Melton Campus Creative Media student, Jack Speakman, is among the pool of talented young people who have been selected for this year’s BFI Film Academy Animation and VFX workshops.
This exciting opportunity from the prestigious British Film Institute will allow Jack to benefit from masterclasses, screenings, skills training and careers guidance, in addition to creating a short film with the support of industry-expert mentors and BAFTA-winning tutors.
Each year, the BFI selects just 40 talented applicants from a nationwide pool to participate in this specialist, industry-focused workshop series, which includes four Saturday workshops followed by a ‘production week’ over February half term.
When speaking about his experience so far, Level 3 Creative Media Production student, Jack, said ‘We have started our work looking into the pre-production side of filmmaking by coming up with ideas and presenting them to the other participants. My idea was about a little robot left to fight for himself. Sadly, it never made it far enough to be made, but I’m now working on a project called ‘A New Reality’, which I’m scripting and doing the 3D work for. Throughout the course, we will learn from a variety of industry professionals, giving us the opportunity to learn new skills and get a better understanding of the industry.’
‘Personally, I have a passion for directing, however when I saw these workshops on VFX and Animation I just had to apply. I love that, with animation, you can make a whole film about anything, because the possibilities are endless. Then VFX allows you to create things you never thought you could - getting to see things you imagine come to reality is so mind blowing.’ 'BFI is a huge company in the UK, which means they offer fantastic careers guidance because they have lots of great contacts and connections. So far, we have benefitted from a guest talk from Nag Vladermersky, who is the director of the London International Animation Festival, and we will hear from more speakers as the course progresses.’
Media Lecturer, Steve Barrett, added ‘I’m over the moon for Jack. On our UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media, students get the chance to really be creative and produce a range of projects. Jack is clearly very passionate about animation and visual effects, and the BFI Film Academy workshops have given him a chance to specialise in this.’
‘Considering only 40 students are accepted for the BFI Film Academy animation and VFX curse each year, I was very happy that Jack’s application was successful. These have been difficult times for students working from home, and the BFI deserve a lot of credit in running these sessions online to continue to support the students who will be the next generation of animators and VFX artists working in the industry.’
Creative Media Production students at the SMB Group benefit from the very best in technology, facilities and teaching. Students learn in state-of-the-art production and editing suites, equipped with a range of high quality cameras, lighting and sound equipment. In addition, the College is home to one of the largest Infinity green screens outside of London.
Find out more about our Creative Media Production courses by clicking here.
