Northern Film School at Leeds Metropolitan University

Jordan Barber Current Student, 16-May-2008
I have had the most terribly time at this university. I attended the BA course here (for a period of 3 years), i did have a good time in part, and learned a lot, although not through the schools teachings, but from working with other like minded people on official film school projects but learnt so much more on peoples personal, side projects). I was then stupid enough to think that everything would improve if i studied the MA, i couldn't have been more wrong. It has been the single most expensive, time wasting experience of my entire life, and i am not asking but begging people not to bother coming to this school. I was under the impression that MA students carried a lot more weight, could get access to equipment much more easily, etc, etc. My experience is the absolute opposite. I have had a harder time on the MA than i did on the BA, and i am paying thousands of pounds for that experience. It is absolute hell here and i came extremely close to quitting, but only stayed due to my parents who wanted me to see it through. How dare this place even call itself a film school. Film schools are suppose to encourage students to go out and make film, they support, they give technical advice, they provide an atmosphere where creativity sprouts form and evolves. This place does not. It has destroyed my passion in filmmaking and i have no idea what i will do when i am out of this place. It has taken everything from me and given me nothing back. It it burn't down tomorrow it would be the happiest day of my life. To be fair, there are people here who have had a great experience, so it does work for some people, but you will have to find yourself to be one of the tutors favourites in order to get anything positive out of this place, usually if your specialism is director, and if you are a foreign student who pays a lot more for tuition you may find yourself in a favourable position, if not it will be hell for you. Technical support is non-existant in this place, and you'll probably wish you never asked for any when someone turns up with an attitude you couldn't knock down with a sledge hammer. Most tutors are employed on a part-time basis so getting hold of them is often a nightmare. In-fighting and squabbling between tutors, the admin office and the stores/equipment staff is also rife. The equipment here is actually pretty good. Good luck getting your hands on any of it! Great editing facilities are here as well. My specialism is editing. I have not been given even 1 single lesson or workshop in editing in over two years. Thats the MA for you. Do yourselves the biggest favour of your life, and dont come anywhere near this place.

Michael Former Student, 07-Jun-2007
I also spent one at the university and i pretty much regret it, the university has good infrastructure and equipments however as in some universities they have one or two ego grabbing lecturers. As a result, they let their ego get in the way of good quality teachings that the school can deliver. Would not even recommend this university to my arch and most hated enemy!!!

Steven Wyatt Current Student, 02-Mar-2007
The time I've had here at the film school is a mixed one, regardless of what you may or may not have heard about its history. One can say with confidence that I had the opportunity to meet some very supportive and encouraging tutors as well as students whom carry with them the enthusiams of filmmaking and have made up for some of the short comings of the BA course. Moreover my 3 years on this course have really opened up my eyes to the production processes, skills and techniques that need to be utilised to promote quality film practice. Pior to this I had little knowledge pertaining to film production. Kudos to tutors Jim Hemingway & Nick Wright.

Anon Former Student, 12-Jun-2006
I spent one year as a producer and found it almost impossible to get things done due to incessant arguing, backbiting and one upmanship from the faculty members. They were very unprofessional and this made an already challenging course incredibly draining. It impacted on the entire atmosphere of the course because they played students off against each other and I found certain tutors very unsupportive and unreasonable. The lack of support for students was terrible, and favouritism for certain productions and people was rife, causing further upset amongst students. The workloads were incredibly heavy, because they did not fully recruit enough people to make up the teams and I was often producing 2 demanding films simultaneously without the necessary support from staff. Producers were supposed to be in charge of productions but were regularly undermined by staff which was less than motivating. Many international students awarded places found communicating in english difficult and some didn't have the required level of english to perform well and communicate abstract ideas to their team or actors, this was frustrating for everyone involved. General discontentment was high amongst BA and MA students then although I hear the new facilities are great. It taught me a few valuable lessons on how to survive in the world of TV and Film but your money will be far better spent elsewhere. NB Tutor Ghassan Abdallah was incredibly supportive and an asset to the film school faculty.

Bob Current Student, 10-May-2005
Has the ability to be great, but falls short with a lack of organisation and poor teaching. However, the new building is excellent.

John Alcroft Former Student, 09-Jan-2005
I've spent 1 year doing the MA Film & Moving Image Production at LMU. The course is really poor. It has nothing to do with a proper postgraduate film course. Moreover, teachers do not offer any academic or practical support because most of them are part-time employed, so they are not there.

Hanna Current Student, 21-Nov-2003
Very good for getting a first degree in film. Emphasis on work experience and career planning.