PRODUCER TRAINING: Lights, Camera, Action ... and Megabucks??

One university hopes it can bring a little bit of Hollywood's business to the UK by equipping students for the producer's chair. Cass business school, part of City University, anticipates good box office for its new MSc and MBA in film business. Released this autumn by the Cass Film Business Academy, the two qualifications are the first of their kind anywhere in the world, and applications are high.

"What I've seen this weekend is spot-on" - Martin Carr, Formosa Films

The one-year full-time MSc will appeal to recent graduates wanting to break into film, new media and distribution, while the MBA is the post-experience heavyweight for those with three or more years' management experience in the film industry who want to move up to senior roles in multinational companies. The MBA is a two-year executive programme taught at weekends and short residential courses, enabling working professionals to combine study with career. Cass expects each postgraduate course to run with 20 to 24 students.

"Production, distribution, exhibition and post-production all require a high level of business training. Incredibly, there was no one providing that training at all."  Kate O'Connor - Executive Director, Skillset

It will also offer short courses - something that will appeal to the many small production companies that comprise the London film industry. Last week, the Film Business Academy's inaugural short course attracted four London independent film-makers. Martin Carr of Bermondsey-based Formosa Films was looking for ways of raising finance for his latest film, Clubbed, a movie based on the life and times of Bafta award winning writer Geoff Thompson. "I'm looking for a way of topping up specific skills in areas like marketing or raising finance. What I've seen this week is spot-on," says Carr.

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