Our Connected Campus pilot with The Northern School of Art has already begun delivering real impact for students. The programme which is designed in partnership to bridge the gap between creative study and real-world screen industry experience, gives students exclusive access to industry masterclasses, hands-on workshops, and employability support.
Now four modules in, the programme is already proving transformative, with students from across Film, TV & Theatre, Animation, Illustration, Photography, Model Making & VFX, Costume Design and Production for Stage and Screen, gaining practical skills, confidence and industry insight.
Engaging with industry from day one
Connected Campus has brought together a diverse range of high profile industry professionals (who are all based in the North East), offering students fresh perspectives on roles in the industry, developing transferable skills and establishing life-long careers in TV & Film, right here in the region.
So far, the following have provided their time and expertise:
- Sarah Howie on Production Roles — as an experienced Production Manager and Line Producer, Sarah introduced students to production roles, communication, workflow and the collaborative structure of a film set.
- Jason Cook on Screenwriting — writer, comedian and business owner Jason provided students with crucial insights into storytelling, character development and screenplay structure. The students worked in groups developing and pitching their own ideas and receiving valuable direct feedback from Jason.
- Malcolm Wilkie on Storyboarding – Concept and storyboard artist Malcolm gave real world examples from his career in advertising, film and TV. He delivered a storyboarding-technique masterclass, focussing on shot types, movement and framing.
- Lynsey Palmer on Production Management — Production Manager Lynsey’s workshop offered real-world expertise on scheduling, logistics, troubleshooting and managing departments with an opportunity to complete actual paperwork.
Hands-on learning with real production tools
A defining achievement of Connected Campus so far is the level of practical, industry-standard experience provided.
Students have:
- Used professional radios to practise clear on‑set communication — a vital skill across every production department.
- Worked with scripts and call sheets, learning how information is shared across teams, how shoots are structured, and how different roles interact.
- Taken part in collaborative exercises mirroring real production processes, preparing them for set ready behaviour and professional expectations
Cross‑discipline collaboration in action
One of the programme’s key strengths is the way it has brought together students across multiple creative disciplines — from animators and model makers, to photographers and costume designers.
This mirrors the real screen industry, where effective collaboration across departments is essential. We’ve seen students sharing creative approaches, understand how story, design, performance and visualisation interconnect, and learn how each department contributes to the bigger production picture. This is already shaping stronger project work and helping students recognise where their place within the industry might be.
Building momentum for the screen industry
By giving students early access to industry professionals, set-ready skills and employability support, the programme is helping create local talent pathways that will feed directly into the growing screen sector within the region. These students are already benefiting from seeing the production around major developments happening on their doorstep, including the Hartlepool Production Village and redevelopment of The Northern Studios.
Catriona McAvoy – Education Partnerships Manager, North East Screen:
The pilot of Connected Campus at the Northern School of Art is shaping up very successfully. We have worked with course leaders and industry to develop a dynamic programme that meets student needs across screen and non screen courses and that bridges the gap to industry, addressing skills gaps and providing real world experiences.
So far we have looked at different areas of pre production and post production with sessions on storytelling, storyboarding, production management and working on location. Upcoming we have more hands on production sessions and a look at post production. All sessions are delivered by an industry professional who is an expert in their field, we have worked with each of them to develop an engaging workshop that goes beyond a talk, allowing them to share their expertise and encouraging students to participate in hands on activities where they can connect with the expert and get direct support and feedback.
The sessions have all been informative, engaging and fun. With attendance levels remaining high and students arriving promptly to every session ready to participate. One of the advantages of the regular monthly sessions has been seeing the students become more comfortable and confident as we have progressed. I am looking forward to delivering the rest of the programme, supporting students to develop transferable skills they can apply to whatever career they choose and graduating with a clearer understanding of opportunities in the film and television industry.
What’s next
The next phase of the programme will take students deeper into the technical side of production, with upcoming modules in:
- Camera, Lighting & Sound
- Working on Location
- Post Production & VFX‑Production & VFX
The programme will culminate in an event giving students a platform to celebrate their achievements and connect with industry professionals before the end of the academic year.
