Major band use university tech for latest music video

Home to a Virtual Production Stage (VPS) - one of just a handful in use at UK universities - Solent attracts creatives of all disciplines seeking to utilise the very best technology.

Used in the making of Hollywood productions such as The Batman and Disney's The Mandalorian, Solent's VPS boasts an expansive 10m wide and 3m tall LED screen which allows musicians and actors to, unlike a green screen, see and interact with their backdrop. Due to its scale, the stage provides striking visuals, which Don Broco took full advantage of when filming their Hype Man music video.

While the band, who first gained attention in 2008 and have since released four studio albums, visited Solent's campus for the technology, university graduates had the opportunity to gain unique practice-led experience on a massive scale. Technician Instructor, Christopher Woolford, says:

"Our collaboration with Don Broco showcases the way universities, and the incredible facilities they house, can have widespread use. At Solent, we're proudly home to cutting-edge technology that benefits not just our immediate community, but a variety of industries.

"The fact that our graduates had the opportunity to be involved is testament to the practice-led approach of learning and teaching at Solent, and I am proud of everyone involved who made this project come to life."

Production for the music video was supported by Luke Tollett and Alfie Stickler. The pair, who both graduated in July 2025, helped to shoot and light the video, working closely with the band and director. "Various skills I learnt over my three years at Solent all came in hand," Luke says.

"The experience was tremendous. It was great to put my skills to work, as well as learning more on the job, for a highly professional piece of work with a major fan base. Studying at Solent taught me essential skills that helped me play my part on this production."

This kind of industry experience is what Solent University prides itself on; creating opportunities for practice-led learning which enhances traditional methods of teaching. Alfie says:

"It was a bit of a surreal experience as I've seen Don Broco live a few times at major festivals and arena shows. While studying at Solent I had a lot of time to work with industry standard equipment, so I knew how to use all the equipment efficiently. I had a lot of fun!"