INSIGHTLEICESTER

MEDIA SCHOOL

SUM

MER

2014

AWARD WINNING

CREATIVE UNIVERSITY

MEDIA PRODUCTION STUDENTS GO

BEHIND THE SCENES OF FLOG IT!

SPORTS CLUBS HOST

DMU CHAMPIONS

WELCOME TO LEICESTER MEDIA SCHOOL 2014 is an exciting year for De Montfort University (DMU), with ground-breaking research, campus developments and the launch of #DMUglobal.

In this magazine you can learn more about the University, including the exciting transformation of our campus, our contribution to the local community with our innovative Square Mile project and our #DMUglobal initiative, which allows students to gain an international experience.

You can also read about the achievements of our current students and graduates who have gone on to enjoy success and learn more about how our students are shaping the future of Technology.

We hope you enjoy reading Insight and look forward to welcoming you to DMU.

FOLLOW US:For the latest news and information relating to De Montfort University

@dmuleicester

For the latest news and information from the Faculty of Technology

@DMUTECH

GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH, CAMPUS DEVELOPMENTS AND THE LAUNCH OF #DMUGLOBAL

INSIGHTAWARD WINNING CREATIVE UNIVERSITYFor the second year running Which? University has named De Montfort University (DMU) as one of the top creative universities in the UK. The views of more than 16,000 students from both the 2012 and 2013 Which? University student surveys have revealed the top-rated universities for a variety of areas, including creative, sport and nightlife.

This is the second consecutive year that DMU has been named as one of the top creative universities in the UK.

Students were asked to rate their university on the role that music, theatre, art and dance played in university life, as well as the amount of art-related societies, events and facilities open to students.

Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: “To know that for the second year running students have named DMU as one of the UK’s top creative universities is a tribute to the innovation of our staff and the quality of our facilities.

It also reflects the excellent employability rates for our students and the exciting internships that we offer, be it with Ubisoft, Gap, Hugo Boss or Hewlett Packard.

Jenni Allen, Head of Which? University, said: “The academic and extra-curricular experience at university varies widely. With increased tuition fees, it’s never been more important for prospective students to weigh up all the options and make sure they make the right choice for them.”

A UNIVERSITY FOR THE PUBLIC GOODIt has been a clean sweep for DMU’s innovative Square Mile project as it has won a series of awards. Both the Guardian University Awards and the Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards, have recognised the University for its commitment to bringing about positive change for the public good through its innovative Square Mile project.

The project utilises a network of student volunteers and academic experts to run projects that have a positive effect on the lives of people in Leicester. DMU Square Mile is the brainchild of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dominic Shellard, who said: “Students and staff at DMU come to DMU to make a difference. DMU Square Mile exemplifies

this. I couldn’t be more proud of our selfless volunteers who have worked so hard.”

“DMU is securing a global future for our students in an increasingly competitive world and seeking to equip them with the skills and experience required by employers. Square Mile initiatives are fundamental to this aim.”

There was even more success for the project at The Times Higher Education Awards, where it was it was highly commended in the ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community’ category. The University as a whole has also been honoured on a recent visit to India with the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for its work with the community.

To learn more about how you can get involved with square mile visit dmu.ac.uk/dmusquaremile or email squaremile@dmu.ac.uk

WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DMU STUDENTS WITH #DMUGLOBAL#DMUglobal is an exciting programme offering the majority of DMU students the chance to enjoy an international experience during their studies – providing relevant work, volunteering and study–related opportunities on campus, in the UK or at destinations across the world.

Studying at DMU and taking part in #DMUglobal will help strengthen your CV, broaden your cultural horizons and develop your personal resilience. When you graduate, you can stand out in an increasingly competitive global employment market.

Supported by British Airways, the programme reflects the university’s global outlook, and commitment to the best student experience and graduate employability.

DMU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard said: “#DMUglobal reflects the importance we place on providing students with a first-class experience and equipping them with the employability skills to prepare them for the world of work.

“DMU is able to call upon its extensive network of global partners to make some incredible opportunities available to our students.

“We strongly believe that in this increasingly globalised world, living, studying or working abroad – even if just for a short time – can make a significant difference to your outlook and development as well as adding value to your degree.”

#DMUglobal has already given students the chance to work and study all over the world, including opportunities in Brazil, Japan, China, Italy, Hong Kong, India, Turkey and on campus.

