Media and Film Students Experience the Bright Lights of the BBC

A Level Media students got a glimpse of what it might be like to work for one of Britain's flagship institutions on an overnight trip to London.

30 first and second year students travelled down to the see the bright lights of the capital and the media hub of the country, specifically the prestigious halls of the BBC studios.

With many students expressing an interest in a career in journalism, a guided tour of Broadcasting House in W1A gave them the ideal opportunity to get an insight into the reality of working in television and news, and some lucky ones even got the chance to try out their broadcasting skills.

A Level Media student Liam O'Gorman, who studies Film Studies and Graphics as well, said: "Getting to see these places that I only usually see on television was quite breath-taking. On our tour, some of us got to know what it is like to be on camera as we were put in front of the green screen and re-enacted the weather forecast! It's not easy being a weather forecaster! You got to see that they make plenty of mistakes but they cover it up so well!"

First year, Amelia Jones, who also takes both Media and Film Studies, said: "It was an excellent way of learning about the media industry, and how things like film and TV sets are created. It was also a great chance for us as students to do things we wouldn't normally do and get outside our comfort zone."

After the BBC experience, our students went to Covent Garden to see the British Film Institute (BFI) 'Bond in Motion' exhibition to see some of 007's essential kit and explore how the world's most celebrated spy films are made.

Jacob Khan, also a first year, said: "At the Bond exhibition we saw some famous, and infamous, props from the films. I found it particularly interesting to see how film producers put together a scene through the use of storyboards."

The students were also able to squeeze in time for a ride on the London Eye and dinner on the trendy South Bank.