Chantal Fitzpatrick says: “It’s a perfect balance between practical and theoretical work. The first time I was able to vision mix live - on Sky sports News - it was a lot of pressure, but I got through it!”
Ben Abineri, one of last year’s Camera students, says: “My memory of Sky is the adrenaline rush that you can only get in a TV studio when the red light goes on and there are potentially 100s of thousands of people watching what you’re doing.”
Sound Mixing graduate Sam Stubbs Benbow says: “To go into a functioning major broadcaster and be treated as a member of the crew is such a brilliant learning experience….You dive straight in, get your hands on the kit and make your own show.”
Students on the current course recently visited the Euro Election studio at BBC Elstree and watched a recording of Pointless, also at the BBC. Coming up in the next few week, students will enjoy masterclass talks from Heather Townsend - author of 3 books including The Financial Times Guide to Business Networking and Gary Clarke - Freelance Sound Supervisor (ex-BBC).
Sky is offering three scholarships to people starting this course. Click here to find out more. Sky also guarantees to employ at least one graduate of the course each year.
Pictured: Sound student, Siyuan ( Tao) Lin, mixing a course music exercise at Sky’s state-of-the-art digital studios.
