Mr Aram Atkinson

Contact

Aram Atkinson
About
Teaching and learning
Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact
Leadership and management

About

I joined Kingston in 2022, teaching fiction film on the Film Making BA and MA courses. In 2024 I was recognised for excellence in teaching and impact, winning 'The Provost's Award for Learning and Teaching Excellence' as an Early Careers Academic.

In 2023 I was selected by the BFI NETWORK to receive funding for my short film, Green Grass, which provided new opportunities for D/deaf and disabled crew and had accessibility and sustainability themes on-screen, with some MA and BA students involved throughout. Still on-going, this project has since involved partnerships with Skillshare, Lingvano, Sign Solutions, Project Seagrass, and the Scottish Sensory Centre. New official signs have been entered into the BSL glossary as a result of our work, and diverse knowledge-exchange events have been completed with six UK institutes.

In 2021, my screenplay Sunrise Meets Sunset won Filmarket Hub's UK TV Pilot Screenplay contest, and placed as a quarterfinalist in Screencraft's Drama contest and Final Draft's Big Break contest, and was shared with production companies around the world, including Bron, FilmNation, and World Productions.

Over the years I have directed commercials for companies including British Airways and the Royal Navy, had films play at the UN and WHO to advocate for policy change, and won industry awards, including Best Drama in the international Rode Reel contest back in 2017.

Academic responsibilities

Lecturer

Teaching and learning

My specialisms are in writing and directing, however, I also provide the course expertise in cinematography, having shot numerous commercials and short films that have screened at BAFTA-qualifying events and played on various broadcast and VoD channels. 

Areas I focus on in my teaching include, but are not limited to:

  • How to write, structure, and produce short films
  • Working with actors and casting talent
  • The career pathway for fiction filmmakers
  • Pitching and marketing original stories
  • Da Vinci Resolve colour grading
  • 16mm loading and lighting (Bolex H16, Arri SR3, Aaton XTR)
  • Arri Accreditation trainer (using the Arri mini)
  • Freelancing and film business

Undergraduate courses taught

Postgraduate courses taught

Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

I have ran knowledge transfer events with the following institutes, providing insight into succesful film funding, crowdfunding, welfare and ethical producing, and colour grading.

  • Chichester Conservatoire
  • Southampton Solent
  • University of Portsmouth
  • New College Swindon

I am also a Skillshare Top Teacher, with over 10,000 students worldwide and six available courses on business and film. I am currently exploring business partnerships to provide live briefs for students from across the not-for-profit sector.

My professional practice has moved towards digital agility in recent months, exploring the use of augmented reality, inclusive applications (such as live captions and real-time audio translations), and dynamic collaborative platforms to bring KSA to the forefront of advanced and progressive higher education.

Leadership and management

MA Module Leader: Film Making 2

This module teaches MA students the process of producing short fiction films in compressed timeframes and in response to selected themes, with a focus on visual storytelling and props as narrative devices.

BA Module Leader: Visual Storytelling

This year-long module teaches first-year students the importance and skills for pitching concepts, before developing their ideas into 5-minute films. Working with actors is a critical part of this module and encourages students to collaborate with other courses. 

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