There will be many #DMUglobal opportunities from September 2014, including those linked to courses. More information about how to apply and financial support will be available before the start of the academic year.

For more details visit www.dmuglobal.com and if you have any questions or comments, email the team on dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk

INCREDIBLE

OPPORTUNITIES

AVAILABLE

SPECTACULAR TRANSFORMATION OF DMU’S CAMPUS IS UNDER WAYA multi-million pound investment has begun which will provide the modern, inspiring environment DMU’s students deserve.

DMU’s £90m campus transformation project continues at pace as the university presses ahead with its plans to provide cutting-edge new buildings and teaching facilities.

Huge diggers moved in to tear down the old ceramics block, former students’ union and parts of the Fletcher complex, off Mill Lane, which will eventually make way for exciting cutting-edge buildings and teaching facilities, providing DMU with one of the best higher education complexes in the country.

Forty-eight years after the Queen Mother officially opened DMU’s Fletcher complex, described at the time as ‘truly revolutionary’, the centrepiece tower block now stands empty, ready for a complete refurbishment inside and out.

The new complex will house the university’s internationally-renowned schools of Fashion and Textiles, Art, Design and Architecture. A ground-breaking Confucius Institute – to promote Chinese language and culture – will also be housed there.

The striking new and refurbished buildings will be surrounded by open parkland, creating a ‘green lung’ running through the heart of what DMU intends to be the finest city centre campus in Britain.

The spectacular new teaching spaces and facilities will ensure DMU offers the ultimate student experience and prepares its students better than ever before to enter the world of work. Umesh Desai, deputy director of estates, said: “We are very happy with the progress being made in what is probably the most ambitious project ever undertaken by DMU.

“Over the next two years we can look forward to some truly innovative and radical new buildings taking shape and the creation of a green lung, in the form of superb, landscaped open parkland, which we know will ensure our students and staff work, and relax, in wonderful surroundings.”

The showpiece works are just the latest element of the wide-ranging project. Since summer 2013 the university has overseen:

• Provision of first-class teaching and learning facilities for students and staff in the Art Factory, Mill Studios, Wellesley House and Heritage House.

• Installation of solar panels on the roofs of the Hugh Aston Building, Gateway House and the Edith Murphy Building, saving DMU £25,000 a year in energy bills while dramatically reducing CO2 emissions.

• Creation of modern and relaxing student “breakout” areas in the ground floors of Gateway House and the Queens Building.

• Opening of a new Leicester Media School at Bede Island, offering industry standard technology for cutting-edge courses such as Game Art and Animation.

• Beginning of updating facilities in the Hawthorn Building.

INSIGHT

INCREDIBLE

OPPORTUNITIES

AVAILABLE

TRULY INNOVATIVE AND

RADICAL NEW BUILDINGS

TAKING SHAPE

STUDENTS WIN AT STARPACK AWARDSGraphic Design Students from DMU cleared up at the recent Starpack Awards. The students from years 2 and 3 of the graphic design courses have scooped two Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and a Commendation in this years’ national Starpack student awards.

The Student Starpack competition, which was established in 1964, challenges

Gold Winner and overall 1st place: Sean Giles Project: Headphone Packaging

Project Description: A sustainable option to the plastic blister packs you normally see headphones packaged in. The packaging uses only corrugated cardboard as a material, which is strong and durable, therefore keeping the product protected from the elements. Multiple layers form the packaging as a whole, and the headphones sit inside keeping them extremely secure.

Sean was surprised at winning the award, “Winning was an amazing feeling, the main thing I’m happy about is that people have actually appreciated a project I’ve produced. So I feel rather proud.”

“I would love to end up in the packaging industry, It’s definitely a passion of mine and I’m quite into my branding also, so a job within these disciplines is what I’m aiming for in the future.”

Gold Winner: Ewart Wade O’Connor Project: The Well - Shaped Fish Cake

Project Description: A new packaging design for fish cakes with graphics that had a Norwegian identity. Ewart extended on the brief by identifying that fish cakes have a dis-functional circular shape, causing more material to be wasted during packaging manufacture. The new packaging was 100% eco-friendly and was designed to be reused with the addition of an airtight lid.

Ewart took the timescale and workshop limitations he faced in his stride, “My biggest high of this whole experience was on the morning of the photo shoot, I remember looking through the lens of the camera and being very proud at what was one the other side of it. I hope that this achievement can create more exposure for my work with more opportunities for work experience and internships over the next year. “

He wants to make a career out of graphic design; he said “it is my biggest passion in life! For now, I am excited with the prospects of starting third year and completing summer placements in any creative studios that will have me.”

