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“My mum said this course changed my life – I agree 100%”: Carrie Gray on Belfast Met Digital Skills Academy
Carrie Gray from north Belfast says her eyes were opened to new possibilities through a Digital Skills Academy with Belfast Met. Since graduating, the 25-year-old has enrolled on a Foundation Degree in Film Production.
Leaving school with three A Levels, Carrie Gray knew the world was her oyster – but like lots of her peers, the north Belfast student wasn’t sure of her next steps.
Enrolling first in a beauty course, she soon switched direction, signing up for a degree in marketing. But neither stuck. “They just weren’t for me,” says Carrie, 25. “I dropped out of the degree course and worked in a bar, just waiting for something to feel like the right fit.”
It was earlier this year when a friend’s mum spotted a social media post for a course in Digital Film Production, that something clicked. “I didn’t know something like this would be an option for me, but I loved the sound of it,” says Carrie. “I applied online and when they called to say I could enrol I was so excited.
“I was nervous too because I’d never done anything like that before and didn’t have any knowledge about the practical side of filming making. But it finally felt like something I could see myself doing.”
The Digital Film Production Academy, part of the Bank of America-sponsored Belfast Digital Skills and Employability Programme, is an eight-week course delivered by Belfast Met in partnership with NI film charity Cinemagic.
Learners explore scriptwriting, filming editing and production, and have the chance to create their own short films in a professional learning environment. Carrie graduated in July.
“I loved the whole experience, and from day one I was obsessed,” she says. “I absolutely threw myself into it because I wanted to learn as much as I could during those weeks. Chances like that don’t come along often, where you can go from having zero experience to getting really hands on with what could end up being a dream career.”
In all, 16 learners from Carrie’s cohort completed the course with an OCN NI Level 3 qualification. As well as in-college learning, the group gained industry insights through visits to real life media settings like Cool FM, UTV, Q Radio and TV production company Stellify Media. “Those visits and writing and directing my own short film were definite highlights,” says Carrie. “Directing was intense but I loved working in that environment.”
Following her graduation, where she received a standing ovation after her film was shown, Carrie applied for an Open University Degree in Film Production through Belfast Met.
Carrie Gray’s Digital Film Production Academy cohort group photo — Belfast Met Digital Skills Programme
Digital Film Production Academy cohort — Belfast Met / Bank of America Digital Skills Programme with Cinemagic
“I got in!” says Carrie, who started the course this month. “It’s unbelievable to think a year ago I wouldn’t have imagined a career in TV or film, but now I’m obsessed. The degree is two years and comes with work experience, and for now I’d do anything and everything to learn more on set – I’d be over the moon to make cups of tea.
“My family are so proud. They’ve said they always knew I was smart, but there’s never been a subject I’ve been really into until now. Sitting at a desk all day isn’t for me, and getting to do something where I can do something hands-on and practical, but challenging for my brain, is perfect for me.
“The fact the industry in Northern Ireland is so good is exciting too. My mum has said the Digital Skills Academy changed my life – and I agree with her 100%”.
Diana Atchison, Belfast Met’s Centre for Digital Innovation and Technology Project Manager, added: “We love hearing about what our learners do next, and couldn’t be happier for Carrie. She was an amazing asset to the Programme, and we can’t wait to hear where she goes next on what promises to be a fantastic career path.”
To find out more about the Belfast Digital Skills and Employability Programme visit https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/support-for-business/digitalskills
