1. B1: Progression Unit Evaluation
Half-way through the college year now, I am finally now at the end of my first unit. Being all about
progression, helping to get us through our education and show us what is lying ahead of us, the
college has helped prepare us by having us complete such tasks as creating an industry CV, look and
research into our options after college, and even produce a website, logo, business card and
showreel to show off to potential employers in the future.
My inspirations
Working towards making a start on my personal statement for applying to University, a document
had been created so I could talk about the what had inspired me into wanting to join the media and
film industry. Not something I had ever sat back and thought about before, doing this document has
helped me realise a lot of things about myself and figure out my keen interests and what it is exactly
I want to do.
It was definitely a time travelling journey thinking back on everything from what I thought I wanted
to do when I was younger and how my state of mind had changed through the years. And even with
film not being what I thought I would have grown up to go into, that interest was always there with
me always interested in watching behind-the-scenes stuff for both movies and series that I enjoyed
watching.
Academic research
As it is a really big decision, research was needed to help me settle on which university I would like
to go to after college. From the course itself to the commitments needed to be apart of that course, I
had looked into eight different universities with a lot of time that was spent digging into each as I got
closer to choosing my few options. And with the maximum choice in selections being five over on
UCAS, that was how many I needed to gather to fill up those options.
Before starting on my research here, all I knew was that I had wanted to go straight to Leeds
University after college. Never considering any other place for education, I needed to at least find an
additional four places that I would consider going to to then add onto my UCAS application in
preparation of sending it off.
And now because of that research, I found myself stuck having three universities I now like the
sound of. That being Leeds, Bedfordshire, and York. Then added to be more of a back-up choice,
Teesside and Newcastle. Although the courses don't sound bad, they seem quite good actually, but
my top three options are my preferable ones.
Working in the Media Industry
Although I am settled on my decision of going to university right after college, I still need to consider
and look into my other options for after college. Whether that be going straight into employment, or
applying for an apprenticeship.
2. It was interesting getting to learn of of the career options around me, and even though this isn't
something I will be going into anytime soon, I will definitely be using that idea of searching for
industry-related jobs in the area as you never know what is around you without putting that
required effort in.
Personal statement
Although I did have to get some assistance with this section, UCAS was very helpful having a layout
for anyone to access with titles providing what you need to write about in each section.
With the help of the 'my inspiration' section as well, I was able to take that and interpretate that into
my personal statement as previously mentioned.
Making up to three drafts before I could eventually send it off, it was made difficult trying to fix up
the mistakes whilst also keeping the statement under the word limit and line limit. Got there in the
end though and it has worked in impressing a few of the universities I have applied for so that works
well enough for me.
CV
Being the most difficult blog for me to write up I found, always hating when it comes to making a
normal CV, the research was a lot of help for when it came to making my industry CV as I would have
been next to clueless without it. And I guess it could be classed as cheating depending on the way
you would want to look at it, but the layout on Indeed was very helpful in getting the structure I
needed. And it was there to be used so I don't see the harm in it, as long as I still managed to make it
my own. Which I did.
With CV's as well, even more so for industry CVs, you never know if it is good enough for employers.
But with what has been uploaded onto my blog, I will keep in mind the task of editing the document
for every job role I apply for. So what has been classed as my final product on the blog, obviously will
never be my final product.
3. Logo Design
Setting up a small production company in a way, a logo was needed.
With the name being needed before anything, a small list was created and looked into for potential
names all in the lead up to 'Kilbride Productions' being the chosen one. Going with that, I started to
research into my surname to help think of how I could base a logo off that title.
Then thinking of the idea of Kilbride meaning 'son of the servant', a man holding a bowl up serving it
is what I was able to picture and go with. And what I like as well when connecting it to my media
products, I can see the design as me presenting and/or dishing my content out to the audience. So to
me, I find it very fitting.
When it came to creating the design, I was able to get help from two amazing volunteers, as I will
have already mentioned. Without their help I would have struggled with getting this right due to
having a model to hold the bowl with another holding a torch to get the lightening right with me
directing both of them to get the perfect shot I was after.
