Stephanie Kempson: English with Creative Writing BA(Hons) graduate
BA(Hons) English with Creative Writing, 2007 - 2010
I graduated in 2010 and did a funded internship with the internationally acclaimed Cornish theatre company, Kneehigh, whilst also doing work experience on the new Cornish Theatre Archive. I'm now doing a Masters in Film and Literature at the University of York where I'm studying adaptation and hoping to use my new knowledge of Cornish theatre in my dissertation.
Falmouth encouraged us to become really self-motivated and taught us how to publicise our work. We had a number of seminars focusing on aspects of professional practice such as how to send our work to publishers, writing a synopsis and finding the right contacts. I also learnt how to use the industry-standard screenwriting program, Final Draft, which I still use regularly.
We had a lot of inspiring speakers come in, including novelist Jean McNeil who had received funding to spend time on a research base in Antarctica. I came out of that lecture extremely enthusiastic about the odd directions in which writing can take you. Mercedes Kemp did a lecture on WildWorks and landscape theatre, and John Yorke (Controller of BBC Drama Production and New Talent) did a lecture on screenwriting and what the BBC expects when working with them. Award-winning writer Simon Van Booy also ran a workshop in writing short stories, and gave us practical advice on finding a literary agent.
The tutors encouraged us to blog, and gave us practical advice on how to write for a specific audience. They also encouraged us to think about writing in ways that will take advantage of new technology, and to predict future trends. With Magazine published students' work and we often mixed with the Film students and the Television Production MA; I acted in a couple of films, one of which showed at Portobello Film Festival this year. I volunteered at the Cornish Film Festival and have worked at the last three Bath Children's Literature Festivals.
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