Jonnie Rocket author enlists the help of our Media students

Jonnie rocket author, John Chapman enlists the help of Grantham college media students.

The Very talented John Chapman, who played X-Wing Pilot “Red 12 Drifter” in the original Star Wars Movie – A New Hope Visited our Media students on Thursday. Steven Healey, one of our media lecturers reached out after finding him on social media once he’d seen the film ‘Elstree 1976’, a documentary film by John Spira made about the lives of the actors and extras behind one of the most celebrated sci-fi movies of all time. This documentary discussed how John currently makes (educational) comic books for children, teaming up with charities for content and working with a designer to make sure all of his comic books are accessible to those with learning difficulties. As someone who suffers with dyslexia himself, John wanted to create a comic book series that is engaging to everyone. With simple adaptations, such as making speech bubbles slightly yellow tinted for ease of reading. 

Our Media lecturer, Steve, saw this and believed teaming up with John would be a great opportunity for our media students to get real industry experience and develop their skills, both of which are vital for working in creative industries and ‘getting their name in the universe’.

To make the Jonnie Rocket comic books come to life, the students (ranging from level 2 students to HE level 5 and 6) spent their time with John discussing ideas, and asking questions. They were gifted many copies of Jonnie Rocket which they had the chance to read to become true ‘rocketeers’. Media students will be working with John to make films of the comics, whether this is live action, cartoon, motion graphics or more!

John says, ‘I am keen to work with great, young, talented people to gain some fresh ideas!’

We look forward to seeing what they create! Thankyou for your time, John

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