Our students

Why film and television production at Teesside?

A passion for storytelling and film has followed me through my education. Coming from a lower-income area, opportunities in the film and TV industries were lacking, and this was something at the forefront of my mind when choosing what to do after college.

On an open day I was shown the production facilities available on campus and was incredibly impressed. I was given access to equipment, studio spaces and software that I would never have come close to operating otherwise. The added prospect of a year in industry and a huge number of industry connections made choosing Teesside a no-brainer.

Favourite part of the course?

Definitely the hands-on approach. Over the three years, we tackled numerous types of production from short films to documentaries to live studio shows and more.

Another highlight was being able to focus on developing scripted content from the initial concept to the final product. This helped my writing become significantly stronger than it had been before as I gained a greater appreciation for the nuances of scriptwriting.

What do you think about the campus?

It's one of the initial things that drew me to Teesside and it continued to be a highlight throughout my studies. The careers team were a huge help in securing work experience and internships, and through their advice and guidance, I was able to secure my first industry job at BlueBolt VFX. The Students’ Union was also an incredibly safe space where people were more than happy to let loose, relax and chill without judgement.

The Library was my favourite part of campus, it is a calm, supportive environment to work and relax with all of the facilities and resources that I needed.

What about Middlesbrough and the surrounding area?

Having the campus in the heart of Middlesbrough is ideal with shops, restaurants, parks and more situated within a ten-minute walk of Campus Heart. The area around Middlesbrough is also filled with interesting landmarks worth visiting, leading to a constant string of activities to pass the time.

You were a student ambassador?

Yes in my third year, working to support the uni's marketing team in events held on campus. I gained incredibly useful experience working with visitors, clients and the general public, and was well compensated for my efforts by the University .

I also worked a lot with the uni's broadcast platform, TuXtra, which enabled a variety of media students from different courses to work together and talk about a wide variety of topics in a social setting, and gain valuable work experience.

Did you get any industry experience?

I worked on a documentary about Press On Vinyl, a local vinyl printing firm, with Aurora House Studios. I got my first taste of working as a runner and camera assistant which proved essential experience when applying for work and internships at the end of third year.

I also worked as a freelance video editor for a number of companies, including Billingham Stars Ice Hockey and Kash Patel Productions. For Billingham Stars, I edited match highlight reels learning a lot about editing (and ice hockey, unsurprisingly). This led to me getting hired as a VFX editorial assistant at BlueBolt. For Kash Patel, I helped to edit their Diwali celebration projects, and learned how to interface with clients.

What have you gained from Teesside University?

Confidence in my own abilities, as well as a range of new production and directorial skills. Since leaving, the knowledge I gained in my studies has proved essential when entering the film industry.

I entered my graduation film in a variety of film festivals, winning one and reaching the finals in two others. This has been a huge talking point in my career and has definitely allowed me to progress faster than I otherwise may have done.

Future ambitions?

I would like to return to directing and writing more often, to take ownership of the stories I'm helping to tell.

Would you recommend the course?

Definitely. The industry-standard facilities and the opportunities provided through work experience, placements and even one-off days on set are invaluable.

Any advice to students thinking of coming to study here?

Use everything that the University offers you, the resources here are more easily accessible and advanced than they will ever be elsewhere.