Glastonbury gives students...
June 26 2008
More than 40 Southampton Solent University students and staff are being tested to the limit - with the country's most enviable work experience placements at Glastonbury Festival 2008.
The University is the only one in the UK with a work placement arrangement with the world famous festival - and its students play a vital role in production.
Broadcast journalism, TV Production, Film and TV Studies, Media Technology and Events Management students and staff are taking the new Outside Broadcast truck through the infamous mud and mayhem to produce a series of short films commissioned by the festival's Glastonbury TV.
The students are using the University's High Definition multi-camera rig, recording equipment and digital network to film and edit commissioned documentaries about eco issues and the setting up of Glastonbury - as well as live camera coverage of the UK's top music acts.
The film footage will be used by the Radio One website, Reuters news agency and for a Glastonbury DVD and archive.
Dave Poulton, one of the University's senior technicians, started the work experience in 2004, after years of taking a small group with him to run a voluntary food kitchen on Michael Eavis's site.
Since then, the Solent students have learnt their trade while mixing with the world's biggest performers in roles ranging from reporting for Radio Avalon, to backstage production, filming performers and interviewing musicians.
Senior Film and TV Studies Lecturer, Tony Steyger said: "It's the first time we have attempted to produce such a wide range of content for the festival. It will be a great challenge for our new Outside Broadcast truck and we will be shooting for the first time in High Definition. It's a fantastic experience for our students who will have to work hard and think on their feet."
First year BA (Hons) TV and Video Production student, Sarah Haynes, is thrilled to be working on the multi-camera set up for the live acts in the dance village. She said: "My ambition is to be a television producer, and filming Glastonbury is an amazing start – and great for the CV."
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