Creative students from HSDC’s South Downs Campus were recently given an exclusive opportunity to hear from industry professionals Craig Davis and Jonathan Sidwell.
Craig Davis, an accomplished lighting gaffer with an impressive portfolio that includes projects for Uber Eats, Pepsi, Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Prada, Vogue, and Beyoncé, shared his career journey with the students. He emphasised the importance of a good work ethic, communication, and standing out in the competitive creative industry.
Jonathan Sidwell, an accomplished 1st Assistant Director who has worked on commercials and music videos but is also an Emmy award winner for the production work on the sports documentary “Brawn” starring Keanu Reeves. He introduced an exciting new competition exclusively for HSDC students.
Students from all three campuses have been invited to create and submit a short film to the FiHUB website, where they will compete against students from New City College London. The winner will not only receive a cash prize but also a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend a day on a professional film set, an invaluable experience for aspiring creatives.
FiHUB is set to be a global platform for emerging young talent, providing a space where their content can gain exposure and be seen by professionals throughout the creative industries. The initiative was born as a vision to bridge the gap between young talent and industry opportunities.
The event was organized by Aaron Butson, Assistant Principal Business, Employment & Skills and Paul Carter, Assistant principal Curriculum–South Downs. Speaking about the collaboration, they said:
“HSDC is really excited to be working with Craig and Jonathan on this fantastic new project. This competition will provide an invaluable opportunity for our students to try-out in this industry, and this is the perfect way to kick off our partnership. We can’t wait to see what our students create.”
Craig Davis also praised HSDC’s dedication to student success: “HSDC continues to proactively support young people in gaining employment, and their creative department is exceptional. This is just the beginning of this partnership and for their students.”
The presentation sparked enthusiasm among students, who engaged with Craig and Jonathan through insightful questions, demonstrating their passion for the creative industries.
For more information about the competition and FI Hub, visit https://www.fihub.net/