Silver Winner: Charlie Evans Project: UnbeWeaveable - The Cardboard Bag

Project Description: The product is made from 100% sustainable and eco-friendly materials, and is a full size working backpack. It is both comfortable to wear and unique in aesthetical and material value. Through weaving, plaiting and traditional stitching, the product is a unique impact.

Charlie wanted to create a high impact and unique piece, she said, “I decided early on in the project to throw myself in at the deep end and create something that would be impossible to imagine, and eventually this confidence paid off.”

“This project has been the most enjoyable project I have ever completed. The innovative design and creative use of the material gave me some problems during the process. I made multiple prototypes and tested the structure to gain as much knowledge of the material as possible to give a better final outcome.”

Charlie plans to set up ‘ The UnbeWeavable co. ’ with start-up business funding and hopes to connect with the support from Creative Leicestershire. This will allow her to further explore the product’s unique selling points and create a range. Interest in this range has already been voiced from Leicestershire high street shops.

students from a wide range of courses, some with a graphics emphasis and others concerned with structural/product design, as well as those from materials/technology courses, to submit solutions to problems set by brand leading FMCG companies, design agencies, and manufacturers – and win recognition of their excellence.

The expectation is that students really challenge conventional thinking and break the rules with off-the-wall creativity

and this will be the key criterion for judging success, and this year’s awards were no exception, with a huge range of creative and unique packing ideas.

The winners will collect their awards at an industry packed awards dinner in November.

Bronze Winner: Tenille Vesey Project: Beetle back

Project Description: A festival survival kit container, with a hard plastics shell, that can be collapsed and stored flat and is re-usable.

Tenille said, “I loved this project from the very start. I am a massive festival fan and knew exactly the sort of things I would want to make that would be useful in the field. It was nice to have the opportunity to take these ideas and turn them into reality and have the guidance of professionals whilst constructing it.”

Commendation: Ilya Nasedkin Project: A Great British Picnic Pack

Project Description: Summer is coming and people start to get outside more and more. Eating out is something that is popular in the summer, this means Al Fresco eating. The aim is to package all you need in one box, which would be themed specially for these purposes. Something like “grab and go” box. Your perfect picnic pack!

DEMON MEDIA HAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

It has been an amazing year for Demon Media, following on from the success of hosting the Student Radio Conference in 2013; in the past year, Demon Media has also won plaudits for its podcasts for Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival, produced an award-winning newspaper, developed its TV channel and launched its own website.

Student Radio Association Awards

Firstly, DJs Neil Kewn and Ed Crofts secured a nomination in the search for Britain’s radio stars of the future. Neil and Ed, both final year Radio Production and Technology BSc students, were nominated in the best entertainment programme category for this year’s Student Radio Association Awards.

It is the third year in a row that Demon FM has secured success in the SRA Awards.

NUS Awards

Demon Media then found success at the National Union of Students (NUS) awards in the ‘best student media’ category. To reach the finals for the first time, Demon Media had to show how it had encouraged students to be part of its production, set targets for quality and involved students on non-media courses in its output.

Tom Williams, Vice President of media and communications, said: “To be recognised as the best student media in the UK fills me with pride. The last 12 months have been full of successes - too many to list - and this award is testament to the hard work of the members.

Simon Walsh, Senior Lecturer of Radio Production and Technology at DMU believes this award is just one of many to come for Demon Media.

He said: “Demon Media’s recognition at the NUS Awards this year reflects superbly the vibrant, independent and professional student media operations which are run at DMU through the students’ union.

INSIGHT

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY DEMON FMDemon FM was set up in 1995 by DMU graduate Rob Martin after he was elected communications executive at the students’ union. For the first 14 years the station ran on a Restricted Services Licence and could only broadcast two times a year for 28 days at a

time before, in 2009, being granted a five year community radio licence. Today, Demon FM is one of only six full-time student-led community radio stations in the UK, broadcasting around the clock, with 22 hours of live content a day.

During the station’s 18 years, members of Demon FM have gone on to work for the BBC, Capital, Heart XFM and talkSPORT.

Richard Culver, a Demon FM member in 2000-01, is now executive producer for BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra and Ed Stagg, Station Manager in 2006-07, is currently presenting on BBC Radio Leicester.

