BUDDING screenwriters and film producers from Stratford College have been hitting the red carpet.
It came after a six month-long project to create script and film content alongside BBC professionals using state-of-the-art equipment.
Brought to life in association with BBC Drama Commissioning, the project was designed to give West Midlands students practical, hands-on experience in both editorial and production roles.
After taking part in a BBC Studios Drama Productions screenwriting master class and with the support of dedicated coaches, the media students were able to take on key roles such as production, filming and acting to produce three inspirational and poignant films around the themes of an emotive drama, a psychological thriller and a grounded sci-fi drama.
The completed films were recently showcased at a ‘red carpet’ style premiere event at Millenium Point, with the learners and their families, key project partners and West Midlands mayor Richard Parker in the audience.
Head of school for creative arts Nicky Haines said: “This project has had such a positive impact on everyone. Having the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals had a profound influence on their own professional approach. We saw a noticeable step up in their practice – from how they structured their filming crews to the quality and thoroughness of their pre-production paperwork and planning for their final major projects.
“While we strive to embed industry standards into our teaching and programme design, there’s something incredibly powerful about students engaging directly with professionals. It raises their aspirations, deepens their understanding, and elevates the quality of their work. This experience made them more engaged, more confident, and helped them believe their creative ambitions are truly within reach.”
