Hosted at Bournemouth University and chaired by RTS Southern’s Gordon Cooper, the event boasted a panel of 15 professionals, ranging from those at the start of their careers to senior television executives.
“Meet the professionals” heard from one recent graduate who is now a location camera operator for Sky News and another who is forging a career as a production co-ordinator on large-scale dramas, including Sanditon and The Good Karma Hospital.
Now in its 10th year, this annual event has become a Southern Centre institution.
Some 200 production-based students from regional universities met around 15 media professionals to discuss TV production, opportunities in the industry and career development.
One of the professionals offering advice at the event was Dean Massey, who in 2014 was part of the first batch of students to receive an RTS bursary. Massey, a graduate of Southampton Solent University’s Television and Video Production course, currently works for Sky News as a camera operator/editor.
The immediate outcome for one student was that Athena Films offered to pay her to develop some of her ideas – and employ the student on the project if it is commissioned.
Eighteen professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and career stages were on hand to meet informally with students from Bournemouth, Solent, Portsmouth and Winchester universities to discuss current TV issues and career development possibilities.
