DATE: 20th March TIME: 4pm LOCATION: Studio A Central Film School are delighted to invite Alexis Watkins to speak to our student body about the importance of mental wellbeing and the keys to mental safeguarding for both yourself and other students. Alexis has professional experience in the following roles: - Mental Health Practitioner & Data Analyst for BWW Mind - Chair of Central & North West London (CNWL) NHS Mental Health Ambassador Group - Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the WïSH Centre - National Lived Experience Partner for NHS England She has filmed with the CNWL and was recently part of a team nominated at the Health Service Journal awards for Reducing Healthcare Inequalities for Children and Young People award. She has also been a guest-speaker at The Listening Place, a charity focused on helping those with suicidal thoughts. She will be joining us to specifically discuss topics of isolation, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. Even if you are fortunate enough not to be struggling with your mental health currently, it is always worth being aware of the signs and knowing how to help others, so please consider coming along to this event if you feel comfortable doing so.
DATE: 25th January TIME: 4pm LOCATION: Studio A Central Film School are delighted to invite Alexis Watkins to speak to our student body about the importance of mental wellbeing and the keys to mental safeguarding for both yourself and other students. Alexis has professional experience in the following roles: - Mental Health Practitioner & Data Analyst for BWW Mind - Chair of Central & North West London (CNWL) NHS Mental Health Ambassador Group - Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the WïSH Centre - National Lived Experience Partner for NHS England She has filmed with the CNWL and was recently part of a team nominated at the Health Service Journal awards for Reducing Healthcare Inequalities for Children and Young People award. She has also been a guest-speaker at The Listening Place, a charity focused on helping those with suicidal thoughts. She will be joining us to specifically discuss topics of isolation, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. Even if you are fortunate enough not to be struggling with your mental health currently, it is always worth being aware of the signs and knowing how to help others, so please consider coming along to this event if you feel comfortable doing so.
Learn the fundamentals of good violin playing in just 90 minutes! Duration: 90 minutes (10am to 11.30am) Day: Various Saturdays - see schedule Tutor: David Worswick Venue: Whitcomb Street Studio, WC2H 7DT Introduction Welcome to our Introductory Class, a 90 minute in-person class which covers the first principles of good violin playing in a fun, activity-focused way. Whether you're a first-time beginner or already have some knowledge of how to play, this class will give you clarity about the core skills you need to play the violin in time, in tune, and with a beautiful sound. Class Curriculum In this 90-minute class, you will explore foundational principles of good violin playing, including: Posture and the Body How to Hold the Violin How to Hold the Bow How to Make a Good Sound! Musical Fundamentals Playing with the Fingers Performing! Who is this course for? The ‘Fundamentals’ class is perfect for anyone who wants to get started in the best possible way with the violin. It’s also ideal if you’d like to try the violin for the first time, to see if it’s the right instrument for you. Because the class covers foundations principles that are applicable at every level of violin playing, it is also a great choice for people returning to the violin after some time away, or for violinists who already play, but who would like a quick ‘refresher’ course covering the fundamental principles of good bowing and tone production. You don't need any previous musical experience to take this course, and you don’t need to be able to read music notation, as the entire session is taught by ear. Why take this class? Personal Development - Connect with your creative side, and develop practice methods and performance techniques that will can be transferred to many other areas of your life! Meet Likeminded Learners - London String School learners come from all sorts of backgrounds and walks of life, Take Time for Yourself! In our busy, connected, city lives, there's rarely a time to stop and disconnect. Switch off to focus entirely on the violin, and 90 minutes later you'll emerge refreshed and energised by the power of music! Course Requirements You don’t need anything, or any previous experience, to take part in an Introductory ‘Fundamentals’ Violin Class! everything is taught by ear, so you don’t need to read music as there is no sheet music notation to to follow. We can also provide a violin and bow for you to use! Certification Upon successful completion of the class, you can request a record of achievement certifying that you have completed the Beginner Violin Class! Course Instructor David Worswick, the lead tutor of London String School, will guide you through this learning journey. David has years of experience both as a teacher and performer, and was previously a first violinist in the London Symphony Orchestra. He is a kind, caring teacher who brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to help you succeed. Course Reviews Here's what some of our past students have said about our courses: ”[You have] enabled me to relearn the violin! Over the last few years I’ve gone from playing open strings to grade 5, enjoying performing solos and a wide variety of group numbers along the way. With no auditions or minimum standard it really is open to all and a great supportive environment!” - Georgina “This violin school has the best teachers in the country!” - Domini Register for an Introductory ‘Fundamentals’ Violin Class today, or get in touch with us if you have any questions! Join hundreds of learners who have already benefited from this comprehensive and engaging course, and unlock your musical potential!
Date: Thursday 15th June Time: 4pm Location: Studio A - Landor Road Event Details: Tim Haines is a television producer and director, having worked on several highly-respected documentary and drama productions over a storied career. Tim will speak about the following topics as well as others at the event: Approaches to Documentary How a Documentary Gets Made The Purpose of a Documentary Modern Combinations of CGI & Live Action Throughout students will have the chance to ask questions about the topics being discussed, before wrapping up with a wider Q+A session at the end. A multiple Emmy and BAFTA winner, Tim has worked on many well known series, including: - Walking with Dinosaurs - Director & Producer - Primeval - Producer - The Loch - Producer - Surviving Earth (currently in production) - Producer This is a free event that all students are welcome to attend. Be sure to book tickets in advance though so that you don't miss out!
