News and Events

The Bourne Legacy

9 January 2013

Editor Dan Mellow talks to the Media School students

Alumni come back to BU to give Media School students advice on finding success in the industry.

Successful Media School alumni were back at Bournemouth University to share their stories and advice with final year students.

Among those speaking at The Bourne Legacy event were BU graduates who have gone on to edit The X-Factor, work on Tim Burton animated film Frankenweenie, and have gained a position at BBC Radio 1Xtra.

The event is now in its second year, and has been organised to inspire current final year students from across the Digital Media Design, TV and Radio Production, Scriptwriting for Film and TV and Global Media Practice degrees.

Mark Shufflebottom, Programme Co-ordinator for BA (Hons) Digital Media Design, helped to organise the event.

He said: "It is a chance for [the students] to meet people from BU who have gone out into industry and are doing great things.

"It is about meeting these guys and them giving some really good ideas of how to get into the industry."

The first speaker of the day was Dan Mellow, an editor who has worked on TV shows including the X-Factor and Comic Relief, and is now editing comedy programmes.

Dan, who completed a Media Production degree at BU in 1995, said: "There were so many skills that I learnt at Bournemouth University that I have taken into the industry and that continue to be useful today.

He added: "I've hugely enjoyed the event. I hope it's very useful for the current batch of students for alumni to come back and share their experiences and stories of how they got into the industry."

Among others speaking at the event were producer and director Céin McGillicuddy, who has worked on programmes like Made in Chelsea and MTV's My Super Sweet World Class since completing a BA (Hons) in Scriptwriting for Film and TV then an MA (Hons) in TV Production at BU, and fellow Scriptwriting for Film and TV graduate Daniella Wills, who worked at Aardman Animations and Disney before moving into children's magazines.

Following the talks, there was a panel session with the alumni for students to ask any questions, and an opportunity for networking.

Anna Goodridge, who studied TV Production at BU from 2005 to 2008 was another of the speakers.

She is currently working as a Production Coordinator on BBC drama Holby City.

Anna said: "I started off as a runner and worked my way up the old-fashioned way, which is how you're always going to have to do it.

"I want to let students know that your mum or dad doesn't have to work in television - with hard work and a bit of research you can get in quite easily but you've got to be patient and one day, eventually, you'll get to where you want to be."

Return to News Menu page