Learn from Filmmaking Professionals

Our Tutors

Our academic team at Central Film School is made up of industry professionals, with a number of years and breadth of experience in filmmaking, acting, screenwriting and production.

You will learn from Filmmaking Professionals to gain the skills and knowledge required to build a successful career in the film and creative industries.

David Knight

Head of Curriculum

David oversees the Academic Programme at the Central Film School.  David brings together a broad spectrum of skills and expertise to his professional practice as an educator, director of photography and director.  He has shot sequences for the 2012 Olympic Games and installations at Tate Modern and on cinema, broadcast and online platforms in the UK, and internationally.  As a director, David has made over 60 commercials for brands including: 21st Century Fox, New Line Cinema, Disney, T Mobile, Virgin, KFC, TOMY and McDonalds. 

Sabina Sattar

Head of Production

Sabina is responsible for production and resourcing in the school both across the academic and operational provision.  Sabina was a Production Designer for 10 years working with all the major broadcasters.  She produced the feature “Summer Scars which was nominated for Best Fmm at th 2008 Baftas Cymru Awards.  She has also written, produced, directed and sold several award-winning short films.  Sabina is a vital link between the Central Film School and the Industry network. 

David Knight

Head of Curriculum

David oversees the Academic Programme at the Central Film School.  David brings together a broad spectrum of skills and expertise to his professional practice as an educator, director of photography and director.  He has shot sequences for the 2012 Olympic Games and installations at Tate Modern and on cinema, broadcast and online platforms in the UK, and internationally.  As a director, David has made over 60 commercials for brands including: 21st Century Fox, New Line Cinema, Disney, T Mobile, Virgin, KFC, TOMY and McDonalds. 

Sabina Sattar

Head of Production

Sabina is responsible for production and resourcing in the school both across the academic and operational provision.  Sabina was a Production Designer for 10 years working with all the major broadcasters.  She produced the feature “Summer Scars which was nominated for Best Film at the 2008 Baftas Cymru Awards.  She has also written, produced, directed and sold several award-winning short films.  Sabina is a vital link between the Central Film School and the Industry network. 

Gladys San Juan

BA Programme Leader

Gladys San Juan oversees the BA Programmes providing suort to students throughout their studies and filmmaking projects, and providing support to tutors. Gladys extensive filmmaking experienc include content-develpment work on film sets. She co-produced an international award winning fan film “The Hunt for Gollum”,and went on to work on films including Starwars Episode 7. She has recently made her directoral debut on the completed film “Elephant”.

Dr. Marc Coker

MA Programme Leader

Dr. Marc Coker oversees the the MA programmes. He is a Senior Lecturer, Producer and Cameraman with strong practical experience across Higher Education and commercial organisations. He has recently completed a Doctorate in Fine Art, focusing on the combined mediums of analogue and digital film. In his career, he has produced a total of twenty-three completed stand alone films.

Gladys San Juan

BA Programme Leader

Gladys San Juan oversees the BA Programmes, providing support to students throughout their studies and filmmaking projects.  Gladys extensive filmmaking experience includes content-development work on film sets. She co-produced an international award-winning fan film “The Hunt for Gollum”, and has worked on several films including ‘The Berberian Sound Studio’ and Star Wars episode 7. She has recently made her directorial debut on the completed film “Elephant”.

Dr. Marc Coker

MA Programme Leader

Dr. Marc Coker oversees the the MA programmes. He is a Senior Lecturer, Producer and Cameraman with strong practical experience across Higher Education and commercial organisations. He has recently completed a Doctorate in Fine Art, focusing on the combined mediums of analogue and digital film. In his career, he has produced a total of twenty-three completed stand alone films.

A BDFL MPTV

Donovan Synmoie

Donovan is a Senior Higher Education professional with proven skills in course leadership, as well as policy & provision of support for academic development. He has worked across the creative Higher Education sector as a Senior Lecturer, Course Leader, Field Leader and most recently in an academic development role, supporting the university’s leadership in strategic projects. These include working with the Vice Chancellor’s Office to ensure that teaching staff are recognised for their excellence in teaching. His roles have each included being strongly committed to the pursuit of excellence in learning, teaching and the strategic use of learning design & technology. He is committed to widening access and participation to student progression and success. Donovan was also a film studies academic in a previous life.