Date: Tuesday 12th December Time: 4pm Location: Studio A Noted documentarian Craig McCall will be joining us to show his documentary CAMERAMAN: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff and to discuss the career of the legendary cinematographer, whose work includes some of the most acclaimed British films of the time (The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, A Matter of Life and Death). Craig is a dedicated film historian, and this event is open to anyone interested in cinematography, film history or British cinema. Craig McCall’s documentary CAMERAMAN: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff premièred at Cannes and subsequently screened at over fifty film festivals and was sold worldwide. As an Executive Producer he has made other film related docs including Me & Me Dad on film director John Boorman which also premièred at Cannes, Natan on the pioneering French filmmaker Bernard Natan, Behind The Sword In The Stone on the making of ‘Excalibur’ and Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave A Damn. All his films have been made independently outside the broadcast system.
Join us in January to kick start your new year with improvisation. This fully interactive session, led by Charlotte Gaughan, will provide an introduction to improvisation, a toolkit of games and exercises for your own practise and a grounding in the key principles of yes-and, listening and spontaneity. It’s also a great opportunity to appease your inner child with over two hours of play. The session will cover: An introduction to improvisation Toolkit of improv games and exercises for facilitation and your own practise Underpinning principles of listening, yes-and and spontaneity Improvisation as tool to develop connection with other performers and an ability to go off script Creating improvised characters, stories, and worlds and where they can take you An opportunity to have fun and play No previous experience needed at all Date: Thursday 18 January Time: 6pm-8.30pm Venue: Studio A, Central Film School, 72 Landor Road, SW9 9HP Deadline: Please register your interest to attend by Friday 5 January 2024
Are you confident your organisation could cope if a bad news story went viral and you were besieged by the media? Would you be able to fend off a determined and aggressive journalist, take control and deliver your key messages? Our crisis communications courses show you how to cope when your organisation is under fire, and protect your good name. We can: Train your spokespeople to handle challenging interviews, pitting their wits against a hostile reporter Train your PR team to manage communications during an unfolding crisis Deliver a fast-paced crisis simulation where your team have to decide how to handle the press during an unfolding emergency Facilitate a crisis strategy workshop, where we work together to develop your crisis communications strategy All of our crisis communications courses are bespoke, so we will design each one to meet your specific needs. Areas we can cover include: How a crisis can escalate in seconds How journalists respond to bad news stories How to develop effective key messages & write holding statements How to manage your social media How to take control of an interview and get your message across How to handle press conferences and doorsteps Venue We deliver courses in the most appropriate format for your circumstances – whether face to face or online. Face to face courses are portable: they can be held in purpose-built studios, at your own offices or at an external venue. In the latter two cases, we create a mock studio for the practical exercises. Online courses give you flexibility and enable you to offer training to delegates from all over the world. We have run virtual courses for people from the Far East, South Asia, North America and Europe, as well as the UK.
Date: Thursday 25th May Time: 4pm Location: Studio A - Landor Road Event Details: Matt Jones is a British producer and screenwriter who has worked on several television networks across the UK. Beginning his career writing for Doctor Who Magazine in 1995, he got his big break when he became a screen writer for the Channel 4 series Queer as Folk. Matt will share his experience as a television screenwriter and producer, covering: Writing for Television What producers look for How to write a pitch How to pitch in a room Some of the projects Matt has worked on: Skins - producer Shameless - producer Doctor Who - writer The Split - writer This is a free event that all students are welcome to attend (but tickets are limited so be quick!)
Whether you have to chair a meeting, pitch a proposal or speak at a conference you need good communication and presentation skills. Addressing a group of people with assurance and confidence does not come naturally to everyone. Our presentation skills training courses will teach you how to conquer your fears and give a successful and memorable performance. We will tailor the training to your specific needs, from coaching before an important keynote or honing your pitch to improving your negotiation and influencing skills, or learning how to network effectively. A typical course can cover: Recognising the strengths of your own communication style Using the different elements of voice and body language effectively Conquering your nerves and use body language to your advantage Pitching presentations so they meet your audiences’ needs Structuring a presentation so the audience is engaged from start to finish Using visual aids Handling questions All our presentation skills training is bespoke, with options including one-to-one coaching, combined training and coaching programmes and group training courses. All these courses can be delivered virtually, as well as face to face. As many of the skills needed to give a good presentation are shared with media interviews, we frequently combine our presentation skills and media interview skills training. Venue We deliver courses in the most appropriate format for your circumstances – whether face to face or online. Face to face courses are portable: they can be held in purpose-built studios, at your own offices or at an external venue. In the latter two cases, we create a mock studio for the practical exercises. Online courses give you flexibility and enable you to offer training to delegates from all over the world. We have run virtual courses for people from the Far East, South Asia, North America and Europe, as well as the UK.
Date: Tuesday 30th May Time: 4pm Location: Studio A - Landor Road Come and celebrate another year of great filmmaking at CFS at our Summer Screening event. This is a great opportunity to see the exciting work produced by yourselves and other students on the big screen, whilst also meeting new and talented people you can work with in the future.Event Details: There's a real range of films to see, from insightful documentaries, to extraordinary flights of fantasy, to wonderful experimental storytelling. The best way to see these tales unfold is on the big screen!Be sure to book your tickets in advance so as not to miss out. We hope to see you there! Films showing include: - Red Flash- Beyond Your Wildest Dreams- The Geezer- Sparring All-Stars- Mantaro- Curves on Curbs- Merry-Go-Down- They Want to Be Like You- Two Wrongs This is a free event that all students are welcome to attend (please note this is an event for those who are 18+ years old). The deadline to book this event is 28th May