#tiredoflondon

[thelondonfilmschool]

What I wish I'd Known

By Sophie McVeigh

Samuel Johnson may have been right when he said that 'when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life', but that doesn't mean it's without its challenges, and when you move to a big, bustling capital city, it's easy to feel like everybody knows exactly what they're doing except you. With this in mind, we spoke to students past and present to find out what pearls of wisdom they could pass on – about London, about the UK and the London Film School (LFS) itself – to help make the transition that little bit easier.

Head Space

Not everybody finds it easy to work at home, what with the fridge always there to distract you and those cupboards that suddenly need reorganising. Thankfully there are some great spots not too far from school where you can get your homework head on. All of London’s public libraries are free to join and have free WIFI - Charing Cross, Westminster and Holborn are the nearest to school, while the British Library near St Pancras is a great place to feel inspired. A short and Instagram-friendly walk across the river will take you to the BFI library, which is not only peaceful and free to use, but also crammed with so many books on film that the Work and Research Journal will practically write itself.

(Jonathan O’Donnell)

https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services

Photo Credit: Working on the WRJ at the BFI Library, Christina Morelli

Speaking of the Work and Research Journal...

We're at film school, so it's tempting to want to focus ALL our time on our films, but they're not kidding when they tell you not to leave the journal the last minute. Make notes as you go along and your life will be a whole lot easier when it comes to the deadline. Personally, whenever something came up in class that I thought I could use, I wrote a massive WRJ!!! next to it so it was easier to find later in my notes. People get frustrated with the journal when they leave it until the Thursday before it's due, but if you use it as a space for reflection on what you've learnt it can end up being pretty … enjoyable? OK, I won't say enjoyable. Useful though. It's definitely useful.

(Ulla Prida)

Photo Credit: Choose a quiet time for those free BFI tickets, Jackie Mahoney

Free Films!

Also while you’re at the BFI, don’t forget to take advantage of the free cinema access for LFS students. You’ll need your LFS badge, and to get there a good half an hour early to secure seats, but as long as the showing isn’t sold out they’ll be happy to let you in. Hang around at non-peak times and you’re sure to bag a seat. Horror fans, don’t miss the current Stephen King season to celebrate the author’s 70th birthday.

Cheap films!

If that's still not enough silver screen for you, Odeon does a £17.99 per month ‘Limitless’ cinema pass (£19.99 if you include central London), which, if you went everyday, would work out as 58p per film - for trivia fans, that's the equivalent of going to the cinema in 1975. Speaking of bargains, for the annual membership of £7.50, the Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square does weekly £1 members screenings, randomly chosen from a program which includes anything from the latest releases to classic musicals.

http://www.odeon.co.uk/limitless/

https://princecharlescinema.com

(Xiao Tang)

Photo Credit: Don’t forget to make the most of those student discounts, Ulla Prida

Cheap everything!

The National Union of Students (NUS) extra card will get you discounts on everything from pizza to Apple products, and even your supermarket bill. The Unidays app does a similar thing without the £12 annual fee, while the Student Oyster card gets you a third off London transport. Since London has one of the most expensive underground networks in the world, you might want to think about this. If you’re planning on travelling much outside of London, the Young Person’s Railcard also gets you a third off tickets. And don’t miss Amazon Prime’s 6 months free for students.

https://cards.nusextra.co.uk

https://www.myunidays.com

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/adult-discounts-and-concessions/18-student

https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

https://goo.gl/9UcZ86

Money in the bank

Now that you've made all those savings you're going to need somewhere to keep them. It can take a while to get an appointment to set up a bank account, so you should start trying as early as possible - the further out from zone one (Central London) you go, the quicker it is. You'll need to take a letter confirming your enrolment at the school, signed by LFS. The vast majority of UK banks don't charge you to hold an account and actually give you stuff to attract your custom, so it's worth shopping around for the best deal. The major ones like Barclays, Lloyds, Santander and HSBC are currently offering incentives such as free NUS cards, Young Person's Railcards (see above) and Amazon gift vouchers, as well as the standard interest-free overdraft. Be careful with these though and read the small print – most are only free while you're studying, and you'll be charged interest if you're still in it when you graduate.

Photo Credit: Hidden squares for a picnic near LFS, Jackie Mahoney

Your health is your wealth

In order to get registered with your local GP ('general practitioner', or family doctor), you will need a piece of mail to prove where you live (since GPs serve their local area). Your first official appointment with the GP is then only to fill out the registration info, so if you actually need to start seeing a doctor sooner rather than later, try to make your first TWO appointments at the same time. There are urgent care centres around London where you can go without an appointment if you are having an immediate issue and can't wait for your doctor's appointment, and they do take your NHS insurance but you will need to have your NHS number. If you don't have it, your GP's office can provide it to you at the front desk. In the UK, healthcare is free at the point of delivery, and although we pay £8 per prescription, students can avoid this charge by filling out an HC2 certificate – see below for more information.

www.nhs.uk

https://www.studentmoneysaver.co.uk/article/how-to-get-free-prescriptions-and-check-ups-at-the-dentist/

(Thanks to Braden LuBell for these words to the wise)

All work and no play ...

OK, so now you've got your money and your health covered, it's time to enjoy yourself. Time flies at graduate school and the best way to make the most of it is to throw yourself into whatever opportunities come your way. Whether it's the photography society, script clinic, the running club or volunteering for the SU, taking a break from your work while also widening your social circle is the best way to find people who share your passions that you want to work with. Talk to Emily Marquet, the Student Union's Community Liaison, or if something doesn't exist, start it yourself. Cheese appreciation society, anyone?

(Christina Morelli, joiner-inner extraordinaire)

Photo Credit: Barbecue in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Jackie Mahoney

And on the subject of food ...

The canteen is a great place to socialise, but sometimes after a morning in Cinema A you want to take those sandwiches outside for a bit of fresh air, Vitamin D and some down time. Of course, in Covent Garden you’ll find an abundance of café terraces, but they’re not always designed for the student budget. Thankfully, within 5 minutes of the school there are some beautiful courtyards to picnic in - some well-known (Neal’s Yard, St Martin’s Courtyard) and some more hidden - Ch.Ramphal Sangwan Park and The Phoenix Garden are two of my favourites. If you feel like stretching your legs even more, a ten-minute walk will take you to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, an unexpectedly lovely park right in the heart of the city, where they even let you barbecue if the mood takes you.

Language barriers

Don't feel bad if, when you arrive at the school, it feels like your English isn't quite as good as everyone else's. This is an international school and we're here to share our influences and inspiration, not our mastering of the present perfect. If you need help, ask, and if you find it difficult at first just trust that after a couple of terms of intense classes, film watching, discussion, socialising and set life you're going to be chattering away like John Oliver.

(Andrea Garcia)

You can stand under my ...

Umbrella. The most important piece of advice I can give you. Carry an umbrella at all times. You might be lucky enough to come from a country where the weather in the morning gives you some indication of what it will be for the rest of the day, or even the next half an hour, but London likes to keep you guessing.

(Sophie McVeigh, who needs to learn to follow her own advice)

What about you? What are your tips for getting the most out of life in London? Share below anything you think new (or current) students would find useful/life-saving.

  

[parkerandnicole]

Highway Code: Rule 112

Coming home, there is the usual sound of cars honking outside our flat, which is one of Parker’s (many) bug bears.

Parker: That is not how you are to use your horn. Read the Highway code. The horn is supposed to be used to warn people of your presence. You’re not to use it to tell people to fuck off. That is what your mouth is for.

[praguebykaty]

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