Meet the Student Senate: Joshua Carver, Berlin Vice President (BA Practical Filmmaking)

Today, we’re introducing the next member of our Student Senate – Joshua Carver, who is the Vice President for MetFilm School Berlin.

Joshua started at our Berlin campus studying short courses, before progressing onto our BA Practical Filmmaking degree – which he is now in the final year of! Keep reading to learn more about why Joshua joined the Student Senate, the many different career paths that led him to filmmaking, and how growing up on a game reserve shaped his creative identity.

When did you decide you wanted to go into filmmaking?

I went into filmmaking kind of as a last resort. It sounds strange, but bear with me! I was always involved in drama, theatre, and filmmaking throughout high school, but I never imagined that I could pursue it as a career. At university, I studied Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, but I found it to be far too constricting (I know, surprise surprise).

Afterwards, I studied Law intensively for two years, and only after work experience did I realise that no one could pay me enough to do it full time. That’s when I turned my attention to filmmaking. What I crave is a day different from yesterday, every day, and I realised that in this industry, that’s possible.

What were your earliest experiences of film?

I was never allowed to watch cartoons when I was younger – it left a gaping hole in my general knowledge, but I’m glad for it. Growing up on a game reserve in South Africa was amazing, and the films I watched echoed my reality. Most time inside was spent watching nature documentaries, from Sir David Attenborough to Steve Irwin and Werner Herzog.

I think this has influenced the kind of stories that I want to tell, as I realised fact is most certainly stranger than fiction. I want to show the interesting in the mundane, and bring forward stories grounded in a strange form of reality, but reality nevertheless.

What brought you to study at MetFilm School?

The courses. I wanted to study in Europe, in English, in an environment where I can get as broad of an overview into the industry as possible. Now I know exactly where I want to focus, and what I need to do to get there. I came in wanting to be an auteur, and now I have my sights set on producing!

How are you finding your course?

The course has been great – we have a plethora of different industry professionals teaching us different topics, so I think we’re getting a very nuanced view of the film industry.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learnt is the importance of preproduction. There is no such thing as a ‘happy accident’ in film, and the only way to create those magical moments is through intense collaboration and planning.

Why did you decide to run for Student Senate?

I have a history of student representation, but I chose to run as Vice President for Berlin because I wanted to make sure that our ideas are heard and considered by staff – and vice versa. Much like film, nothing good can happen unless the production has good lines of communication. I wanted to facilitate that.

Can you tell us a little bit about your Senate position?

As Vice President for Berlin, my tasks are to communicate between students and staff, as well as between London, Berlin, and (now) Leeds. This helps to create a better system of checks and balances.

It’s a lot of meetings and back-and-forth, but ultimately, my job is to improve the student experience, and to make things fun. We have successfully brought a food and coffee station to the Berlin campus, and we’re in the midst of arranging an exchange trip between London and Berlin!

Finally, if you could be a part of any film, past or present, which would you choose?

I would have loved to be a part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy – not because I’m a huge fan, but because it looked like such a fun set to be on. The same goes for something like The Office or Saturday Night Live. As much as I believe there are more critically acclaimed films or TV sets to be on, I think these would have been the most fun, surrounded by talented people.

If you would like to contact a member of the MetFilm School Student Senate, please email senate@metfilmschool.ac.uk

• Joshua Carver studies BA Practical Filmmaking at MetFilm School Berlin.
• Visit our Berlin campus at our upcoming Open Day, Monday 13 June!
• Follow the official Instagram account for the Student Senate here.