NEWS IN DETAIL...

Students work with BBC director

The chance to work with a BBC TV director does not come along very often and students on Cornwall College Newquay's Wildlife Education and Media foundation degree couldn't wait to get started and learn all there was to know about filming and editing from an expert.

Emma Caddis, guest lecturer on the course, began her working life in independent film and TV. She went on to work as a Researcher at the Natural History Unit in Bristol, and in her ten year career at the BBC worked on documentaries, live magazine programmes, Eastenders and as a Producer / Director on Blue Peter. 

“When the Wildlife Education and Media foundation degree was being written a number of years ago, I helped write some of the modules and so it is great to come back and see the students so enthusiastic about their work,” said Emma.  “Throughout this module the students have learnt a wide range of essential elements to film making such as how to write a script, storyboard their film, focus on health and safety during a filming shoot and now they are just learning how to operate the camera and record sound and how to edit the film they have produced.”

The practical filming workshop involved the students playing a number of key roles. These included presenting a piece to camera, while walking at the same time, tracking the presenter with the camera, making sure the sound was correct and directing the shoot. The students also filmed on location at Newquay Zoo and had the rare chance to film on lemur island.   

Student Katie Hunston said: “The filming workshop was brilliant, not only because I had the opportunity to work with experts, but also because I gained a lot of knowledge about working with cameras, lighting, sound, directing and even editing. I was already interested in a career in this industry but this has definitely given me more motivation!”

 Sarah Galley, Programme Manager for FdSc Wildlife Education and Media said: “Learning from experts like Emma makes a huge difference to our students and the course overall. Emma has had the dream job that a lot of our students are working towards and so her inside knowledge is invaluable. Now it’s up to the students to put into practice Emma’s words of wisdom and you never know, one of them could be the director of programmes like Frozen Planet in the future.”   

All undergraduate courses at Cornwall College are awarded by Plymouth University.

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