Documentarian

Suggest to him to make a 1 minute documentary about a family member; All it needs are interviews cut-aways (if he interviews you he may ask you about magazine editing, the cut away could be a series of shots of you flicking through the magazine etc, just to break up the interview) and a bit of music.
Hope I helped
Michael Hewitt

I know lots of people who graduated with me who couldn't even put up a tripod!
If the college has contacts in the media industry make sure that he gets in contact with them. Hands on experience is more valuable than any degree or qualification.
I emailed my CV off to around 50 or so production companies and cameramen and managed to get some experience in being a production assistant and editor.
If he really wants to get into the documentary business he needs to watch plenty of quality documentaries. (look out for Errol Morris, Louis Theroux, Nick Broomfield and Michael Moore see how the styles differ)
If he likes reading I suggest reading 'Introduction to documentary' by Bill Nichols, he is a leader in the academic side of documentaries.

David,
I'm 22, I have a degree in TV production and Media studies from The university of Chester and the State university of New York.
This will be my first project since university and all I have to do is save up some money for hiring the required equipment.
The best advice that I can give is take advantage of using the free college video equipment, film anything that he finds interesting. The biggest mistake that most people make at college/university is that they don't get to know how to use the equipment properly.

Hi!

My son Kieran is 19, about to be 20, and at college studying Art, Media and Design Level 3. He passionately wants to get in to the documentary business in due course, particularly as regards wildlife filiming. He has done some work at college using digital movie cameras, and has used film and digital still photography. Because he is dyslexic, he is extremely artistic and has enough photography and associated (eg photoshop/Art) qualifications under his belt.

I would welcome any pointers for him please. I used to be a 'spotter' in the 1960s and take the occasional still shot of trains. Kieran has done some photographing at Eastleigh and Feltham from memory.

I am now Deputy Editor of VINTAGE ROADSCENE magazine, but have been a railway mag editor.

David Hayward
dohayward@btinternet.com