MA Screenwriting and Producing
1 year Full-Time, 2 year Part-Time, University of Westminster: London, UK
Details on our next short courses, pitching to the UK's leading production companies.
Enquiries: Steve May (Course Leader)
Email: mays@westminster.ac.uk
This MA builds on the highly successful BA in Film and TV Production that has produced whole generations of film professionals including (recently) Seamus McGarvey (DoP on "The Hours", "High Fidelity" etc.) and Neil Purvis (writer of the last few Bond movies).
The MA is uniquely designed to develop skills and experience in screenwriting, producing and script-editing.
Our priorities are to:
- Maximize the potential of our students
- Produce rounded professionals
- Help students get jobs
The emphasis of the course is script-development to high professional standards, working in partnership with the film industry.
We learn through:
- Workshops with writers and producers
- Industry seminars with Sales Agents, Distributors, Exhibitors, Film Finance
- Pitching verbally and on paper
- Analytical screenings
- Script-readings
- Scripting (from shorts to full-length features)
- Re-writing and more re-writing!
- Casting, shooting and editing several of your short scripts (working with the teams on the MA in Directing)
Industry Contacts
We develop work in small collaborative groups, pitch direct to production companies (including Working Title/Universal, Ealing Studios/Icon, Harbour Pictures/Miramax) and partnerships between writers and producers on major projects are actively encouraged.
Our teaching staff are all professional writers and producers in the film/TV industries. They include Chris Auty (exec producer of "Crash", "Stealing Beauty", "My Summer of Love"), Nick Goldsmith (producer of "Son of Rambow" and "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", Justin Trefgarne, until recently Head of Development at Working Title Films, and Mia Bays who won an Oscar in 2006 for producing "Six Shooter". more info here
We have an umbrella deal with the leading literary and media agency, Curtis Brown, to provide representation for writers on the course where both we, as tutors, and the agency have enthusiasm for a project.
We also have a wide industry network in the United States (on both coasts), with pitching/first look arrangements with over 50 companies including; HBO, Participant, Plan B (Brad Pitt's co.), Anonymous Content, Beacon Pictures and the leading agency Gersh.
In addition we have close connections, including some reciprocal training deals, with the leading Masters Courses at UCLA and USC in LA, and Columbia and Tisch NYU in New York.
Visiting Lecturers and Mentors
Tim Bevan(Co-Chairman of Working Title Pictures 70 films, 4 Oscars, 20-odd Baftas, over 2.5 billion dollars gross of business) see video interview Barnaby Thompson(Producer of "Wayne's World", "Ideal Husband" with Cate Blanchette, and "Valiant", with Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais etc.). Barnaby is owner of Ealing Studios/Fragile Films and a powerful development partner with Icon in Europe. Bruce Robinson(Oscar-nominated writer for "The Killing Fields" and writer/director of the cult classic "Withnail and I") see video interview (strong language) William Nicholson(Oscar-nominated writer for "Gladiator" and "Shadowlands") see video interview Peter Fudakowski(Oscar winning producer this year for "Tsotsi") |
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David Parfitt
(Oscar winning producer for "Shakespeare in Love")
Hossein Amini
(Oscar-nominated writer; "The Wings of a Dove", also worked with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, John Madden)
Oliver Parker
(Director, "Othello" with Laurence Fishburne, "An Ideal Husband")
Frank Cottrell Boyce
(Writer; "24 Hour Party People", "Code 46", "Millions")
Peter Ettedgui
(Writer/Producer: "Onegin" with Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler, "Kinky Boots")
Sarah Radclyffe
(Producer; "A World Apart", "Ratcatcher")
Nick Marston
(Agent; record-breaking deals on "The Horse Whisperer", "Jonathon Strange")
Jane Frazer
(Producer; "Notting Hill", "Elizabeth", "The Big Lebowski")
Meera Syal
(Actress/Writer; "Bhaji On the Beach", "Anita and Me")
Maria Djurkovic
(Production Designer on Woody Allen's "Scoop", "Vanity Fair", "Sylvia", "The Hours", "Billy Elliot")
This should give you an idea of the sort of connections we are making and the industry standards that we are setting for students. more industry info here
We are looking for people with talent and with commitment. If you have these... Apply.
Steve May
Course Leader, MA Screenwriting and Producing for Film & Television
University of Westminster, London W1
Email: mays@wmin.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)207 911 5000 x4293
We would like you to complete two short exercises as part of your application.
Go to Entry Requirements before you submit your official application form.