Lightworks NLE short courses 'back on the menu' at the NFTS

Lightworks has announced that courses based on its Touch non-linear editing systems are to resume at the Short Course Unit of the National Film and Television School this Autumn.
Deanne Edwards, Director of the National Short Course Training Programme at the NFTS, said: "The NFTS probably trained the majority of this country's freelance Lightworks editors, and most craft-trained editors have a special affinity for Lightworks, so we're particularly pleased to be able to offer full training and refresher courses on these marvellous systems once again." She pointed out that Paul Bamborough, designer of the original Lightworks system, was a graduate of the NFTS.
The self-funding Short Course Unit at the NFTS started in 1982, specifically to train the UK's predominantly freelance film & TV workforce. It then provided training services on behalf of Lightworks, both at Beaconsfield and at major production centres around the UK, for several years.
Edwards continued: "After the unhappy recent history of Lightworks, I was initially apprehensive about the company's acquisition by Gee Broadcast Systems. On meeting Keith Gee, however, I was immediately impressed that here at last was someone who cares about the company; someone we could work successfully with once again."
Edwards met up with Gee in July and they agreed to establish a collaborative partnership, with Lightworks initially supplying two Touch systems for a trainee editors' film course on the FT2 scheme during November 2004. The systems will be used in conjunction with 35mm and 16mm rubber-numbering machines and Steenbecks to take the students through a complete film cutting-room workflow. All being well, Edwards hopes to negotiate the reintroduction of the full range of Lightworks short courses early in 2005.
Keith Gee commented: "We're steadily getting Lightworks back on track now, and reintroducing independent training courses in collaboration with a prestigious establishment like the NFTS can only help restore the company to its hard-won position as the professional editor's favourite."
(gb/sp)