Student Film Makers Advised by Industry Mentors
Added on 31 May 2008
Ten groups of student filmmakers were advised by young industry mentors at the Broadcast Lab on 12 May. The professional filmmakers watched student edits and gave advice on improving student films in the BA in Creative Writing module ‘Making a Film’, taught by Senior Lecturer, Mike Johnston. In a focus group, last year’s filmmaking students said that they felt their lecturers were ‘out of touch’ with the industry, even if those lecturers were also working practitioners. Johnston said that students tended to respond more to the mentors’ advice. “Charles told one group they needed extra shots and they immediately got on Minerva and booked out the camera,” Johnston said. “I’d been telling them that for weeks!”
The day, funded by Knowledge Exchange Southwest through Business Support in the Bath Spa University School of Development and Participation, is about more than helping the students with their films. Creative Industries Sector Specialist Mimi Thebo, who is also the Senior Teaching Fellow for the Broadcast Lab, says, “When the students work closely with young professionals, they can’t help but observe the attributes of successful creative practitioners.” Thebo praised the young filmmakers as “dynamic and engaging” examples of young creative professionals and said that, “at this crucial point, as students make their first real film artefact, the visit helps the students imagine where they could be in four or five years and shows them what it takes to get there.”
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