Applications are now open for online courses in Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting, the industry standard software for the film industry. The courses are supported by ScreenSkills using National Lottery funds awarded by the British Film Institute (BFI) as part of the Future Film Skills programme. These courses, which usually cost the participant £200 to attend, are now provided free, thanks to the support of ScreenSkills.
Who are the courses for?
This software is typically used by 1st Assistant Directors, Line Producers and Production Managers, and often also by 2nd Assistant Directors, Production Co-ordinators and Producers. Professionals based in the UK already working in these roles or those who intend to step up to these grades are encouraged to apply.
Both courses are available at either Beginner or Intermediate/Advanced level. The Beginner courses are suitable for new entrants and professionals with up to two years’ experience in the industry, with no previous experience of the software. The Intermediate/Advanced courses are intended for those with three or more years’ industry experience, who already have a working knowledge of the software.
What do the courses cover?
Movie Magic Scheduling
- Introduction to Scheduling
- Marking-up a Script
- Breakdown Sheets: Element Manager and Category Manager
- Inputting Information
- Strip Board: Sorting, Daybreaks, Titles and Boneyard
- Calendar Manager
- Scheduling Procedures
- Reporting (Day-out-of-days)
- Exporting/Printing
Movie Magic Budgeting
- Overview of EP Movie Magic Budgeting
- Introduction to Budgeting
- Setting-up your Budgeting format
- Basic Controls and Navigation
- Top Sheet, Account Level and Detail Level
- Exercise in Globals, Groups and Fringes
- Currencies
- Budgeting Principles and Practices
- Reporting/Printing
How is the training delivered?
The training is delivered online via the Zoom platform. Participants will need a PC or Mac with stable internet connection. Prior to the course, participants at Beginner level will be sent a link to download the Movie Magic software and will be granted a temporary licence for the duration of the course. Those attending the Intermediate/Advanced course will need to have already purchased the software and have access to it during the course.
Zoom can be accessed through a web browser or downloaded to your device. If you would like to attend the course, but have limited access to the required equipment, please email us for details of access support.
When are the courses?
Each course lasts one day, and participants have a choice of two different dates to attend. Participants are welcome to apply for both Scheduling and Budgeting courses if they require training in both packages.
Scheduling
Tuesday 9th June
Tuesday 16th June
Budgeting
Wednesday 10th June
Wednesday 17th June
Please note that both Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced courses are delivered on the same day, and so participants must choose the level they wish to attend prior to the course, according to their experience.
Who are the course tutors?
The course tutors are Dathyl Evans and Dewi Griffiths.
Dathyl Evans has worked in television for twenty-five years. Her background is in Production as a Co-ordinator, working on various drama series for BBC and S4C where her credits include prime time network series such as Casualty and Dr Who. Dathyl has been a Production Manager since 2004, working primarily in television Drama but also across a wide range of other genres including Film, ground-breaking Observational Documentaries, traditional Documentaries and various Light Entertainment programmes. Her Production Manager credits include the ever popular ‘One Born Every Minute’ for Channel 4; a film adaptation of ‘Under Milk Wood’ starring Rhys Ifans and Charlotte Church; ‘Denmark’ starring Ralph Spall set in Denmark and Wales and the documentary series ‘Deserts’ a co-production with National Geographic, France Télévisions and Cardiff-based Green Bay, filmed in some of the toughest deserts around the world.
Dewi Griffiths entered the film industry in the mid 1980s having graduated from the then Polytechnic of Wales (now USW). Initially an award-winning film editor, he moved into the Production Department on seminal 1980s S4C, BBC and HTV drama projects. He rose through the ranks of Runner, Location Manager, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Assistant Director, working on high end feature film and TV drama. These productions took place all over the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. He ran large complex drama series for Sky, Channel 4 and ITV before producing his own films through his company Garland Stone Productions. Dewi then ran the MA in Film Producing at the University of Glamorgan before being headhunted by the head of the University of Southern California Film School, and former head of the American Film Institute. Dewi headed up Producing and was Head of Production at their satellite campus, The Red Sea Institute for Cinematic Arts in Jordan, overseeing over 500 films, many of which were internationally award-winning projects. Dewi returned to USW in 2016 to run the MA in Film Producing. He continues to develop film projects, write novels and work in the British Film training industry.
How much does it cost?
It is free to attend this course, thanks to the support of ScreenSkills using National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI as part of the Future Film Skills programme.
How do I apply for the course?
To apply, send a CV and a brief email detailing why this training would be suitable for you to help@sgilcymru.com. Please indicate either Beginner or Intermediate/Advanced level and the date(s) you wish to attend.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 3rd June 2020. Places on each course are limited, so we encourage applications as early as possible. If you would like the course delivered through the medium of Welsh, please notify us in your application email.
About ScreenSkills
ScreenSkills is the industry-led skills body for the UK’s screen-based creative industries – animation, film, games, television including children’s and high-end, VFX and immersive technology. We work across the whole of the country to build an inclusive workforce with the skills needed for continued success, now and in the future. www.screenskills.com