It’s been a weird year for everyone – no matter your field, everyone has had to adapt to a new way of working in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. For those attending the National Film and Television School, aka NFTS, lockdown didn’t stop them learning from the best in the business – and now you can too. Throughout the pandemic, NFTS offered its students Masterclass video calls with some of the biggest names in the British film industry, Hollywood, and beyond, offering valuable advice, tips, and insights into all aspects of the filmmaking process, from script to screen. The very best bits have been compiled into the NFTS Masterclass Of Masterclasses, which you can watch now below – over 90 minutes of lessons learned from experience.
It’s a veritable feast – there’s Edgar Wright on paying off gags, Sam Mendes on the value of rehearsing, the brilliant Elisabeth Moss on creating visual style, Spike Jonze on cinematography, Christopher McQuarrie getting technical on lenses, Judd Apatow on motivation, Danny Boyle on collaboration, Krysty Wilson-Cairns on listening to notes, Noel Clarke on the importance of continually learning, Marielle Heller on pre-shooting prep, Malorie Blackman on the importance of representation… the list goes on.
Elsewhere you’ll find the likes of Sally Wainwright, Billie Piper, Ricky Gervais, Sandy Powell, Tommy Gormley, Nathaniel Price, Stephen Fry, Stuart Biddlecombe, James Mangold, Lenny Abrahamson, Suzie Lavelle, Eliza Hittman, Eric Roth, Lone Scherfig, Paul Feig, Sarah Gavron, Ben Wheatley, Hazel Bailie, George Amponsah, Philippa Lowthorpe, Ûna Ní Dhonghaíle – and Corin Hardy, showing off his movie monster collection.
“Lockdown was very challenging but one thing that kept us all going were the amazing Masterclasses,” says NFTS Director Jon Wardle. “I’m really pleased to share this incredibly special montage with the wider world and once again, I’d like to thank everyone who helped us out through a very difficult period, we are forever grateful.” Watch the full film above, and head this way for more info about the Masterclasses.