Film and Television Studies

alleystar

Hi,
I was just wondering about the Film and Television Studies course in gmit. Is it any good? Are the languages a big part of the course? Is it hard to get into due to the InterviewPortfolio assessment part?

I would be grateful for any information on the course.

Thanks

jitter

alleystar wrote: »

Hi,
I was just wondering about the Film and Television Studies course in gmit. Is it any good? Are the languages a big part of the course? Is it hard to get into due to the InterviewPortfolio assessment part?

I would be grateful for any information on the course.

Thanks

I've just finished 1st year Film & TV, I love it but a few people in the class are a bit disappointed with it. I did a PLC last year which was a lot more practical and in my opinion, more enjoyable, but I would still definately recommend the GMIT!!
Languages isnt a big deal, its pretty easy, the teachers do everything they can to make sure you pass.
For me personally, I found it kinda hard to get in, I didnt get in the first time I applied, but others said they got in really easily.

alleystar

jitter wrote: »

I've just finished 1st year Film & TV, I love it but a few people in the class are a bit disappointed with it. I did a PLC last year which was a lot more practical and in my opinion, more enjoyable, but I would still definately recommend the GMIT!!
Languages isnt a big deal, its pretty easy, the teachers do everything they can to make sure you pass.
For me personally, I found it kinda hard to get in, I didnt get in the first time I applied, but others said they got in really easily.

Cool. For your portfolio did you do a video, art or photography? What did you do for first year? Did you do editing and camera work? Were the end of year exams hard? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really interested in doing that course.

jitter

alleystar wrote: »

Cool. For your portfolio did you do a video, art or photography? What did you do for first year? Did you do editing and camera work? Were the end of year exams hard? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really interested in doing that course.

I had made an ad with my PLC class so I showed them that. Most people who got in seem to have made some sort of video. Be prepared for your interview, cos they asked some things I hadnt expected, and it didnt look good!!
We've done editing and camera work, the editing teacher is new and hasnt a clue what she's talking about. But hopefully there should be a different teacher next year!! We also did scriptwriting, production design, documentary/video, film, sound, and some theory about broadcasting and stuff.

We only had one end of year exam really, our language one, all the rest is continuous assessment. If you keep up to date with your work and make sure you come in all the time you'll be grand, you miss a lot if you miss a day and its easy to fall behind.
Ask any questions you want I dont mind! I had loads of questions when I was thinking of going and would have liked to ask someone!

alleystar

jitter wrote: »

I had made an ad with my PLC class so I showed them that. Most people who got in seem to have made some sort of video. Be prepared for your interview, cos they asked some things I hadnt expected, and it didnt look good!!
We've done editing and camera work, the editing teacher is new and hasnt a clue what she's talking about. But hopefully there should be a different teacher next year!! We also did scriptwriting, production design, documentary/video, film, sound, and some theory about broadcasting and stuff.

We only had one end of year exam really, our language one, all the rest is continuous assessment. If you keep up to date with your work and make sure you come in all the time you'll be grand, you miss a lot if you miss a day and its easy to fall behind.
Ask any questions you want I dont mind! I had loads of questions when I was thinking of going and would have liked to ask someone!

Thanks.

It sounds really good. What was the script writing like? Do you need a camcorder for the course?

I'm going into 3rd year in the corse and it's really quite poor. Pretty much the entire class are disappointed in what the course offers to such a degree that we had to call a meeting with all the lecturers and the head of the course to air our grievances. Issues include lecturers not qualified to teach the subjects they do, we only got to week 4 of a 14 week schedule in editing which is disgraceful. Script is also rather poor with more emphasis placed upon grammar than actual content and format.

It's not the worst course in the world but when compared to IADT, GMIT is years behind, in fact a recent article from a GMIT graduate who is about to hit the big time stated that when he graduated GMIT and looked at what was coming out of IADT he had to seriously step up his game.

alleystar

Jesus. I can't believe that. Is it just that course or are most of the courses in GMIT of a low standard? I've wanted to do that course for ages but hearing that I think I might go elsewhere.

I just looked up IADT there. It looks really good. They're opening up a National Film School in 2011.

The CAO points for that place are so high though! 919 including portfolio assesment points.

alleystar

alleystar wrote: »

Jesus. I can't believe that. Is it just that course or are most of the courses in GMIT of a low standard? I've wanted to do that course for ages but hearing that I think I might go elsewhere.

