I have always been interested in technology from a young age wanting to understand how everything works has been a passion of mine which I got a chance to explore when I joined Formby High School's Tech Crew on the first day of Year 8. Here I have not just learnt how to work in a team but how to lead a team. I would like to study film, tv and broadcasting to allow me to have a carer in this industry building on what I have learnt so far as part of Tech Crew was trained as a lighting, sound, smoke, fog and AV technician and teaching others how to use the equipment.

 

I became head tech in 2019 overseeing the tech crew and leading them. In 2021 when I joined Formby High Sixth Form I became Tech Supervisor which has seen me doing talks in the school about Tech Crew and filming things like Into the Woods, Matilda and the 2022 Pantomime. I have also run sound, lighting and AV for countless examined GCSE and A-level performances over the last five years. In addition I ran sound for the schools summer showcase at The Atkinson theatre in Southport giving me experience in a professional setting. I have also filmed independently and alongside an ITV Producer, Claire Savage for ITV's Tonight programme, which let me explore how production works in different settings.

 

I completed Work experience in March 2022 at Media City, Salford with the dock 10 Duty Technology Manger, Steve Craddock and his team in the MCR (Master Control Room). Whilst there I got the opportunity to work on Comic Relief 2022, Blue Peter, CBBC HQ, Countdown and in the MCR were I enjoyed working in a team and I learned how a broadcast facility works with content being filmed to be aired later and live shows. I was also able to set up a SHED (SMPTE Hybrid Elimination Device) which used dock10's vast fibre network to send multiple camera inputs and outputs through the SHED to allow live broadcast from almost anywhere inside and outside of dock10 in media city.

I have also seen employment in 2022 with Gracie productions which has been a brilliant opportunity to learn, assisting filming for Sky Sport as a Media logger and camera assistant at a PGA Golf event in Formby.

 

In my Silver and Gold Arts Awards I have filmed 3 arts award performances and I have learnt about technical theatre.

 

I love fixing problems and equipment whether it's a phone, lighting equipment in tech crew or a camera on the Comic Relief 2022 set which I helped diagnose the camera with a software glitch. I am usually the go to fixers for tech issues in Formby High School for which I have received a Head teachers recognition award for my time and dedication in the Tech Crew.

 

Through Digital Media coursework I have been able to use examples of my time at dock10 in. I have also learnt about distribution and marketing of media products which pushed me to invest more time in my unit 3, unit 6 and unit 23 course work which is creating a audio visual product (unit 3) and creating a website thomascharnock.com here I display my digital media work as part of a personal media profile (unit 23) which I added more information and I added a way to show content I've made which is shown both as in-beaded videos and an in-beaded YouTube video player. I also explored social media in unit 2 marketing in my Business Studies where I've explored how companies work and I based my unit 8 course work on dock10 which I used my knowledge, dock10's website and google to research more information to create job application documents included job advertisement, job description and a filmed interview where I was interviewed to become a broadcast engineer. My engineering course has been at the heart of my ability to fix problems and learning how to create CAD and technical reference documents as well as working in a team with a deadline.

 

I'm exited to explore the media and production world in university and I hope to find a job in the sector once I leave university.