Then for the rest of it, Photoshop was the primary source.
4. I quite enjoyed getting on with this though, it was a struggle managing the tools to get them to do
exactly what I wanted with the tracking pad but I got there in the end and I am quite happy with the
result.
1 - Having to make a second version of the logo for when it came to making the business card, basically the design is exactly
the same with the only difference being the addition of the production title being in the logo.
Business Card
Taking the logo design, a business card was needed following that.
Basing the design off of the logo, a good few designs were put together but the help of my target
audience was needed. With that, a survey was created allowing me to gather the opinions of the
participants and perfect the design some more.
Going with the two-sided design, the design was patched up based off of the suggestions of the
participants giving me the final product I am now associating with.
2 - The front of my chosen business card
5. 3 - The back of my chosen business card
Create Britain
Still needing to be worked on, and will be updated as I go on, a website was created as a portfolio to
help showcase my work and skills all in one space. Using 'Create Britain', the website was very simple
and easy to get the hang of when making a start on it. It does look quite empty at the moment, but
like I said, as I go on I will make sure to keep updating the site at every chance I get.
Showreel design
Merging almost everything I've worked on, it was disappointing having filmed clips lying around with
nothing done about them like the barbering videos and the parade. But it could have been worse, I
could have had nothing at all.
So far what is a thirty-odd second video at the moment, the duration will be extended showing my
progress as I make updated showreels.
Mock interview
This one I found myself hating. Mostly because of the presenting and having to be on camera whilst
presenting it. The build up to doing it was quite scary I cannot lie as it is difficult enough talking in a
day-to-day conversation. Then when having to explain my ideas to someone and keeping sure that it
makes sense without going back on myself repeatedly and coming out with gibberish.
Once it begun though the mock didn't last long at all thankfully. And even then, wasn't as bad as I
thought it was going to be. But still, I am very glad to have it done and out of the way. Definitely can
not wait to experience the real thing.
Luckily as well actually, the interviewer had no trouble understanding my idea and answers to her
questions which was a worry of mine. I did get stuck being asked on the budget for the film as I
didn't expect it to go that deep with detail. Giving an answer about the fundraiser I attempted to
create though, again she seemed pleased with my response.
Figuring out an idea to present wasn't the easiest either. Being suggested to use my B2 project idea,
I then went further and pitched the idea I wasn't able to move forward with due to the requirements
in getting it made.
6. Networking
Honestly, with the networking sheets, I wish I did as I was advised to last year and wrote them out
after every event instead of chucking however many empty templates into a folder and leaving it till
last minute.
But they are all done now. Even if extra time was wasted that could have been cut down on if I done
them sooner.
I don't like that with some of them they aren't as informative as they could be. And that just goes
back to me not writing the sheets out causing me to forget half of what would have been useful.
Overall
Not being the most interesting unit to work on, I do understand that by doing this unit has and will
help me progress so much better in my upcoming days. With both university and after that. As well,
with the knowledge I have gained through this research I will definitely be taking away all that I have
learned and using that to my advantage when it comes to me moving on after university already
having all of this in my pocket really.
The worst parts for me to write up had to be the CV section and the personal statement. As most do,
I hate talking about myself and the fact you have to purposely brag about yourself is a very
uncomfortable thing for me. With the CV's I do believe I should have had more drafts and develop
that further, but having a draft I was happy to leave it at I'd like to believe that I have gotten it done
alright. And as I said, what has been presented as my final product, will never be my final product.
CV-wise at least.
Something I need to make a real improvement on is my Create Britain profile. I have time with that
though, and I can always go back to it and update it as I progress through both my education and
career.
I would like to say as well that I have learnt from my mistake with the networking sheets. Expecting
to have similar events through my next few years in university, I will be making sure to have
everything documented as soon as possible rather than doing what I did causing me to have to hunt
around for needed information.
Overall, as much as I would have rathered not having to do this unit, it is going to do me well in the
long run and that I am quite happy with.
