Frequently asked questions
How do I look for someone on the Register?
You can browse the register in three ways: Topics, Region, Age group.
Who are the Tutors?
BFI Associate Tutors are people who can offer educational provision related to moving image media. The kinds of provision they can offer ranges from workshops and study days for children and young people, through in-service training for teachers, to lectures and introductions to screenings for adults and older students. Tutors are admitted to the Register through a selection process and have access to professional development, so their subject knowledge and pedagogic expertise are of a high standard.
How can I make sure they're the right person for us?
Ask them! Make contact with a Tutor and discuss your needs directly with them. Make sure you are confident that they can provide the kind of event or session you want.
Do I book a Tutor through the BFI?
No: you must make all arrangements directly with the Tutor you have chosen. We strongly advise you to confirm all arrangements in writing. This should include the agreed fee, arrangements about the travel costs and accommodation, and all technical requirements. In order to access Tutors' contact details you will need to login.
What can I expect to pay?
Tutor fee rates vary but as a general guide you should expect to pay:
- Between £50-£100 for a ten minute introduced screening.
- Between £150-£250 for a formal lecture.
- Between £150-£300 for a five-hour Study Day.
- Between £60-£150 for a two-hour teacher training session.
- Between £60-£150 for leading a 90-minute seminar.
Tutors will be working for you in a freelance capacity and should be paid as soon as possible after the event or promptly upon receipt of their invoice. You should also pay any travel and subsistence costs and it will be sensible to agree these in advance. Tutors should provide you with receipts as evidence of their travel costs.
What are my responsibilities as a client?
You must provide the Tutor with as much information as possible about the event, your venue, the expected audience, the technical provision and support that you offer, travel arrangements and fees. You should ensure that all agreements are confirmed in writing. It is particularly important to ensure that any film, video or data projection is technically competent and matches the Tutor's expectations. Tutors should not be left to run an event or session by themselves unless this is specifically agreed; there should be staff available to show them where to go and to provide any necessary trouble shooting. You should ensure that the Tutor has contact details for use in emergencies such as travel delay, and for any last-minute confirmation of details. You should provide tutors with feedback after the event, including information from audience evaluations.
What if the Tutor does not meet our expectations?
Review all your arrangements carefully and identify where problems arose. Did you discuss your needs and the Tutor's expertise in advance? Did you make clear any physical or logistical constraints at your venue? Were the Tutor's technical requirements made clear and did you provide them? Were the type of event and the expected audience made clear? Did the audience know what to expect? Were travel arrangements and accommodation agreed in advance? Were all arrangements confirmed in writing? The BFI will not normally get involved in disputes between venues and Tutors and will not arbitrate between them: it is up to you to resolve the situation. We would, however, like to receive evaluations of the services provided by Tutors, and can remove Tutors from the register if necessary.
Can the BFI guarantee the quality of the Tutors?
The BFI has made every effort to ensure that the Tutors on this Register are competent and experienced. Each Tutor provided a portfolio of work, a CV, two testimonials and a personal statement when they applied to join the Register. Each applicant has been observed by an expert in moving image education. Each Tutor accepted on to the Scheme has access to a mentor and opportunities for professional development. But in the final analysis the BFI cannot provide a cast-iron guarantee that all Tutors will perform perfectly in every context. It is up to venues and Tutors to negotiate provision and to match expertise to need.
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