#GETMEONAIR RAISES OVER £3000 DURING RAG WEEKTry and picture this, just for a minute… You’re locked in a cold, creepy, abandoned old gym. For 48 hours, with 19 other people, all deprived of sleep, being voted on and off the radio by the public and being forced to compete against one another in a series of tough challenges.

Sound like hell? That’s exactly what 20 crazy and excited Demon Media members did to raise as much money as possible for ‘Raise and Give’ (RAG) week.

Listeners and viewers of DMU’s very own 107.5 DemonFM voted for their favourite duos to escape the mad house for a few precious hours to present, while the rest stuck in the university’s Old Sports Hall had to play games, face forfeits and deal with the lack of sleep!

The event was streamed live on DemonTV and was so popular it was trending on twitter. Head of Live Music and Events at DemonFM, Chris Smith said, “The event was so successful because of the teamwork and number of people involved who put in so much effort.”

All the monies were raised for The Nottingham Charity Hospitals Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

NIFTY THINKINGAydenn Wardle studied BSc Media Technology and used the skills he developed during his studies to help form an innovative media organisation right here in Leicester. In conjunction with running his own freelance media design business has teamed up with other designers to form a group called ‘Nifty Thinking’.

Nifty Thinking is a co-operative design agency, the most recent campaign they worked on was the official promotional video for the Leicester City of Culture Bid 2017. Aydenn says that he owes a lot to the way his course developed his skills.

“My degree gave me everything I needed to know for my career. I think the biggest skills I gained were life skills. Things like communication tools and ways to interact in new situations. Also skills for work such as, time keeping, working to a fixed deadline and production of high quality industry standard work. DMU is your key to achieve your ambitions in life”

SO POPULAR IT WAS TRENDING ON TWITTER

INSIGHTSPORTING CHANCE FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTSBudding journalists at De Montfort University are putting their new-found skills into practice by taking up highly-prized placements with Leicester’s professional sports clubs.

Final-year journalism students Jacob Landers,

Lewis Hanson and Jordan Rowson are boosting their job prospects by gaining invaluable experience working at Leicester City Football Club (LCFC), Leicester Tigers and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. The trio are studying a sports journalism module at the Leicester Centre for Journalism at DMU.

Jacob has been spending one day a week at the King Power Stadium for Leicester City Football Club, his match reports for the City under-18s have been published on the LCFC website and he has had a feature appear in

the matchday programme, providing him with all-important cuttings for his CV.

Jacob, who is originally from Cornwall and is studying English Language with Journalism at DMU said:

“This is a brilliant way for me to put everything I have studied into practice. It is such an exciting opportunity and I am really enjoying myself. It’s superb.”

IT IS SUCH AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY AND I AM REALLY ENJOYING MYSELF. IT’S SUPERB

TOP TIPS FROM COMEDY LEGENDSLegendary writers behind Britain’s best-loved TV sitcoms shared their top tips with DMU students at a day packed full of advice for aspiring comedy writers.

Jesse Armstrong, of Fresh Meat and Peep Show fame, as well as legend Trix Worrall, creator of Desmond’s sitcom, were among those who gave their time to inspire and educate the students.

‘Writing Comedy – LOL – Lots of Laughs’ was held in London’s Actors Centre in Covent Garden, organised by Jim Hill of DMU’s Television Scriptwriting MA course.

The keynote speech came from Laurence Marks, the man behind’ The New Statesman’ and ‘Birds of a Feather’ while Keith Lindsay, who worked with John Sullivan on ‘Only Fools and Horses’ spin-off ‘The Green, Green Grass’, led a masterclass in creating comic characters.

Hayley Pepler, a first year student on the MA course, said: “It was a really interesting and inspiring day. The networking sessions were useful for me as a student because I got to talk to people that I would normally never meet. It gave me an insider track into what companies like the BBC were looking for.

NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY LINKS SEE JOURNALISM STUDENTS LAND TOP AWARDTwo De Montfort University (DMU) students have been recognised for their outstanding work in community journalism by one of the country’s best selling regional newspapers.

Leicester Mercury editor Richard Bettsworth presented the District Reporter of the Year award to 21-year-old Sian Young and 20-year-old Nicole Douglas for producing the best reports over the space of a year in which students hit the streets of Leicester, found their own real-life stories and wrote reports on issues that affect the city’s various communities.

