Eliška is a third-year student on our BA (Hons) Film & Television programme. Here she shares why she chose Cumbria, her plans for the future, and her top tips for future Film & TV students.
Why did you decide to study your course? What or who inspired you?
When I was applying to university, I wanted to be an actress, but getting into acting school is difficult in itself. But I love movies, and I thought if I can't act for someone else, I'll act in my own movies. So, I decided to try a Film and Television course. Cumbria was one of my top choices immediately because, at the time, I had been writing my EPQ project about the history of film production and had gotten in touch with Ed Cooper, one of the lecturers at Cumbria, as part of my research.
.jpg)
Here’s an official BTS photo of my 3rd year 2-minute production ‘Fate’ at Muncaster Castle, taken by a good friend of mine, Leah Penn, who is a 3rd year Photography student at the university.
Why did you choose the University of Cumbria?
I decided to come to the University of Cumbria because it was right on my doorstep and the overall vibe I got from it after my Offer Holder Day was very cosy and comfortable. Many people told me that if I want to study film, I should go to a big city, but I believe that if you're good at what you do and have a passion for it, you don't have to study in a metropolis to be taught well or to study well. And Cumbria proved that to me.
What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
This probably applies to everyone, no matter the course, but: motivation. You really have to be persistent and determined to make it to the end of the course because, after all, it is a university degree and it will be hard at times. There were definitely times where I thought I can't do this. But ultimately, that was just the product of overworking myself and losing my motivation. But every project comes to an end and seeing the final result is always rewarding, and that always gives me back the energy I need to push myself and work on new projects.
How have your tutors supported you during your studies?
When I started the course, I was a complete newbie, unlike everyone else in my class. But my tutors helped me with anything and everything. Ed, one of my lecturers, is really proud of the Backing the Blues project some of us have worked on and I can see why. He was also super supportive with the interview I was heavily involved with for the exhibition. He's always supportive in all the work I do, even though I like to challenge myself sometimes with my projects - like filming my graduation project at a castle.
How is university life beyond your studies?
Though I might be an extrovert, I'm not a party girl or someone who likes to go out just for the sake of it. Since I started university, I have made one or two close friends and we regularly go out for coffee. But there are other university-oriented activities outside of my essential studies. Last year I worked on the Backing the Blues Exhibition in Tullie House, and it's still ongoing, so I might be working on it again. It's quite amazing actually; I never thought I'd film and edit an interview that would be in a museum exhibition in only my second year at university.
What are your top tips for Film & TV students?
1. Give it time. That's the best advice I will give you. Time for bonds to form, time for your creativity to start flowing, time for yourself to find your niche, and time to take a deep dive to see what you love. Don't jump to conclusions, give it a chance, and if it's not for you, then you at least know you've given it a shot. Trust your first impression of the course and university you pick.
2. Buy a hard drive. At least 1TB.
3. YouTube is your best friend. Period. There will be tiny things you missed in lectures or you simply don't remember. Don't stress about it, don’t panic, it happens, ask around or simply go on YouTube - especially if you're struggling with editing. You can find tutorials for just about anything on there and though lecturers are always on campus, sometimes you just won’t have time to chase them down when you’re editing.
4. Your peers are your hidden weapons: need official stills and behind the scenes photography? Go to photography. Specific costume needs or props? Fine Art. Need a title sequence or logo? Graphic Design. (I tried and tested all of these, and I have to say, 10/10!)
5. You'll have things you love to do and things you'll hate to do. I got thrown in the deep end and produced about 90% of all productions for my class (literally no exaggeration). I’ve never done it before, it wasn't my favourite, but I was, and still am, good at it, and knowing how to produce well is always good, because no one ever wants to do the paperwork. So, if you can, you'll be a fan favourite. I hated doing sound, only did it once for an actual project then stayed away from it. But, I did light workshops on open days, I filled in for runners when someone's crew was low on members, I'm going to be Cinematographer on my friend's graduating film, and I directed and produced all of my own work. I know how editing works and although it's not my turf, I did it and supervised it. No one's perfect but you've got to be versatile.
6. Lastly, voice record. There will be times you might have to miss an important lecture; it’s happened to me, and my best advice is to ask a friend to voice record the session and send it over to you. I’ve done it and it really helps to make sure you’re keeping in the loop with everything. Likewise, if you’re taking notes in class and don’t want to miss anything, voice record it and listen to it again while taking notes after the lecture.
What advice do you have for those applying to university?
The best thing you can do is consult your teachers if you’re unsure. They know what your strong points are and if you can’t decide, talking to them will definitely help - I for one spent a lot of time talking to my drama teacher and head of 6th form (who was also my French teacher) about what my best options are. I wish you all the best, and hope the university can welcome you to one of our campuses soon!
What are your plans for the future? And how is your course preparing you for your future career?
In second and third year, there are modules that heavily focus on what you want to do after graduation. Be prepared to do personal presentations on your future plans in both years: that includes having a professional CV/resume. These modules are extremely helpful, and I suggest paying full attention to them. I’m currently finishing one of those presentations myself actually, ready for submission in a few days.
As for my own future plans, I'm not sure whether I'll stay in the film industry, but that's simply because I have so many interests, the main one being languages. My dream city is Seoul and I definitely want to go. I'm like my mom, I have the wanderer's boots, can't stay in one place for too long. I've been studying Korean alongside university through the Sejong Institute for the past four years and I'm heavily looking at going to Seoul after I graduate. It might be to work with a production company, or it might be for something else, time will tell. I have a few options I can take, and my lecturers know about this too, needless to say the course team is very supportive. I also have my eye on Studio 7, a production group based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, which is much closer to home for me (since I'm from Slovakia). They focus on music videos and live events like concerts, which is right up my alley.
What’s the highlight of your time at university?
I'm an incredibly indecisive person, but the highlight of my university experience is probably the people I’ve met. 1) because I met amazing friends and 2) because I built so many connections that I know will help me in the future. Being a creative and an artist will always be difficult and having a creative network of people around you is always important, but you don't need connections with high end photographers or designers when one of your friends is a photographer and another is a graphic designer who just opened their own graphic design studio.