Hands-on learning a highlight for CMP scholarship winner

Imagining the future of the film industry led Liam McGuire to attain one of Massey University’s creative media production scholarships. This scholarship was established to provide support to promising applicants in preparation for a career in creative media production industries, specifically film and television, game development, animation and VFX, creative technologies, and producing and directing.

Liam is studying film and television, and says the scholarship has been incredible helpful. “It's a good feeling to be able to see a chunk of debt you're no longer going to have to worry about wipe itself away in the system,” he says.

For his scholarship application, Liam submitted a compilation of works he created in high school along with an essay about a potential direction for the film market and industry. “It's a bit hard to summarise in a short sentence, but in essence with the current film market delving into expanded universes, there is a lot of room to explore how that could bleed out into other areas of the filmmaking industry on a smaller scale, and what opportunities that could present to bring new creators into the market.”

He says his highlight of studying at Massey so far has been the practical aspect. “Things are hands on, you have the free reign to book gear, grab a camera, get out there and shoot something. 

“Workshops teach you practical skills and we're learning by doing, not just theorising or thinking about it. In creative industries especially practical skills are essential.”

His short-term goal is to finish his degree and find a summer job, but beyond leaving university? “I don't know. I'm not sure yet of the role, city, country, or much anything else about my future beyond the fact that I know I want to work with media in a way that I enjoy.

“If there's one thing university has taught me it's that you never know where you're going to be in a month or two or 12, as long as I can get a job in the industry no matter where that is I'm happy. A foot in the door is all I need.”