Nicole, said: “I was so happy just to be shortlisted, but to be named the actual winner was really unexpected. It is great that the hard work has paid

off. I would like to go into public relations when I have finished my degree but the links with the newspaper industry has helped me understand what is needed to become a journalist and opened my eyes to a possible career there.”

Leicester Mercury editor Richard Bettsworth said: “We are delighted to once again be supporting this important award. We very much value our links with DMU that go back many years. The District Reporter award reflects the importance we place on community journalism, and working with the community are values shared by both the Leicester Mercury and DMU.”

STUDENT’S CAREER TAKES OFF DURING HER DEGREE

A DMU journalism student has already started work in her dream career even before completing her degree and said she would be forever grateful to the university.

Sian Young began working at the Hinckley Times as a trainee multimedia reporter and will continue there on a two-day week until she completes her single honours journalism degree this summer.

“I knew from leaving school what I wanted to be - a journalist,” said Sian. “Writing is something I have always thoroughly enjoyed and English and Media Studies were always my

strongest subjects at school. I hated maths and still do to this day!”

The course is accredited by the NCTJ, the body which sets the national qualification exams for journalists, and Sian has already passed many of its preliminary exams including media law, court reporting, news writing and essential public affairs.

The 21-year-old had previously done several weeks of work experience at the Hinckley Times when she saw the job advertised on Twitter.

“During my time at DMU I have learnt the core basics to become a reporter and most importantly I have grown in confidence.

OPENED MY EYES

TO A POSSIBLE

CAREER THERE

‘HOLLYWOOD’ EFFECTS SCOOP TOP PRIZE FOR STUDENTSSix DMU Game Art Design students have attracted global attention after winning a prize at Europe’s biggest video game festival the GameCity festival.

The students were crowned the winners of the ‘Off the Map’ competition at the event in Nottingham.

Sponsored by the British Library and global video game company Crytek, students were asked to build interactive gaming environments inspired by the library’s historic cartographic map collection.

The efforts of the team from DMU, named Pudding Lane Productions, certainly impressed the judges. The team recreated the streets that went up in flames during the Great Fire of London for the setting of a video game.

Tom Harper, who is curator of cartographic materials at the British Library, said: “Some of these vistas would not look at all out of place as special effects in a Hollywood studio production.

“The haze effect lying over the city is brilliant and great attention has been given to key features of London Bridge, the wooden structure of Queenshithe on the river, even the glittering window casements.”

Using CryENGINE, a form of 3D technology used to create games, the competition challenged students from 11 universities to develop a playable game level – using the world-famous maps as a starting point.

The team’s three-dimensional fly-through grabbed the attention of the judge with its realism and attention to detail, showing tightly packed streets and lanes of the capital city.

Chelsea Lindsay, who is now on a year-long internship with BMW in Munich, said: “It’s great that our hard work has paid off and we were successful in getting our concepts across.”

INSIGHT

THE HAZE EFFECT

LYING OVER

THE CITY IS

BRILLIANT

UBISOFT SNATCH UP DMU GAME GRADUATEDMU Game Art Design student Mike Pickton has landed a dream job with one of the world’s best known video game companies.

Mike, 24 and from Lutterworth, is a Technical Artist with Ubisoft – creators of the popular Driver series and critically acclaimed Far Cry 3

A Technical Artist acts as a bridge between the artists and programmers working on a game. It is extremely rare for a graduate to secure the job as it is not typically an entry level position, but is becoming increasingly important as consoles and PC hardware becomes more complex.

The Game Art Design degree course at DMU is a distinctive mix of both creative and technical skills applied to the very latest technology. It was the first industry accredited game art design course in England, with two-thirds of our graduates getting jobs in the games industry within three months of graduating thanks to internships with major companies.

Mike explained: “The course attracts a high calibre of applicants and fosters an enthusiastic student community, ensuring graduates are at the leading edge of this fast-paced industry. “If it had not been for this I would not have had such a strong portfolio and wouldn’t have been considered for the job.”

Michael Powell, Course Leader, Game Art Design at DMU, said: “Courses like Game Art at DMU are providing much needed skills for a hugely important sector in the UK which is one of the largest in the world after the USA and Japan, contributing £1 billion to GDP and employing 10,000 people.

EMMY WIN FOR ALUMNUSSpectacular digital images of the Second World War, created by a DMU graduate, have won one of US television’s most prestigious accolades.

