Degree: FdSc Media Production
Career: Aspiring Film Director
Mature student, Lawrence, joined the FdSc Media Production degree at University Centre St Helens to work towards his dream of pursuing a career as a Film Director.
Lawrence joined the FdSc after studying Games Design at Futureworks in Manchester. Realising his passion for creating online content and working with software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, he made the decision to explore degree options that would allow him to pursue his interests as part of a full-time career.
University Centre St Helens' key town centre location and accessible transport links is what initially drew Lawrence to the degree. This, coupled with the interesting module content, led to Lawrence applying for a place on the FdSc Media Production, using the UCAS process.
Whilst on his degree, Lawrence studied everything from film editing and app and web design to podcasting and graphic design and enjoyed "being challenged, thinking outside of the box and working with a range of creative minds on group work tasks".
He also credits the support from the Programme Leader, Phil King, who "goes out of his way to help each and every student to achieve the absolute best that they can", including helping him to develop his knowledge and skills. He added, "he is extremely experienced and knowledgeable about his subject".
With open access to a wide range of facilities, Lawrence was able to tap into a variety of new computers, the green screen studio, lighting equipment, sound equipment, TV rigs and multi-camera decks. This open access enabled him to "think more like an independent film maker/producer and explore creativity in a more unique way".
Commenting on his experience on his degree, Lawrence said, "There is a really varied age range on the FdSc Media Production degree and I was a little apprehensive about being the oldest person in the group and feared everyone else would have joined straight from college or sixth form. This proved not to be the case at all."
He added, "The common thread among us was that we all had creative minds. We all played to each other's strengths and came together to support and help each other."
Since graduating last summer, Lawrence has continued to pursue a career within the film industry, expanding his portfolio further by freelancing on a range of specialist projects from screenwriting to assisting a local director.