I just looked up IADT there. It looks really good. They're opening up a National Film School in 2011.

The CAO points for that place are so high though! 919 including portfolio assesment points.

I would seriously recommend that you try for IADT, remember that you need similar points for GMIT, think it's about 900 including the portfolio. I was offered a place in IADT but turned it down as it was only a few weeks after a very serious incident and I didnt feel like staying in Dublin. Biggest mistake of my life.

when I think back on the past year in GMIT I'm constantly reminded of just how poor it is, one day in production design we were given newspaper and some cellotape and told to build something.

Overview of some of the modules:

Editing: Pointless given that the lecturer isn't familiar with the software and spends more time restarting the mac when it freezes than teaching.

Script: Not as bad as editing but not much better, you'd be better off getting a programme such as Final Draft and learning how to format a script using it.

Production Design: A monumental waste of time in which you spend classes drawing corners, making castles out of newspaper and measuring a room.

Digital Media: One of the more interesting classes in which you are taught After Effects and Photoshop. THe lecturer knows what he's on about and is damn good at it though a little more in class learning would be appreciated.

Audio: Again a lecturer who knows what he's taking about and a very informative class. The theory does get rather boring but it's one of the few modules in which you come away with a feeling that you've learnt something.

Film Theory: So much potential to learn, unfortunately the class involves 2 or 3 students giving a presentation on a genre/film maker followed by the odd power point from the lecturer or a film.

Work Experience: A bit of a joke, some will get a proper placement, on a set such as Ros na Run but the vast majority of people will spend their time in galleries or cleaning out "stock" rooms in the college.

Photography: An interesting class though the computer based stuff is rather boring as an entire class can be about how to copy a picture to your computer. Important also to note that this module is only for 1st year.

Film: Far too much emphasis placed on experimental cinema and time spent in the classroom. You won't learn much but you do get some hands on experience with film cameras, shame then that the equipment is so out of date.

Documentary: The best module the college offers, a lecturer who knows what he's talking about and is passionate about it. Very hands on with you getting to play with camera, lights, etc from pretty much day one.

amiii1

Craig/Darko would be one of the more serious f'n'tv heads! While what he says is true, if you're not sure about where you want to go in media the course is a great stepping stone. We do actually learn some stuff, and I definitely agree with Craig's opinion on the video module.

For me personally I think photography is where I wanna go but I have an interest in film too. The photography module of this course is bloody useless but I didn't have any other problems with much of the other classes, although it's true the production design course is a little playschoolesque.

We do get a high drop-out rate in the course, and while I had my temptations to drop out due to the fact that I don't actually want to work on a film set anymore, I decided to stay, because I love going into college everyday and I suppose that's what's important at the end of the day! It's all about what you bring to the table too.

And if you go to IADT, they'll teach you how to stick your head 20 miles up your arse, or how to be Quentin Tarantino.

distraction

@Darko hahahhaha c u in a few weeks

@ alleystar don't let Darko put u off [tho i agree with alot of his points], the course is a great introduction to most aspects of Film and Tv madness. I concur with amiii1 the course will benefit u if ur willin to put the work in.

@amiii1 cant wait to get bak to skool, i miss the early day drinkin

DonnieScribbles

I graduated from the course two years ago and am surprised at some of the harsh criticisms here! I guess there must've been some changes with either the staff or the subjects. Overall, I really enjoyed it.

I'm especially surprised at the negative views of Script. It was one of my favourite subjects over the three years and some of the tutorials I had were invaluable in improving scripts I was working on. Again, I'm assuming there has been some changes within the staff.

I'd have to agree about editing though, it's always been all over the place with lecturers coming and going. It was a pity as editing was the main reason I wanted to do the course.

And yeah, Documentary is a solid module, you'd get a lot out of it if you're willing to work hard. I didn't take it in 3rd year though.

Also, I'm not completely sure, but as far as I know IADT receive a decent amount of funding from the college to finance their graduation pieces. It's only to be expected that their output is going to be of a higher quality than GMIT considering the funding for final films in GMIT is raised predominantly by the students themselves from fundraisers such as table quizzes, etc.

distraction

@donniescribbles different stokes different folks i guess :pac: