David Handley: Television Production MA graduate
MA Television Production 2010-11
The insight into how the industry works has been one of the most valuable aspects of this course. It really does feel tailor-made for people who are looking to gain experience and knowledge of the TV industry. All the lecturers are either working in the industry or have just left it, so they can tell you exactly how it is and put you in touch with their contacts to help you find work. As they've all worked in different aspects of TV they can give you different perspectives and approaches.
One of the reasons I applied for the course at Falmouth, rather than one of the others looking at, was because it focuses on teaching you the culture of the TV production industry, current practices, advice on how you should sell yourself and helps you focus on the areas you're interested and the skills you need to succeed. It's not really until you have the knowledge of how the industry works that you can chose what path you want to take. I've got the confidence now to say that I want to make factual programmes, and I know what channels and companies are commissioning and making those programmes.
I'm currently working on a documentary called South West End. It follows St Ives based community theatre company Rough Coast as they prepare for their debut performance of The Canterbury Tales at Cornwall's famous Minack Theatre. I worked with them for a month, filming their rehearsals and spending a bit of personal time with them. They were a really good mix of characters.
After I finish the course my plan is to move to London and go and work for a reputable observational documentary company who specialise in creating one-off observational documentaries (as opposed to programmes like Wife Swap or Supernanny where you know how it's all going to play out chapter by chapter). I hope to work my way up to making my own documentaries, meeting lots of wonderful people and telling their stories. That's the plan anyway!
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