Students experience buzz of creating TV drama
STUDENTS at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) have recently been on work experience on the set of popular drama series Yr Amgueddfa (The Museum) for S4C.
The second series is currently being filmed and has recently visited Carmarthenshire County Museum.
Yr Amgueddfa is an original play by award-winning author Fflur Dafydd, who lives in Carmarthen and works from the Boom Cymru office at Canolfan S4C Yr Egin.
It takes us to the dark and dangerous world of art crime and stars some of Wales’s brightest actors, such as Nia Roberts, Steffan Rhodri, Sharon Morgan and Delyth Wyn.
One of the aims of establishing Canolfan S4C Yr Egin on the UWTSD Carmarthen campus was to provide a link, with the intention of inspiring creativity and imagination among the students, and thereby cultivate talent for the future.
Visiting the filming location was a golden opportunity for BA Set Design and Production and BA Adventure Filmmaking students at the Carmarthen campus to have a taste and ‘real’ experiences of what the industry has to offer during the buzz of producing a drama, as well as forging valuable links for the future – and meeting the occasional celeb!
Fflur is glad to see the Carmarthen campus students taking interest in the production.
“It’s wonderful to see students having direct experience of a professional production such as this – it is one thing to study a subject, but quite another to have practical experience of doing the work, that is how one really learns. It was great that they were able to meet the actors, the director and the technical team, so as to enhance their appreciation of the work and the care that goes into creating a television drama,” she said.
Student Sebastian Jones said: “It’s a special opportunity for us as students to be able to have a taste of the television industry and to learn a range of new skills and terminology. Everyone was so friendly and made us feel part of the team.”
Fellow student Tea Stevensmclennan added: “I have truly enjoyed my time working on the set. Being able to help the crew and seeing how everything works has been brilliant. Everyone went out of their way to help us, advise us and share stories with us of their time in the industry. This made me feel comfortable in their company and comfortable to do more with them in future.”
And student Caitlin Fox said: “I have enjoyed, and I have learnt much. I am very grateful for the opportunity.”
Siwan Phillips, head of production at production company Boom Cymru, said: “Boom Cymru is singularly proud of collaborating with Trinity Saint David and offering students an opportunity to have work experience at the location of the set of the second series of Yr Amgueddfa.
“It is essential that the creative industries invest in the next generation of talent and give them experiences of what the media can offer them as a career. We greatly hope this partnership will continue.”
Lecturer Stacey-jo Atkinson, said: “Having students be part of the filming was wonderful. Connecting with industry is an essential element of our degree, and the ability to offer students opportunities across the creative sector is crucial.”