Trevor Murphy

Trevor runs the ‘Working With Actors’ module for the BA Filmmaking at Central Film School. He has been a professional actor for 15 years. He studied at University College Dublin where he fell in love with acting at DramSoc. He subsequently trained as an actor in NYC and London. He performed for film (for which he won 3 best actor awards at international film festivals over the past few years), TV (Eastenders, Doctors, Victoria), commercials and stage. His memorable stage roles are Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Iago in Othello and Chekhov’s plays The Seagull and Uncle Vanya. Trevor also specialises in text analysis, movement, Meisner technique, improvisation and Shakespeare.

Ben Gibson

Ben Gibson is a producer, academic and consultant. He’s recently worked with Ecole Louis Lumiere, Paris and Studios La Victorine, Nice and on projects with Raoul Peck (Director of, I Am Not Your Negro). Ben was director of the Berlin FIlm School DFFB from 2016 to 2020, and Director of  The London Film School from 2000 to 2014. From the late 80s to 2000, as independent producer and Head of Production at the British Film Institute, Ben’s credits include Terence Davies’ The Long Day Closes, Derek Jarman’s Wittgenstein, John Maybury’s Love is the Devil, Carine Adler’s Under the Skin and Jasmin Dizdar’s Beautiful People, plus many other UK features and shorts by directors including Patrick Keiller, Gurinder Chadha, Lynne Ramsay, Richard Kwietniowski and Andrew Kotting. From 1981 to 1987 he co-managed The Other Cinema/Metro Pictures, operating London’s Metro Cinema. He’s also been on-stage host for the Berlinale, a dramaturg, a theatre director, a repertory film programmer, a film critic and a journalist.

Mark de Valk

Dr Mark de Valk received his PHD in Film Practice from Oxford Brookes University. Mark’s experience in filmmaking production includes a strong background in social justice storytelling via documentary and experimental forms; he is a continuing indie-practitioner currently developing and working with ‘essay film’ and ‘expanded cinema’ techniques. His films have screened at a number of key international film festivals. Mark is also co-author of The Film Handbook, which examines and advocates how theory can be creatively employed to underpin and enrich personal film practice. Areas of expertise include, film aesthetics, mise-en-scene, specialist roles: directing & producing, cinematography, research & scriptwriting in drama, documentary and experimental forms. 

 

Gemma Mushington

Gemma Mushington is a screenwriter, represented by Christine Glover at Casarotto Ramsey, as well as a tutor and Module Leader at Central Film School. Gemma earned a First Class Honours BA in Film, Television and Digital Production, with a specialism in Screenwriting, in 2018 from Royal Holloway, University of London. Gemma was also a recipient of the Neal Street Productions Screenwriting Bursary in 2021 and a number of her scripts have been longlisted and shortlisted for various competitions. Gemma tailors her teaching to the needs of the students, allowing their creativity to lead the way. Going beyond the fundamentals of screenwriting, Gemma helps her students find their voice and develop their talents so that they can leave with a portfolio to be proud of.

Devon Dickson

Devon is an accomplished writer, producer, and director with over 25 years of experience working on feature films, television shows, and over 300 commercials across 30 countries. His work has reached billions of viewers worldwide, making him a remarkable mentor for budding filmmakers. His academic experience and qualifications include an MA in Direction for Film and Television from the Royal College of Art. 

Steve Livermore

Steve is a lecturer, actor and director with over twenty years’ experience in screen acting, theatre, and recorded media. He has taught on a range of Conservatoire, Higher and Further education courses. He has directed classical and contemporary texts, pop promos, short films and TV commercials and worked on a wide range of production sizes; from small scale studio theatre pieces to car commercials in Dubai. Steve completed his vocational studies in 1992 at East 15 Acting School; in addition he has an MA in Actor Training and Coaching from Central School of Speech and Drama.