Ajanta Chatterjee, who is from Calcutta credits DMU with “starting her 3D career” – work which has now led to an Emmy Award.

Ajanta was part of a team called Primefocus who put together the programme ‘World War 2 From Space’ for the History Channel, which won the outstanding graphic design and art direction prize at the US television

awards event.

The team, spent six months working on the project,

which aims to show the war from a bird’s eye view. It meant that they had to pore over images of the war

and redesign the pictures to make them appear 3D – giving viewers an aerial view of the drama unfolding

beneath.

As lead compositor, Ajanta, who did a PhD at DMU in

interactive media in 2009, spent time in the archives of the National Museum in London, searching the

photographs.

GAME ART AT DMU ARE PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SKILLS FOR A HUGELY IMPORTANT SECTOR

INSIGHTMEDIA PRODUCTION STUDENTS GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF FLOG IT!A group of De Montfort University (DMU) Media Production BSc students made the most of the BBC’s Flog It! coming to De Montfort Hall recently, as they went along to learn about how the programme is made.

Location manager Alex Habgood gave the students a guided tour, a mini-lecture and answered lots of questions that the eager students posed.

The DMU students also had the opportunity to talk to camera and sound crew, as well as the series producer, learning all about how the show is put together and how to get into the industry.

Zoë Allman, the lecturer who organised the experience, said: “Flog It! coming to Leicester was a fantastic opportunity to take a group of Media Production students to learn about how programmes are made by seeing one in action.

Students were also lucky enough to undertake work experience placements with the Flog It production team.

IT’S A DEAL FOR MEDIA PRODUCTION STUDENTSStudents got an insight into how one of daytime TV’s biggest game shows is put together when they went behind the scenes of Deal or No Deal.

The Channel 4 quiz show, presented by Noel Edmonds, regularly attracts 900,000 viewers making it one of the most popular daytime programmes in the UK.

Leicester Media School students were taken to see how production company Endemol put together the programme.

Thom Corah, lecturer, said: “The students found it really useful, in particular having the chance to get some frank insights into how to get into the industry.

“We are grateful for the opportunity given to us by Endemol to bring students along to the filming.”

The visit is another example of the excellent student experience offered by those studying at DMU.

The Leicester Media School enjoys close industry links allowing students to gain

invaluable experience and meet industry professionals .

Student Khiry Ellis-Francis said: “The crew were welcoming and willing to answer any questions honestly. It was interesting to learn how mainstream TV shows are made and how to get into the industry. I’d definitely go again.”

Student Zahra Gangat added: “The experience was awesome. I really got an insight into the whole TV studio lifestyle.”

DMU GRADUATE’S PRISONER PLAY TIPPED AS ONE TO WATCHIn its Sixties heyday, The Prisoner was must-watch TV, renowned for its surrealism and inventiveness. It remains a cult favourite to this day.

Now a De Montfort University graduate has written a play about the making of the series,

which was tipped as one to watch at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.

Paul Gosling, who completed his PhD in Film Studies at DMU, wrote ‘Magic Number Six’ about the rocky relationship between Prisoner star Patrick McGoohan and ITV boss Lew Grade.

Paul – who previously completed an MA in TV screenwriting at DMU – is also producing the one-act play, which has had a successful debut in Leicester and also a one-off performance at Portmeirion, North Wales, the originl location for the series. in March.

He said: “Their relationship started out very well and they really liked each other, but it soon turned sour.”

Between 1967 and 1968, McGoohan and Grade joined forces to produce 17 episodes of The Prisoner, which received worldwide attention and starred McGoohan as the ill-fated Number Six.

Paul, who also works part-time as an art and design teacher at Ellesmere College, Leicester, said: “It appeals to people interested in the history of TV as well. The Prisoner was something that I watched in my formative years and when the biography of Patrick McGoohan came out there were loads of fascinating stories about his life and behind-the-scenes stuff which I never knew.”

THE BOOK TO SCREEN FESTIVALFilm students and world-leading academics teamed up to stage a short film festival at Leicester’s Phoenix Cinema. The Book to Screen festival inspired by the Phoenix’s Gothic season, celebrated some fantastic novel based horror films.

The first film shown was Hammer’s The Devil Rides Out, which was based on the Dennis Wheatley novel and brought to the attention of the studio by Christopher Lee, who ended up starring in it.

The film was introduced by author and film critic Jonathan Rigby, who revealed the original casting choices were Gert Frobe and Charles Boyer, rather than Christopher Lee and Charles Gray.

