Finding a course to maximise Ben’s creativity

As someone who’s ‘always been interested in film and tv’, Ben Sutton was looking for a course that would fit better with his personality.

“I’ve always been creative, and film and tv can be a great outlet for that creativity,” says Ben. “I did one year of A levels but I’m not good with exams or revising, and realised that I prefer more creative courses where I can bring my ideas to life. I spoke to a careers advisor who told me about Leicester College and BTECs.”

To learn more about the media industry and how it works, Ben chose a BTEC in Creative Media TV and Film.

Developing ‘a creative mind’

The teachers at Leicester College have helped Ben to put his creative mind into practice.

Ben continues: “I’ve been learning about the various programmes and tools, and they’ve helped me to perfect my editing skills. We’ve had access to a range of equipment to refine our camera work, as well as lenses, lighting, green screens and studios – everything that we’ve needed.

“The trip to film at Eyam plague village was good and the guest speakers that came in gave us a chance to look at what we could make in terms of films and documentaries. This inspired me, allowing me to shoot off ideas and get feedback from professional film and documentary makers.

‘The best two years of my life’

Ben adds: “The anthology film we made in our second year was a rollercoaster but gave me free rein and a great opportunity to develop my skills; it really challenged me. All in all, the course has been the best two years of my life, setting me on the right path and allowing me to become who I am. 

“I’m now doing film making at university. It feels like the right choice. I’m aiming to end up in the film industry but still love making documentaries so you may also see my content on YouTube and other social platforms.”