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My First Year at Central Film School
By Eric Chirica
Before applying to Central Film School, I decided to attend one of their open days to get a feel for it. I’d had some less-than-great experiences auditioning for other acting and filmmaking schools so I was a little nervous when I first arrived.
However, as soon as I got there I was pleasantly surprised to find a team of staff members who were incredibly inviting and supportive. They handed out snacks and drinks to make us feel welcome, encouraging everyone to mingle before the event even started.
Fast forward to today, and I am nearing the end of my first year at CFS – a completely different actor and person than when I started. Our course leader, Steve Livermore, is an amazing teacher and acting coach who has taught me so much! He has opened my eyes to a new way of approaching my art – which is the reason I came to university in the first place.
The activities offered here are really useful, and students are encouraged to participate in as many as possible – we even create our own student societies. This has helped create a real sense of community, leading to friendships and potential future working relationships.
The university is small, yes, but that creates an atmosphere where people really know each other more, and this means that you are far less likely to feel isolated. Plus the state-of-the-art facilities that the school has, means that we have access to technology such as Virtual Production, Motion Capture and industry standard cameras/equipment. This allows us as artists to dream about what could be possible and bring our ideas to life.
The student counselling service here has also been a huge help for me personally. It’s helped ease my anxiety about university life and has made me a much happier person overall.
The local area of Clapham is a great place to be! You have Clapham Common park and Brixton nearby, plus there’s easy access to supermarkets, restaurants, and pubs. What’s more the school’s partnerships even provide perks like cinema membership discounts.
Any filmmaker or actor who loves film, should put Central Film School at the top of their list. It is an absolute pleasure to be studying here and I’m looking forward to what year 2 brings!
