Adam

Why did you choose to study your course at Surrey?

I studied Creative Music Technology BMus from 2020-23, but due to the impacts of the pandemic had not been able to explore and experiment as freely as I had wished to. Initially, I was willing to put off a masters degree until I found a course that was right - no need to rush into a wrong decision.

As it happened, the opportunity for the perfect masters degree presented itself on the very campus I'd been preparing to leave.

A final year module involved filmmaking, where I met the Director of the Centre for Creative Arts and Technologies (C-CATS), Jon Weinbren. After discovering I had a knack for production, he dangled a carrot before me: his Film, Animation and Digital Arts MA. 

Jon saw my enthusiasm and potential, and lent me his equipment so over the next six months I could explore cinematography, lighting and editing. Jon saw potential in me, so I allowed myself to trust his faith in me, and agreed to take on FADA.

I thrive working with and learning from a team of creative people, and I wished to learn from those with greater experience than myself; I knew this would likely be the case with the FADA MA. 

What are the best things about Surrey and your course?

The gratitude, excitement and open-heartedness of everyone on the course. Creativity requires you to open your heart to unexplored parts of yourself, embarrass yourself by trying new things, and this is only possible in an environment you feel safe in. My cohort has been encouraging, experimental, reasonable and suggestive, and though during production tensions can get high, we always resolve them afterwards.

What are the best things about life here as a postgraduate student?

Though I couldn't define what a masters degree should be, it feels as if FADA represents everything it should be. It allows a level of freedom to work on what you are passionate about, to question lecturers, and squeeze every ounce of detail from them that you can. 

A mutual understanding that we're not just lecturers and students but a diverse group of creatives working together, allows us all to talk openly and learn and achieve more.

What are your career plans?

Creativity - as much as possible, with people I love working with, as often as possible. Passion is not the same is satisfaction, and I am determined not to settle; I want to continue embracing creativity as a lifestyle. 

I am acutely aware that this point in my life is exceptional, as I have the opportunity to build a life for myself for the first time. So I don't have a particular plan, but I have a direction in which I'll live as thoroughly as I can. Along the way, I'll make as many friends and soak up as much experience as I can, so when a great opportunity arises, I can ricochet off it in a new direction.

What advice do you have for students thinking of doing this course?

Freedom can be intimidating, but more than just learning what you're told, it's about learning what you want to learn. Once you know that, you can take any opportunity that arises and make it work for you. Create, collaborate, get it wrong, get embarrassed - just don't sit still! (Even when scriptwriting, I find taking a walk helps when I'm stuck.)