Our Birmingham International Summer School (BISS) recently took place at our Edgbaston campus.
Held for three weeks in July, BISS provides undergraduates with the opportunity to meet students from different countries and gain a diverse and cultural study experience.
Among this year’s cohort was Erin from Canada. Erin has always wanted to spend a summer studying film and travelling abroad, so she applied to BISS. Here’s what she has to say about her experience:
“The application process was seamless. The BISS staff helped me every step of the way and kept me up-to-date on my application status. They were also prompt in answering my home university about which documents I would need in order to apply. All of their help made it easier for me to relax and spend my time looking over travel guides for England, instead of stressing out about the trip!"
“As soon as I arrived on campus, it was nothing but smiling faces and happy greetings! The student ambassadors were just as excited to welcome us as we were to be at their school.”
Erin took part in this year’s Film and Media programme, which is designed to provide students with an introduction to film-making and media culture in the UK.
“The best way to describe Film and Media is just that – action. You receive hands-on training with professional cameras, mics and video-editing software; all of the tools that every film student should know how to use,”
“Our professors taught us filming techniques, such as camera angles and movement and how to create a film from storyboard to final production. Whether you start the programme with previous experience in film-making or are just getting started, it’s built to accommodate students of all levels.”
As well as getting to grips with practical film-making techniques, students took part in a number of trips to find out more about the film industry. This included a tour of Leavesden Studios to learn about the making of the Harry Potter films, watching a movie in Birmingham’s oldest cinema and recording a radio play at the BBC studio in The Mailbox.
“On our final day, we reflected on how far our filming skills had come after just three weeks of practice and lessons from the University of Birmingham’s outstanding Film and Media professors,”
“I can highly recommend the BISS Film and Media programme to anyone who’s looking to improve their film-making abilities or would like to learn the fundamentals from professionals."
“I can say that I will never watch a movie the same way again, now knowing the amount of technique and thought that has gone into the production. I have a feeling there will be future blockbusters brewing in Birmingham from future Film and Media BISS students!”
Visit our webpages if you are interested in Film and Media or the other BISS Academic Programmes on offer.