The NFTS’Sound Design MA and Sound Recording Diplomacourses have a fantastic track record for giving graduates the skills they need to gain work on award-winning films and win top prizes for their craft. There are still places on these courses - apply before the June 6 deadline.
Alumni include Oscar and Bafta nominated Sound Recordist and Mixer Stuart Wilson who worked on box office hits Skyfall, Warhorse and two Harry Potter films; 2010 Sound Design graduate Zhe Wu who worked on the Cannes 2013 Camera d’Or winning film Ilo Ilo; Rerecording Mixer Martin Jensen who worked on the Europa Cinemas Label 2013 winning film The Selfish Giant; Adrian Rhodes who won a Bafta Craft Award for his role as Supervising Sound Editor/Rerecording Mixer on acclaimed TV dramatisation The Hollow Crown: Richard II; and 2012 graduate Axle Kith Cheeng who won the Verna Fields Award for Best Sound Editing by a student film-maker for her work on Oscar nominated film Head Over Heels at the MPSE Golden Reel Awards (the NFTS’s 11th win since 1996).
But many of these graduates almost didn’t apply for the courses because they thought they didn’t have the right qualifications.
Maiken Hansen, Sound Design Graduate 2013 said: “I remember looking at the school's website and thinking that this was the course of my dreams but I almost didn't apply because I was thinking that it would be too hard to get in. Thank God I thought I'd try my luck, because this course has changed my life. I am now looking at the future with much excitement as I am lucky to be doing what I absolutely love for a living!”
At the NFTS we are looking for students who have a passion and enthusiasm for Sound and we provide generous Scholarships and Bursaries so don’t let the fees hold your talent and dreams back. This is what some of our recent graduates have to say:
“If someone would have told me that I would be doing BBC documentaries, a drama series and feature films, all straight after graduating from the NFTS, I wouldn’t have believed them! Applying for the NFTS was a life-changing experience. It was the last and right step before going out there in the industry. The school and its tutors gave me the confidence and experience I needed.” 2012 Sound Design graduate Vicente Villaescusa whose 2013 credits include Sound Effects Editor on TV series Wonders of Life presented by Prof Brian Cox and My Mad Fat Diary (Sound Effects Editor) as well as the TV movie Panto! (Dialogue Editor), documentaries A Place for Us and Rihanna 777 (Supervising Sound Editor).
The school is privileged to have three full-time, dedicated, sound tutors, who are the main mentors for the students during the course. Students also benefit from industry teachers such as Graham Hartstone, Paul Davies, Andy Kennedy, Adrian Rhodes and Ian Morgan as well as Masterclasses with guest speakers such as the French sound designer Nicolas Becker, who has worked with leading film directors such as Roman Polanski, Danny Boyle, David Cronenberg and Andrea Arnold.
2013 Sound Design graduate Peter Warnock has already gone on to work on feature film Back To The Garden, documentary The DoGooders and short film It Won’t Be You. He said: “…the school has very strong links to the Industry…….professionals bring their knowledge and expertise of working in the Industry to ensure that the students are very well positioned to understand and excel in the professional working environment.”
Access to facilities such as Dolby 5.1 dubbing theatres, a foley booth, personal edit suites and sound recording equipment had, added Peter Warnock, enabled him to, “fast track my career and learn as much as possible in as short a time as possible.”
Owen Peters, Sound Design Graduate 2011(Dialogue Editor on the BBC Dramas, Sherlock, Baker Boys and Da Vinci’s Demons) said: “The Sound Post Production course introduced me to key skills and Industry tools that I continue to use on a daily basis. The practical knowledge and confidence I gained at the School has also proved invaluable at every stage of my career in the Industry.”
Don’t miss your opportunity to join these award winning alumni by signing up for the Sound Design for Film and Television MA and Sound Recording diploma courses before the June 6 deadline.
