Our Short Courses

Throughout the week, participants will gain experience in mould-making, casting, and finishing techniques commonly used in prop fabrication. The course also examines the importance of surface treatment, painting, and detailing in achieving convincing on-screen results. In addition, guidance is provided on documenting completed work through professional photography for portfolios.

Topics covered include:

- Introduction to prop making for film and television
- Tools, materials, and workshop techniques used in prop fabrication
- Silicone mould making processes
- Casting props using resin
- Surface preparation, painting, and art working techniques
- Detailing and finishing props for screen use
- Photographing props professionally for portfolios

By the end of the course, participants will have a practical understanding of key prop-making processes and will have developed techniques that can support their work within film, television, and related creative industries. The course is ideal for professionals working in art departments, prop teams, model making, scenic art, or related disciplines who wish to strengthen their hands-on making skills.

Through practical exercises and industry-led discussions, the course also introduces technical skills used daily within the department, including scaled drawing, set planning, model-making, and location surveying. Alongside this, the course addresses the professional and logistical aspects of working on a production, such as technical recces, production meetings, on-set etiquette, and health and safety.

Topics covered include:

- The structure and hierarchy of the Art Department
- Roles and responsibilities across the design team
- Interacting and communicating effectively with other departments
- Script breakdown from a production design perspective
- Understanding the implications of the shooting schedule for the Art Department
- Using scale in design development
- Creating scaled drawings and set plans
- Producing white card models from drawings
- Surveying locations and assessing design feasibility
- Communicating with construction, props, production, and location teams
- Technical recces, production meetings, and professional on-set etiquette
- Health and safety considerations within the Art Department
- Professional development: contracts, CVs, and portfolio advice

By the end of the course, participants will have a stronger understanding of the workflow and technical processes that underpin the Art Department, along with practical tools to support progression within film and television production environments.

Through demonstrations and practical exercises, the course will cover a range of techniques used by professional breakdown artists, including dyeing, painting, fabric manipulation, and airbrushing. Participants will also learn how to create specific effects such as blood staining and fabric ageing, while gaining an understanding of how different materials respond to treatment.

Topics covered include:

- Introduction to costume breakdown for film and television
- Materials orientation and understanding different fabric types
- Dyeing and painting techniques for fabric treatment
- Airbrush techniques for subtle ageing and surface detail
- Distressing costumes to create wear and damage
- Enhancing and manipulating fabrics for character storytelling
- Ageing techniques to create realistic, lived-in garments
- Creating blood stains and other narrative effects

By the end of the course, participants will have developed a practical toolkit of breakdown techniques and a deeper understanding of how costume treatment supports character and story on screen.

The course is ideal for professionals working in costume departments, wardrobe, theatre, fashion, or related creative fields who want to expand their practical skills in costume breakdown.

The course will also explore the differences between working in television and feature film production, helping participants understand how the role adapts across different production scales and workflows. Practical discussions will address on-set communication, collaboration with the director, camera, and editorial departments, and the importance of clear, accurate continuity records.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own questions or areas they would like to focus on, allowing the course to respond to the specific needs and experience levels of the group.

Topics covered include:

- The role of the script supervisor in pre-production
- Preparing scripts and identifying continuity requirements
- Managing continuity notes from pre-production through to post-production
- The responsibilities of the script supervisor on set
- Working closely with the director, camera department, and editorial team
- Tracking performance, action, and visual continuity across takes
- Practical approaches to documentation and reporting
- Understanding the transition from television production to feature film workflows

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the script supervisor’s role within the wider production team and will develop practical strategies to support continuity, communication, and workflow on professional sets.

The course is ideal for professionals working in assistant directing, script supervision, editorial, or other production roles who want to deepen their knowledge of continuity and the script supervision process.