Media Alumni Success Story: Meet Taylor Simpson

We recently caught up with Taylor, a former Level 3 Media student at Grantham College and asked him a few questions about the course and his time here as a student. Here’s what he had to say:

1. What did you enjoy most about studying at the college?

“The amazing lecturers. They’re a collective of industry‑experienced movie lovers who put their absolute everything into moulding the minds of their students. My time was made particularly memorable by lecturers David Morris, Steve Healey and Neil ‘Riley’ Riley. Three very different creatives who will teach you their own individual outlooks on producing art in the modern world.”

2. What has been your most memorable project or experience?

“My most memorable project was hands down the advertising module, writing and directing a spec commercial for Tango. It was a fantastic module that really gave us an understanding of applying creative filmmaking to commercial work and a brief.”

3. What skills has the course helped you develop?

“Learning the fundamentals of each process and phase of film development. I’ve applied skills such as photography, After Effects and especially video editing in my day‑to‑day job as a freelance filmmaker, demonstrating the multi‑disciplinary media skills taught on the Media course.”

4. How have you applied what you’ve learned in practice?

“I remember Dave Morris giving us a lecture on narrative structure, making me fall in love with the shape and rhythm of stories. From there I went to study an MA in Screenwriting at University of Arts London, where I continued to further my studies into narrative theory. Five‑act storytelling structure is something I apply to all my scripts, and it’s what has arguably made my latest script Clause and Effect the amazing film it is today.”

5. How industry‑relevant did you find the course?

“Extremely industry‑relevant. Grantham is a commuter town a little over an hour away from London. I took everything the fantastic staff at Grantham College taught me on the train to London and five years later I’m being paid to tell stories. If you want it, the amazing staff on Creative Media will get you there, whether that be as a city‑based screenwriter or a commercial content creator in the East Midlands.”

6. What advice would you give to future students?

“Throw yourself into every opportunity you can get your hands on. Grantham isn’t quite Hollywood, but it has amazing stories and access to cities like London and Manchester that are booming with film industry work. But also — don’t forget where you come from. Keep that uniquely awesome East Midlands accent, tell those tales of summers spent down Wyndham Park, and make the ordinary life spent in Grantham the extraordinary. Your story starts at Grantham College, and the wonderful courses it has to offer will shape you (like they have me) for the rest of your career.”

Taylor recently wrapped production on his latest short film Clause and Effect, starring EastEnders actors Richard Blackwood and Francesca Henry — a milestone that reflects how far his Grantham College foundations have taken him.

Interested in starting your journey in Media?

Find out more and apply by visiting our Media course page.

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