EKC Ashford College Media students create film for Brook Rural Museum

Two Level 3 Year 1 Media students at EKC Ashford College have successfully completed a professional promotional film for Brook Rural Museum, thanks to an exciting collaboration supported by National Lottery funding. 

The short film highlights the museum’s new Hop exhibition, with a particular focus on the Oasthouse which is a central feature. This project gave students Miles and Alex the opportunity to gain real experience in video production, with their promotional video now available to be watched by the public. 

The project began when the College’s Industry Liaison Officer for Creative and Design, Rebecca Butcher, introduced the students to the museum team. They then worked closely with Paula, the exhibition’s coordinator, who briefed them on key areas of the museum to focus on. 

Miles said about the project: “The main goal of the promotional film was to create a video that advertised the museum. We decided to focus on the architecture to give people a clear idea of what it will look like when they visit, like a bit of a sneak peek.” 

Initially, the students planned to include a wider view of the museum and surrounding farm buildings, but they later refined their concept to spotlight the Oasthouse in more detail.  

Miles added: “The lighting and space worked really well in that part of the museum and it ended up being a really strong shot to end the film.” 

Each student brought a unique skill set to the project, with Alex talking about his contributions: “I’m more of a visual person, I imagined how the shots would look and worked on the lighting.  

“Miles helped with the cameras, which I’m not so strong at, and we made a good team. I also helped with keeping a mental checklist of what we had captured.” 

Both of them used professional-grade equipment including various lighting setups and interchangeable lenses to focus on less accessible areas. During editing, they responded to feedback from the museum staff, such as making changes around the pacing of the video. 

This industry collaboration helped both students grow creatively and professionally, giving them a taste of working to a real client brief and adapting their ideas based on constructive feedback. 

The project was also a learning experience that has given both of them new interpersonal skills. Alex said afterwards: “One of the major skills I think I’ve learned was people skills, which I struggle with sometimes. 

“Working with everyone there was a great experience, and now I feel confident and able to ask what changes people want to the video.” 

Speaking of the success of the video, Industry Liaison Officer, Rebecca, said: 
“The museum were really happy with the final piece and invited the students to attend their open day, where they got to meet the Mayor of Ashford and take part in the reopening celebrations for the season. 

“It’s been a great experience for them both and they’ve really developed along the way.” 

You can watch the promotional video they created below. 

To learn more about Creative Media Production courses at EKC Ashford College, and to see how students gain practical experience through live client projects, view our courses.