CoSE:Y: UK Film & TV Craft Certificate Production Assistant (Scripted)

Applications closed on Monday 28th February

The UK’s film and television production sector boom continues in 2022, with a seemingly never-ending appetite for production crew across the UK.

This 5-month (March to July 2022) part time CoSE:Y Production Assistant Course is an in-depth programme to ready trainees for new entry positions in the production team of fiction feature films and high end television. The programme is designed to equip participants with the necessary foundational skills and knowledge to confidently enter the workplace, with a clear sense of what is expected of them.

Applications closed on Monday 28th February 2022. Applications received after this date will not be considered. If for any reason you need to submit your application by an alternative method or have any other queries then please contact training@screenyorkshire.co.uk.

Students film 'Quantaform' at Selby Abbey

How you will learn

This course is a combination of in person teaching, online seminars, coursework, and one to one tutoring. It is participatory, and trainees are expected to contribute to group discussions and debates. The coursework element of the programme is rigorous, and during the course of the training trainees will produce a range of industry standard documents. These documents will be based on a case study short film project that will be a focus across the course. The course is taught by top-level industry professionals and a work experience module on active film or TV sets is intended to be included (Covid-19 restrictions permitting). However, while best efforts will be made, placements cannot be guaranteed.

Trainees will train with Screen Yorkshire’s Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire in Leeds. Screen Yorkshire and the CoSE:Y team will deliver two ‘boot camps’ designed to prepare the trainees for the specific requirements of Production Assistants in film and TV. Trainees can expect to learn about their role within a department, the way departments interact with other departments during production, set etiquette, sustainability training and preparation for freelance life (including CV and application writing, tax, invoicing and networking). They will also receive valuable Health & Safety Production Passport training including Covid-19 safety training.

The best thing the production assistant course gave me was the confidence to actually put myself out there, whether that was applying for jobs, approaching people in the industry for advice or even networking on set. It made me feel like I actually knew what I was talking about! It also gave me the chance to meet a wonderful cohort of people to navigate the ups and downs of the industry alongside, which has been invaluable.

Megan Whitehouse - CoSE:Y Production Assistant alumni

Since finishing the CoSE:Y PA course, Megan has found work on feature films including Flux Gourmet (starring Asa Butterfield and Gwendoline Christie) The Chelsea Cowboy (starring Alex Pettyfer and Poppy Delevingne), and TV dramas including BBC’s Doctors and ITV’s upcoming A Spy Among Friends with Damien Lewis and Guy Pearce.

Find out what a day in the life of a production assistant on set is like, from Production Assistant Becky Richardson, who worked on hit horror film ‘Censor’.

What you will learn

On completion of the certificate, you will:
• Understand how to communicate effectively with colleagues in both prep and on location/set
• Be able to develop and maintain good working relationships during the production process
• Understand hazards and risks in the workplace and be able to evaluate and minimise risks.
• Understand the nuances of production and post production and the role of the production department.
• Be able to read, understand and contribute to key production paperwork (call sheets, movement orders, daily progress reports etc)
• Develop a basic understanding of technical equipment involved in production, and related issues.
• Have a developed understanding of the principles of budgeting and scheduling and the implications for production.
• Demonstrate an imaginative response to projects and production challenges
• Demonstrate an awareness of production issues related to sustainability and the environment
• Be able to operate effectively as a freelance worker

Course leader Rachel is an invaluable fountain of expertise. With her guidance, I gained deep insights into the industry, learned actionable skills which were immediately applicable to my future roles, and forged a strong network of like-minded and creative professionals. The course left me with a new found confidence and understanding which contributed to securing me roles on Yorkshire based productions such as 'The Railway Children Return' and 'Gentleman Jack' to name just a few.”

Georgina Vaughan, CoSE:Y alumni, Production Assistant

Entry requirements

Read more about Georgina’s experience studying to be a Production Assistant on ScreenSkills website.

The course is entry level and is specifically targeted at trainees who have identified a career path in production assistance/management as their professional goal. We are looking for trainees who bring a diverse range of experiences to the group and we actively encourage applicants from groups who are currently underrepresented in the film and television industries.

A keen, demonstrable interest in film and television is paramount. While no previous experience in the screen industries is necessary, here are some examples of the sorts of experience that would be useful to know about:

Work experience with an administrative element – previous trainees have for example worked in a bank or in the pharmaceutical industries
Experience in organising or helping with cultural events or film festivals
Making short films with groups of friends in your spare time
Experience as a runner or assistant in film and television
Experience working in related industries such as theatre, publishing or journalism
Film and TV training, either in a higher education or university setting

Training is an investment both for the candidate and the training provider and so should only be undertaken by candidates with a clear commitment to achieving a high level of proficiency and dedication to the craft. Entrants will be 18+ and some applicants may choose to undertake this award instead of going to University. University graduates are welcome to apply, as are people looking to change their career path later in life.

Assessment and accreditation

The qualification will be assessed on the basis of written coursework and evidence of understanding the learnings across the course. Successful students will achieve a UK Film & Television Craft Certification as a Production Assistant (Scripted), endorsed by ScreenSkills and recognised by film and television production and production insurers.

Fees and scholarships

Applicants who will be 18 years old on 28 February 2022 will not be required to pay a fee for this course. For students over this age the course fee is set at £2000 – however you may be eligible for bursary support covering the majority of the course fee. If you are 19+ and would like to apply for a bursary, please fill out the bursary application form linked to in the main application form.

Course dates

The course will run between March 21st and July 29th 2022. Students should note that learning commitments throughout the teaching period are part-time (Full day commitments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays from March 21st to July 2nd 2022) with a 2-week break (May 23rd – June 3rd). Full time commitment is expected during the two bootcamps (May 9th to 13th and June 13th to 17th) and the work experience placement (July 4th to July 29th).

Applications closed on Monday 28th February 2022

Applications received after this date will not be considered. If for any reason you need to submit your application by an alternative method or have any other queries then please contact training@screenyorkshire.co.uk.

You may be invited to a phone/online interview during the week of February 28th 2022. Successful applicants will be offered a place in the first week of March and will be expected to accept within 3 days of the offer. We will endeavour to contact everyone before March 21st, however, if you have not heard from us by then, please assume you have not been offered a place on one of the courses.

The UK film & TV craft courses are part of the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, a ground-breaking pilot delivered by Screen Yorkshire and supported by ScreenSkills using National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI as part of the Future Film Skills programme.