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Producing Film and Television

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Producing Film and Television

MA
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Key information

Duration: 1 year full time

Institution code: R72

Campus: Central London

UK fees*: £11,600

International/EU fees**: £23,700

The course

Producing Film and Television (MA)

From start to finish producers are the driving force behind the film and television industry. They generate new projects and ideas, secure finance, manage production and strategically market the result. The producer’s role has been transformed by the advent of globalisation, digital technology and the multi-channel environment. Now more than ever, the entertainment industries need creative leadership.

Our Masters offers aspiring producers the opportunity to acquire the creative and entrepreneurial skills required to enter the rapidly changing universe of film and television. You will learn to create script ideas, work with writers and directors, manage a production thoroughly and market across platforms, we'll teach you how to navigate the financial and legal aspects of the industry, too.

The course is taught from our creative hub at our London location in Senate House, Russell Square. Our proximity to the media industry means that we can draw upon professionals for outstanding master classes, industry panels and careers events. Students are encouraged to attend The London Film Festival, MIPCOM, Berlin, and Cannes international festivals. You will also try out interning at a production company or work on the crew of a professional production.

You will be taught by top production talent and practice what you learn by making Films and TV programmes. Linda James leads the course teaching team, working alongside Sheryl Crown and David Thompson. Between them, they have produced BAFTA award-winning dramas, and have been nominated for and won BAFTAs, Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys in their own right. You can find out more about the teaching staff and their expertise in the 'Teaching and Assessment' section below.

The course is also supported by many visiting industry professionals that have included: Charlie Pattinson, Gaby Tana, William Nicholson, William Boyd, Cameron McCracken, Tracey Scoffield and many others. (For further information, see 'Teaching and Assessment below').

Through master classes, industry internships and alumni partnerships, students are provided with opportunities to network with international talent and expertise, as well as building links with current Royal Holloway students and academic partners.

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Core Modules

  • In this module you will develop an understanding of the role of the producer as the driving force in creating, managing and selling film and television products. You will look at how the independent sector works, and consider how to programme and pitch ideas. You will also examine approaches to working with creative talent.

  • In this module you will develop an understanding of how to write an industry standard script report. You will learn how to analyse both film and TV scripts, and produce reports that constructively engage writers with the process of script development. You will consider the analysis of structure, character, dialogue, genre, and how to transfer feedback verbally.

  • In this module you will develop an understanding of how to create and pitch ideas to film, television and new media executives and financiers. You will learn the basics of script development, set procedure, scheduling, camera work, audio equipment and post-production. You will consider how to develop and identify viable fiction projects and lead and manage the production of a short video, . You will work with creative talent, writers, directors, casting agents, and key craft team members, and examine how to finance and market your short film. You will put together a viable presentation package and pitch to a panel of industry professionals.

  • In this module you will develop an understanding of the global film and TV business. You will learn how to plan and conceptualise the creation and management of a sustainable media enterprise. You will examine the critical issues affecting the success or failure of film and television businesses, considering the role of financial planning in the life-cycle of visual media projects. You will also explore the wider context of finance in the development, marketing and distribution of film and television to investors, partners and government bodies, with a focus on the challenges faced by business startups.

  • In this module you will develop an understanding of basic production accounting and the line management skills needed for film, TV and transmedia production. You will learn how to set-up a production company and budget, schedule, manage cash flow, and supervise a quality fiction production. You will consider how to manage 'below-the-line' deals on a drama production and identify financial issues and their implications for day-to-day management. You will also examine how to manage a film crew and supervise the daily operations of a production team, and manage production costs, equipment and facility deals.

  • In this module you will develop an understanding of media marketing and promotion in film and television distribution and exhibition. You will look at social media and new trends in the global marketing of films and media projects, including cross-platform marketing. You will consider the fundamental principles of media law, including contract and intellectual property law, and examine issues of content and regulation.

  • You will produce a 10,000 word dissertation or media project on a topic of your choice. You will carry out an investigation that has a clearly defined aim of study and arrive at a carefully argued set of conclusions derived from original research covering print, internet and first-hand interview sources.

  • This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.

     

Optional Modules

  • All modules are core

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including essays, script reports, treatments, pitching exercises, studio exercises, production papers, practical film-making, business reports and presentations.

Mike Dormer - Course Leader and teaches 'Producing Workshop'

Mike is a BAFTA award-winning drama producer and BBC Drama Commissioning Executive who brings more than 30 years’ experience in the UK Film and Television industry to teaching 'Producing Workshop'.

Sheryl Crown - teaches 'Role of the Producer' and 'Story Development'

Sheryl is a well-established Producer, with considerable experience of making high quality Films and Television, raising finance and managing public and private funds.  With a respected track record of collaboration with new and established writers, directors and producers, plus a forensic passion for script and story development, she is an Oscar and BAFTA winner and nominee, independent producer and executive producer.

