Mixing it with the TV experts

James Oldham learns the skills of the trade at the sound mixing desk

Students land the perfect placement

MEDIA students from Oldham Sixth Form College are gaining valuable work experience during placements at Sumners Television Post-Production facility in Manchester.

James Oldham and Adam Parkinson took up their five-week placement earlier this month as part of the college’s Junior University Vocational Workshop programme.

Sumners is the largest post-production facility outside London, with more than 30 suites for editing, sound mixing, colour grading and graphics.

It has credits on some of the most well-known programmes on British TV including Mastermind, Dragons’ Den, Songs of Praise, Panorama, The Royle Family and recent winner of the National Television Awards Best Drama, Waterloo Road.

Spending one day a week at Sumners, the students have one-to-one mentoring with senior members of staff within editing, audio mixing and visual effects and will also learn and develop their skills on cutting edge broadcast technology.

Managing director Janet Sumner said: “Media experience is often difficult to gain in the area of post-production and placements like these can help guide a young person into a future role in their chosen career.

“Learning from some of the country’s most talented and experienced professionals in the business is the ideal way to develop skills and ideas.”

The Junior University Workshop programme aims to develop and extend young talent by providing real media experiences and creative opportunities for students wanting to pursue a career in broadcasting and associated industries.

It is run by head of media Fiona Douglas-Reeves, who said: “This placement is an excellent chance for Adam and James, who are already passionate about broadcasting, to gain a real insight into the inner workings of programme making and finishing.

“It is invaluable experience for their progression into the highly competitive world of the media.”