APA Partnership with Waltham Forest College

Waltham Forest College is one of our partners dedicated to helping students enter into the world of commercial production and advertising. Together, we work with WFC to provide their students with work experience, talks, and engaging workshop opportunities with APA members.

In July, we had the pleasure of meeting with Waltham Forest College staff and students to discuss the landscape of our industry and the various roles it has to offer. We were joined by James Bargent, Head of Music at RASCAL, who shared insights on the crucial role of music in advertising. He focused on the creative process behind the Barclays ‘History is Anyone’s’ Women’s Super League commercial, guiding us through everything from the initial brief and the approach, to the final execution.

The students actively participated in the discussion, sharing their thoughts on the music choices made for the commercial. They suggested what they might have liked to see or hear before the final version was revealed, reflecting on what music in advertising means to them personally. This interaction sparked a deeper understanding of how sound influences storytelling in commercials.

We also took time to explain various entry level roles within the industry, such as floor runner, office runner, production manager, etc. We discussed how essential these positions are for the smooth operation of productions and provided students with a clearer picture of potential career paths.

We explored other topics, such as animation, music video production, and VFX. This broad overview helped students see the interconnectedness of various creative fields and the diverse opportunities available in the industry.

The students, aged 16 to 19, are currently studying various film and media. Their feedback highlighted how enthusiastic and creative they felt during the session, and they expressed that they felt inspired and more informed about their potential career paths.

Below, you can check out some of the fantastic work produced by these talented students. If you’re interested in collaborating with WFC or offering work experience opportunities to these creatives, please reach out to Arfan at [email protected].