Student says action to a career in the film industry

Harvey Gardner has always dreamt of a career in the film industry and with the help of University of the West of Scotland’s MA Filmmaking programme he hopes to make this dream a reality.

The University’s MA Filmmaking is designed to support those who wish to work professionally in the film industry either in fiction, documentary or experimental filmmaking, including immersive virtual reality productions.

MA Filmmaking student, Harvey Gardner said: “I’d heard great things from some of the contacts I have in film industry about the filmmaking course at UWS, and how they’d heard about graduates doing well transitioning quickly into work in the industry. My main aspiration for years had been to make movies, and the course seemed to be a great starting point for that journey.

“The best thing about studying at UWS has been the opportunity to make films, plain and simple. The equipment and teaching the University provides has helped me build a style and start a career.

“My best memory so far of studying at UWS is probably all the experiences on set making films, as well as meeting great friends and making lifelong working relationships with talented people.

“Having been on this course has already helped me dramatically in my career, and I haven’t even finished the course yet! My short fiction film, SHED has played at the Glasgow Short film festival, as well as many others, and is now playing on the STV player. Much of the style that I tried to create in the film was inspired by things I watched within the course, as well as recommendations from lecturers. And key collaborations with people from my course and the broadcast course helped me make the film I wanted to make.

“My main career aspiration is to start making feature films, hopefully in the next five years. I think because of the networking that the MA has provided me with, as well as the opportunities to make interesting work it has given me, this dream is closer than ever. And when leaving university in August, I hope to go into a graduate level role in the industry, and having interned at various companies, which is encouraged by the course, this too is very achievable.”

For more information, or to apply for MA Filmmaking, click here.