TGt Meets…Sam Storey – Programme Leader for Creative Media at New College

Meet our latest TGt Meets...Sam Storey – Programme Leader for Creative Media at New College. We found out all about what life is like teaching film and tv and what inspired Sam to pursue this career.

Tell us a little bit about yourself…

After graduating from the Film School at Arts University Bournemouth I started working as a film and television editor in London. When I went freelance I worked mainly in Soho, but also further afield like New York and Switzerland. I’ve been a Media lecturer at New College for ten years, and during that time I have set up the practical Creative Media Production courses that we run now, and helped hundreds of students to make thousands of films.

Describe your job role in one sentence…

I teach people how to make films, even if they’ve never made one before.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

Editors tend to work alone a lot of the time, often in small rooms without windows. It suited me very well at the time and I really enjoyed it for many years, but I’ve always liked helping people, and enjoy passing my filmmaking skills onto others, so teaching Creative Media Production seemed like a perfect fit.

What is your favourite part of the curriculum?

With my background of editing, teaching post-production skills (from basic video editing to digital visual effects and animation) has always been my favourite part.

What are the key modules that are studied?

The kind of projects my students work on include film trailers, music videos, horror films, promotional films and documentaries. Within those projects they learn specific skills, such as getting ready for the shoot, lighting, camera movements, practical special effects, digital visual effects, and many more.

What advice would you give to students who are interested in joining your course?

There’s nothing to stop you from making short films on your phone. Keep it easy and fun - there are hundreds of free tutorials online to help you get started, and a great way to learn about filmmaking is to go out and try making one. If it doesn’t work out, you don’t have to show anyone, but you’ll definitely learn something.

Who is the course well suited to?

Anyone who is imaginative, who enjoys watching films and television programs, or has a particular interest in any aspect of filmmaking, and anyone who wants to work in a growing, exciting, creative industry.

What are the progression options for those who take this course?

We have practical Media Production courses all the way from GCSE-level to degree-level, and many students progress through all of those stages here at New College. Others go to the best universities in the country for filmmaking, or look for an apprenticeship. Some even go straight into employment in the film or television industry.

Find out more about New College HERE!