As a Film and Television student, you’ll experience life on a working set at The Bottle Yard Studios, a bustling hub for film and television production in Bristol. You’ll learn to bring creative visions to life while gaining a deep understanding of industry standards. Through a variety of hands-on projects, you’ll rotate through multiple crew roles, learn to direct actors and crew, engage with real clients and work in a professional studio environment.
Build the expertise, confidence and network to get your foot in the door of film and television. You’ll work with industry-standard equipment to capture and edit professional-quality videos, leaving with a standout two-minute showreel that highlights your talent. Plus, with a strong focus on marketing and personal branding, you’ll be ready to distinguish yourself as a young creative.
What you’ll learn
Course Breakdown
As a Film and Television student you will learn a range of media production skills through project based learning—from advertising, short film production and sound design, to live broadcast, animation, music videos and documentary. By the time you leave this course you’ll feel confident to step into any media role, especially those in the film and television industry.
Equipment
Dedicated studio space
Adobe Creative Cloud
Mirrorless Sony cameras
Canon and Sony cinema cameras
Grip equipment, tripods, dollys, gimbal, stedicam
Portable LED and studio lighting
Studio Fee
The £150 Studio Fee is a one-off payment that covers both years of the course and covers extra costs that help to enrich the student programme, such as software licenses, online services, maintenance and use of equipment and to fund or subsidise additional trips and opportunities. In addition, it also includes an external hard drive, hard drive case, personal SD card for storage of captured film and photography, a Boomsatsuma ‘crew’ t-shirt, and full Adobe Creative Cloud license.
Year 1
Advertising
Build strong foundations in cinematography, editing, professional communication and creative development in order to work with a real client to produce a package of videos to promote a product/service.
Recreating Movie Scenes
Develop cinematography skills, directing and blocking by working as a team to accurately reproduce a short scene from existing media of your choice.Â
Natural History
Build a strong foundation in factual storytelling by learning how to shape information into engaging narratives. You’ll explore documentary techniques while creating short natural history films or social media content.
Experimental Film
Learn the fundamentals of experimental filmmaking by exploring non-traditional approaches to narrative, form, and visual storytelling. Through hands-on workshops, you’ll experiment with visual language, sound, and editing while developing a personal and exploratory approach to film.
Short films
Develop collaborative filmmaking skills by pitching, planning, and producing scripted narrative short films in specific genres. This unit brings together your learning for the year through writing, cinematography, makeup, visual effects and editing. You’ll bring creative visions to life while building practical experience in all aspects of narrative film production.
Year 2
Graphic Design
Build a foundation in digital design by exploring how colour, text, and composition work together. You’ll apply these skills to create promotional posters for your own short film.
Animation
Explore animation techniques by working with both digital and physical tools. You’ll experiment with styles and processes while creating your own animated short film.
Sound Design
Build practical skills in creating and manipulating sound for film and television. You’ll record and edit custom foley, design soundscapes, and produce soundtracks to create mood and atmosphere
Documentary
Develop your factual storytelling skills by individually planning, pitching, and producing a short portrait documentary focused on an interesting aspect of someone’s life.
Music videos
Develop skills in directing, cinematography, lighting, and editing by collaborating with a local band and studio manager to produce a video for an upcoming release. You’ll also build expertise in directing performances and communicating creative ideas effectively with clients.
Cinematography
Develop a deeper understanding of visual storytelling through the use of light, colour, camera movement, framing and blocking of scenes. This will culminate into the planning and shooting of a film based from an existing script using professional actors.
Broadcast TV
Work collaboratively to plan, rehearse, and produce a live television show, such as a magazine or game show. You’ll explore roles and responsibilities, develop skills in rehearsing and blocking and create engaging concepts, scripts, and performances.
Student Work
See the bold, original projects our students are creating. From day one, they bring fresh ideas to life across film, photography, game design and digital media. From concept to final cut, experience the talent and creativity at the heart of Boomsatsuma.
Hear from the people living it – what it is like, how it feels and why it matters
“Studying Film and Television at Boomsatsuma gave me invaluable hands-on experience and industry insight, helping me build practical skills and confidence. Thanks to Simon and Scott for their support and connecting me with Films at 59—an incredible opportunity!”
“I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Boomsatsuma—it gave me strong foundations, industry-relevant skills, and a portfolio I still use today. The supportive environment truly set me up for success in and out of university.”
what makes us different
Why Study Film and Television at Boomsatsuma?
Working Film Studio
Get an insight into the real workings of a professional studio and gain insider access to productions
Collaborate with Clients
Create work that matters for real world clients
Learn from Industry Professionals
Learn from teachers who have industry experience and are active in their creative sectors
Where Are We?
The Bottle Yard Studios
The Bottle Yard Studios, Whitchurch Ln, Bristol, BS14 0BH
Where can this course take you?
This exciting course can lead to careers in film, TV and digital media, or to higher education, like the Bristol Film School at Boomsatsuma. Along the way, you’ll build transferable skills in storytelling, collaboration, critical thinking, and project management, all valuable across the creative industries and beyond.
How is this course connected to industry?
On-Set Experience
Students have worked as supporting actors on the set of The Outlaws, gaining a behind-the-scenes view of a professional TV production and the chance to work alongside actors such as Stephen Merchant and Eleanor Tomlinson.
Guest Speakers
We regularly invite industry professionals to share their insights. Wildlife camera operator Gavin Thurston, known for his work on natural history documentaries around the world, spoke to students about his experiences filming in remote and challenging environments.
Professional Feedback
Make-Up Designer Marcus Whitney, visited to talk about his work in the industry and offer feedback on students’ own special effects makeup, including detailed critiques of their wound and prosthetic FX.
Don’t miss this opportunity – come and see for yourself
Our Open Days are a fantastic chance to meet your tutors, your fellow students and see exactly what life will be like at Boomsatsuma.
All courses provide you with a Level 3 Extended Diploma worth up to 168 points. When you’ve completed the course, you’ll be awarded an overall grade of Distinction*, Distinction, Merit or Pass.
There are no exams for these courses. Instead you’ll be continually assessed through coursework.
You’ll need to be on track for at least five GCSE grades 4-9, two of which must be Maths and English. Alternatively you could be working towards a BTEC Level 2 Diploma and on track for a Merit or Distinction. We don’t offer level 2 courses but can recommend courses that you could do before studying at level 3 with us.
Absolutely! The Level 3 Extended Diploma award has equivalent UCAS points to A Levels, and the qualification is recognised by universities in the UK. Different courses have different requirements though, so we recommend that you check the entry requirements of the university course that you’re interested in.
Boomsatsuma College are responsible for over 500 learners in 10 centres and we have our own robust quality assurance procedures. We work in partnership with the Cabot Learning Foundation (CLF), one of the largest academy chains in the South West, who monitor our standards. Our students are enrolled as CLF students.
Boomsatsuma further education courses adhere to the policies maintained by Digitech Studio School (part of Cabot Learning Federation) and Patchway Community School (part of Olympus Academy Trust). You can find all policies here.
