Students create promotional videos to win ‘Oscars’

Posted 19 February 2014

Final year Harper Adams University students turned their hands to film-making to produce a series of promotional videos for real-life clients to host on their websites.

The students, studying countryside-related courses, were asked to produce and present industry-standard videos to the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust, the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the National Trust at Attingham Park.

This assignment is part of the Managing Countryside Projects module, with a student project manager elected to oversee the creation of 10 minutes’ worth of videos for each client.

The completed videos were then presented to a panel of clients who looked at camera work, editing, scripting and sound to select the best features of the videos.

Module Leader, Eric Howell, said: “I am really proud of the hard work and creativity shown by the students, and the videos are exceptionally good.

“Being able to work closely with clients to get across complex messages in a short video is a real skill that will help the students in their careers after they graduate this summer.”

Despite little prior experience in this field, the students produced videos which the clients were extremely happy with, and which they believe will enhance their organisation’s reputation.

Bryony Carter from Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Working with the students has been great, it felt like I was working with a professional production team and the result, we have three fantastic promotional videos we can use and already have received great feedback.

“It was a pleasure working with Harper Adams and we would do it again.”

Following the presentations, ‘The Countryside Oscars’ were awarded in categories such as ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Editor’ and ‘Best Camerawork.’

Alexandra Rogers, studying Countryside Management, project managed the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust videos. The 23-year-old from Great Barr, Birmingham, said: “Producing the videos has required a large amount of hard work and learning new skills in a short time limit.

“This project gave us the chance to work alongside some professional organisations from our sector, which gave us a great experience of being ‘real world’ contractors.

“We were able to spend time with friends, gaining skills we wouldn't normally have had the opportunity to develop, and produce something we are very proud of.  Overall we are very happy that our videos have been well received and will be used by our client on their new website.”

Watch the student videos here.