MEDIA students looking to build their portfolios have found themselves in good health after being commissioned to produce and annual report with a difference.
Darlington College students on the Level 3 extended diploma in creative media, film and TV have begun work on a video version of the official report after being approached by the town’s Director of Public Health Penny Spring.
Every year she publishes an annual report, normally in the form of a document. But this year, to make it more engaging, she has asked the students to produce a video.
This will be screened at various events and uploaded onto the council’s website alongside other statutory information that also has to be published.
After an introduction by Mrs Spring, the video will feature a series of interviews with people of various age groups talking about their pandemic experiences, what they have learned and their aspirations for the future.
She wants the video to be upbeat and positive, of how young people adapted well to the crisis and the things they learned, including the technology surrounding online learning.
Key public health messages will also include whether the pandemic had affected the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and food and influenced exercise and weight gain.
The interviews will also cover mental health and wellbeing issues, socialising while isolated, handling loss, resilience and the impact on opportunities.
Camera operator and editor Alexa Gordon, 17, of Darlington, developed an interest in TV and film while studying media at Carmel College. She hopes to study film production at Salford University. She said: “It is great to be part of something like this and it will be fantastic for my portfolio. I love using the camera and editing and hope to do it one day as my career.”
Helping her on both sides of the camera, Riley Bowron, 17, of Darlington, hopes one day to be an actor or script writer.
“I am high functioning autistic and so found the pandemic and lockdown very isolating,” said Riley, who is currently writing a novel about two female detectives who fall in love.
After leaving school at the age of 14 she spent two years at Darlington College studying health and beauty before switching to media. “I was really happy to help out with the video including being interviewed myself,” she said. “I love TV and film but also like writing too.”
Darlington College lecturer Karl Oldridge said: “We witnessed our students first hand grow in stature and maturity during the pandemic and this Public Health project is the perfect opportunity for them to produce an insightful piece of work for a unique period of their lives.”
Mrs Spring added: “The aim is to see the pandemic through the eyes of others. While living with COVID was a life-changing experience for us all, particularly those who suffered loss, it also brought out some incredible qualities of kindness and resilience as this generation made history.
“I’m so grateful to Darlington College students for helping me capture what was a momentous occasion.
“For those of us blessed enough to come out of the other side, it seems to have equipped us better for life giving us the ability to take everything in our stride, including the current cost of living crisis.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.