A FORMER Digital Media Production student from Stratford College had a right royal experience recently when he helped broadcast the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
Matthew Morgan, who currently works as a freelance camera assistant and runner, was a student at the college from 2017 to 2019, studying on the Creative Media course.
He told the Observer he had always dreamt of working as a camera operator, which is why he chose the college to study at.
He said: “I knew when I attended the open day that this was the place for me. Having a TV studio on site to learn from was a real draw.
“The sessions were so practical, especially working with cameras in the TV studio, I learnt so much from them.”
After college he attended university, however he didn’t stick to just learning in the classroom but wanted to get some practical experience.
He became a runner for the broadcast of G7 and then the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) and at both of these events he ran into one of his old lecturers from Stratford College, Simon Edwards.
Impressed with Matt’s work, Simon wanted to get him on board with a company he was working with. That company was European Broadcast Union, and the project – the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration.
Matthew’s role was as a camera assistant and runner on a ten-day project involving set up, rigging, broadcasting and derigging. The work focused on broadcasting the correspondence area for the reporters, so Matthew was in prime position in front of the Palace, including having eyes on the balcony.
Matthew said: “It was such good fun. Hectic, but a really good job. I met with producers as well as got to do camera operating, which was a highlight. Being a part of such a momentous event, just being there and seeing it all, including seeing the Royal Family on the balcony, was amazing”.
