Earlier this month, the BBC’s Scripted Drama Team, headed by Claire Knowles and Donna Stocks, ran a session with Year 10 Smith’s Wood Drama students.
It was an AMAZING session that really opened the minds of the students to careers in the industry. They learnt that careers at the BBC are not all about acting; there are hundreds of roles available from hair and make-up to set design to being a ‘Runner’ (on set assistant) and a ‘Dolly Grip’ ( someone who lays the camera tracks).
This BBC visit to Smith’s Wood supported the Academy’s #dedication to raising student aspirations and the lengths the Academy will go to bring the best local and national employers into the Academy to drive #ambition in their students, by showcasing some of the future career options available to them.
The students asked insightful questions and listened well. Some of the activities they participated in during the session included:
– Scriptwriting – finish the end of the scene.
– Spot the difference – students were asked to put right the mistakes made by the various jobs in wardrobe, hair, make-up and set design.
– Watched an in-depth backstage segment of Eastenders where there was a fire in the Café and Bobby and Simon Beale were trapped. Saw how most film and TV is not filmed in sequentially so staff need to be super aware of everything before filming to ensure consistency.
Our drama students were enthused by the session and one student even got an offer of an apprenticeship from the team to work with them after college as a Runner!