David Thompson - teaches 'International Media Business'

As a producer and executive producer David has been responsible for over 150 film and TV projects, winning numerous awards including BAFTAS, Golden Globes and Emmys. He was previously head of the feature film department of the BBC and now runs his own production company Origin Pictures.

David Thompson’s credits include Billy Elliot, Revolutionary Road, An Education,My Summer of Love , Fish Tank, Mandela and Catherine the Great. He has worked with numerous directors including Paul Greengrass, Danny Boyle, Stephen Frears, Woody Allen, Sam Mendes, Stephen Daldry David Kronenberg , Andrea Arnold, Jane Campion and Pawl Pawlikowski. The projects he has helped to develop have attracted major stars - Leonardo de Caprio, Mel Gibson, Scarlett Johannsen, Helen Mirren, Colin Firth, Naomie Harris, Daniel Craig, Judy Dench, Kate Winslet, Idris Elba, and Natalie Portman. He has worked with many award winning writers like William Nicholson, Steven Knight, Lee Hall, Peter Morgan and Armando Ianucci. He has worked with most of the major U.S and international film studios and tv companies, including Disney, HBO, SKY, Warner Bros, Amazon and Sony. He has made backing new talent a particular focus of his work which is why he is now so committed to teaching part time at Royal Holloway.

Visiting industry speaker credits:

(Please note, speaker list is indicative and may be subject to change)

Charlie Pattinson is a Golden Globe and Bafta-winning television producer. As CEO of TV company New Pictures he has produced programmes for the BBC, Channel 4, Netflix and Starz; prior to this he set up Company Pictures with George Faber in 1998, and grew it into one of the UK’s largest TV and film production companies.

Gaby Tana is an Academy Award-nominated film producer. Under her banner Magnolia Mae Films, she’s produced features which have received international acclaim, such as Philomena and The Dig. Gaby’s next film is a biopic about Katherine Parr, directed by Karim Ainouz and starring Michelle Williams.

William Nicholson is an Oscar and Bafta-winning screenwriter and playwright. His film credits include Shadowlands, Gladiator, Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables, and most recently Hope Gap, which was also his directorial debut. Bill is also a novelist and his popular children’s book trilogy Wind on Fire has sold millions of copies around the world.

William Boyd, award winning novelist and screenwriter. His work for the screen includes Scoop, Chaplin, The Trench, Sword of Honour, Any Human Heart, Restless & Spy City.

Cameron McCracken is the Managing Director of Pathé UK. He has co-produced or executive produced over 20 films including The Duke, Judy, Florence Foster Jenkins, Pride, The Queen, Suffragette and The Iron Lady. Prior to Pathé, Cameron was Director of Business Affairs at British Screen from 1997 to 2000.

Tracey Scoffield is an Emmy and Gold Globe-winning drama and film producer. Her company Turbine Studios most recently produced Steve McQueen’s TV anthology series Small Axe for the BBC and Amazon Prime. Prior to this she was an executive producer at BBC Films, where her credits included Dirty Pretty Things and The Gathering Storm.

2:2

UK Honours degree or equivalent.

As part of the application candidates will also be required to submit a personal statement and a 500 word essay titled: "What film or television project would you like to produce if money was no object?". You will need to include details such as demand in the market, the audience it is aimed at, the potential budget and how you would go about getting it made.

Applicants will be interviewed.

International & EU requirements

English language requirements

MA Producing Film and Television requires:

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 6.5. Speaking 6.5 No other subscore lower than 5.5.
  • Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. Speaking 61. No other subscore lower than 51.
  • Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
  • TOEFL iBT: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 22 Writing 22.
  • Duolingo: 120 overall, 125 in literacy, conversation, and production. No subscore below 100. 

Our close links to the film and TV production industry make this a practical course – and one that gives you building blocks for your future.

While you're on the course, we'll encourage and guide you into work placements and internships.  Past students have secured placements with industry leading organisations including:

  • Disney studios
  • Heyday Films
  • West End Films
  • Paramount
  •  Universal
  • Channel 4
  • Company Pictures
  • Studio Canal
  • Lionsgate
  • Potboiler Productions
  • Sony Music
  • Warner Bros
  • Hanway Films
  • e-One Entertainment
  • Origin Pictures

Graduates from the Department of Media Arts have gone on to work in independent television and film production, for broadcasters like the BBC and ITV, for distributors, exhibitors, talent agencies and entertainment lawyers.

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £11,600

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £23,700

Other essential costs***: Software cost of approximately £200 plus additional film production costs

How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.

* and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2025/26. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. Be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration), and that this also means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. The annual increase for continuing students who start their degree in 2025/26 will be 5%.  For further information, see the  fees and funding , and terms and conditions.

** This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26. Find out more 

*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.

Department Media Arts
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