Last month, our Creative and Digital Media students had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles, California, for a 5-day trip to see the sights and visit valuable production studios in Hollywood.

This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of our students, allowing them to travel across the world and visit some of the most famous production companies in the world. This gave them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-life set and enrich their passion for all aspects of Media, Production and Communications.

During the trip, students stayed in the Glendale area, a central but safe location, just minutes from downtown Los Angeles. This gave our students the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the culture, creativity and energy of LA.

Students began the trip with a tour around Paramount Studios where they met industry professionals and got a behind-the-scenes look into set operations and the various jobs required to make a production run smoothly. This is invaluable to their future careers in the fast-paced Media industry, giving them the opportunity to witness the logistics and broad range of roles available. They then visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame where they saw the plaques and walked in the footsteps of the most famous actors in Hollywood history.

On the second day, the group took a tour of another huge movie production company, Warner Bros. Studio, where they were able to compare the inner workings of the organisation and the many aspects it requires to make it so successful. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to gain first-hand insight into how film and television productions are developed, produced, and distributed in comparison to other large production companies, whilst also developing technical skills, understanding industry roles, and becoming more aware of potential career pathways. This was followed by a trip to Venice Beach where students could explore the sights and unwind after a busy couple of days in the studios.

On the third day, students took a trip to Disneyland Resort California, spending the entire day enjoying the rides and meeting the characters. This was a fun and memorable activity that bonded the students and celebrated one of the biggest movie producers in history.

The trip ended with the students having some free time for shopping before heading to the Griffith Observatory where they got a panoramic view of the Hollywood Sign, the LA basin, and the Pacific Ocean – they even got a glimpse of Ryan Gosling! This was a fantastic attraction that is free-of-charge to the public, and is a popular film location, making it a fascinating landmark to our students who aspire to work in production.

This trip was a fantastic opportunity to not only develop their professional backgrounds, but also increase their independence, confidence, and communication skills, by navigating new environments, collaborating with peers, and engaging with industry professionals.

Additionally, exposure to the global media landscape enhances cultural awareness and broadens perspectives, helping students better understand international audiences and representation, as well as expectations within the industry. Overall, this visit enriched our students’ academic learning, supported coursework with real examples, and contributed to both their personal growth and career readiness.

Gine Hele, Head of Media, Photography, and Game & Animation, co-ordinated the trip, adding, “Our students were outstanding ambassadors for the college throughout the entire experience, being punctual, polite, enthusiastic and engaged with everyone we met. Their professionalism and attitude made the trip a huge success and a real credit to the college.”

Two of our students who attended the trip shared the impact this trip had on them, with Alby saying, “The LA trip didn’t just help me academically, but it also helped me make friends for life. I had never been on a school trip before, and after this one, I don’t feel like another one would ever compare. The teachers were incredible and let us have the independence to enjoy and learn all we could about the film industry. This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit film studios and sets and experience LA life. I want to go back already!”

Isaac said, “LA was one of the best experiences of my life. The memories made will be ones that last forever. I’m so glad I went on the trip as it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Paramount and Warner Bros. Studio tours, Disneyland, Griffith Observatory – it was such a brilliant week and thank you to everyone who organised it.”

A huge well done to all the students in attendance, you displayed yourself maturely and professionally, and a huge thank you to the lecturers who helped to organise and chaperone the trip, it wouldn’t have been possible without their commitment to their students.

This curriculum trip forms part of the Creative and Digital Media Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

Progress to the next level in Art, Film, Game and Graphic Design! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

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