The short season also included the Arthur Conan Doyle stories The Crooked Man and The Cardboard Box, which starred

Eille Norwood who played Sherlock Holmes in 47 silent films.

The films were introduced by DMU’s Dr Laraine Porter, who is an expert on the silent era of film.

The final films shown were The Shining and A Clockwork Orange, both introduced by Dr Johnny Walker, lecturer at Northumbria University and author of Contemporary British Horror Cinema.

DMU is home to the Hammer horror film archive that sits in the acclaimed Cinema and Television History (CATH) research centre is home to the.

DMU FILM SOCIETYWhether you’re a budding filmmaker, scriptwriter or director or just love watching and discussing the latest movies, the DMU Film Society offers an experience that goes beyond the silver screen.

Enjoy screenings at Leicester’s leading independent cinema, Phoenix Square, as well as a range of exciting locations around the city, and give your opinion on the latest Hollywood blockbusters via the society’s blog.

The society has close links with leading local film collective Seven/Five Productions, giving you access to a wealth of expertise and industry knowledge to help you get your films made, develop new skills and make connections with other local filmmakers.

To read reviews from the DMU Film Society please visit dmufilmsociety.blog.co.uk

SPORTS CLUBS HOST DMU CHAMPIONSGraduates from DMU have been gaining essential work experience and boosting their job prospects by taking part in an innovative new scheme called Graduate Champions.

The Graduate Champions scheme run by DMU is offering its recent graduates the chance to take up a month-long intensive work placement to enhance their CVs and help them stand out from the crowd in a furiously competitive jobs market. Each

WORKING AT LEICESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

Tom Crosse, marketing executive at Leicester City, praised the Graduate Champions scheme, saying: “This gives the graduates a great experience and it will look brilliant on their CV. We are a huge football club and hopefully working here will create great opportunities for them.

“It is great for us to have all these extra people, with graduate experience, working for us. It is busy all the time and the additional help is very welcome.”

Computer Science graduate Priyanka Balcrisna was involved in the pilot of the scheme during the autumn term, taking up a placement working on IT projects for the club. As soon as she told potential employers about the placement, opportunities came knocking, and she is now looking forward to starting work as a junior developer in the IT section of Nottingham-based property support service Styles and Wood Group plc.

graduate is contracted and paid by DMU to complete 18½ hours a week of graduate-level work over the space of four weeks and the university pays the living wage of £7.65 per hour.

The first wave of graduates took up prized placements at Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) and Leicester City Football Club (LCFC), who both have partnership agreements with DMU. The verdict from the graduates taking part in the scheme is that it will provide them

Priyanka will provide IT support and help develop the company web pages.

“I think the Graduate Champions scheme is amazing. As a graduate, you really need to show employers that you have commercial experience and that is exactly what DMU is helping us to do.

“I am really getting to see how it all works in the real world. It is a unique and enjoyable experience that will also look good on my CV. Leicester City are really supportive. We have supervisors and get excellent feedback every day to help us learn and improve.”

Jiteche Quessou, 23, graduate in Graphic Design

“I am really enjoying the work. I feel as though I am learning something new every day and building up new skills that will make me more employable. Graduate Champions is definitely a good idea”

Pooja Desai, graduate in Software Engineering

with a huge boost when they embark on their chosen career paths, filling them with confidence as they get to apply their skills as graduates to solve real- world problems in the workplace. A total of 17 graduates have been working at the cricket club while another six were based at LCFC.

INSIGHT

WORKING AT LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUBLCCC chief executive Mike Siddall is delighted with the way Graduate Champions is helping the club – and his new recruits. He said: “I think this scheme is fantastic. It is an opportunity for us to offer graduates great work experience, working on key projects for the club and using their skills to come up with some answers.”

“Thanks to Graduate Champions we have young brains coming here with fresh ideas that are going to be a huge benefit to us and them.”

“Graduate Champions is really helpful. It is very difficult getting a job at the moment so having the chance to get this sort of hands-on experience is excellent. It is a bridge between university and the world of work and allows us to use our skills as graduates to help a respected name in the sporting and business world.” Shyam Pankhania 21, graduate in Business and Marketing

“I think Graduate Champions is a really good scheme. Working for such a professional organisation, and being given such an important task, is great for our CVs and our future prospects.”

Gareth Dakin 29, graduate in Media Production

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