Catching Up with Alumni - Saul Knight

Did you have experience of making films before applying to the BFI Film Academy Short Course?

"I’m from the countryside where there weren't many opportunities to get involved in filmmaking and not many people I could aspire to so I used what I had and started making YouTube films with my friends and family to begin with. The short films I started off creating were thrillers because I enjoyed playing with the genre's creative and dramatic style."

What was the experience of doing the short course like for you?

"I’m really glad to have taken part in the short course. Looking back, it was a great starting point for finding out the kind of films I wanted to make. Ella encouraged us to create films without limitations, leaving it open for us to develop the films how we wanted to."

 I was attracted to the Short Course initially by the opportunity to screen my film on Screen 1 at Broadway as I had previously shown the films with friends and family at home on the TV and this was a clear and big step up for me."

How did participating in the BFI Film Academy Short Course impact you and your journey into the film industry?

"Doing the Short Course helped me find what I was naturally good at. I liked seeing different parts of the industry and getting the chance to direct and experience pitching. I valued the insight into pitching as you don’t expect to need to approach industry professionals with your work and I found it something that came naturally to me.

I also valued having an industry role model. I spent time with Al Clark (Wellington Films) who has a production agency. Spending time with Al has helped me to whittle down the kind of filmmaker I want to be.

At the time I was in college studying film, it was more theory-based compared to the Short Course."

"I went on to study filmmaking at UWE Bristol University for three years taking part in writing and directing. The short course helped reduce my nerves when pitching my final year short dance film. The NHS Workers Say No charity group shared a call out for ideas and I pitched to them a more creative style that was digestible and accessible for people to engage with. They liked my ideas and the film we made was viewed by around 200,000 people on social media with a big rally screening event.

 I've also taken on Gaffer roles, the highlight of this was working on short films, such as ‘Dead Heads’, written by BAFTA nominee Nathan Byron. The intention with taking on gaffer roles is to develop my skills further and find a route into becoming a director of photography."

What influence has taking part in the BFI Film Academy Short Course, spending time with Al Clark and your filmmaking studies at University had on your film making approach now?

"I feel like I now know what my style of filmmaking is and the Short Course gave me the tools and time to develop that. As I mentioned earlier, before the course I was interested in making thrillers for their dramatic visual style but now I am really interested in creating films that have a strong point of view. Films that can help induce sympathy and social change by putting the audience right in the mind of a character’.

I recently worked on a film for the Samaritans charity for their TV Christmas commercial as a Second AC (Assistant Camera).

In the future I am looking to work on larger-scale dramas, and expand my cinematic toolbelt on my path to becoming a Director of Photography.'

You can stay up-to-date with what Saul is doing via their website and wish him all the best in his future endeavours

BFI Film Academy Short Courses are supported by the Department for Education in England, The National Lottery, Screen Scotland and Northern Ireland Screen.