With its welcoming campus and flexible approach to learning, Kyle found ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥'s BA (Hons) Theatre and Film to be the perfect choice for exploring both disciplines. His time on the course helped him build a strong foundation in the practical and theoretical aspects of media and the performing arts, boosting his confidence and ultimately leading him to a career in video production and visual content creation. Now a Video Editor at the creative agency , Kyle has worked on major campaigns for The Scottish Government, The Macallan, and the Royal Bank of Scotland—his personal highlight being the 2024 IRN-BRU Euros adverts. In this Student Story, he reflects on his time at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ and how it shaped his creative journey.
Why did you choose to study at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ and what attracted you to the course?
³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ is quite a small campus when compared to other universities and this was something that really appealed to me. I had the hope that a smaller campus meant you would get more focus from the staff and really benefit from the resources on-site – in my experience, this certainly ended up being the case. In addition to this, the campus itself always had a welcoming feel to it and that had always stuck with me.
What did you enjoy most about your course?
Before applying, the flexibility to explore two different aspects of the creative field was what stood out to me, and this remained true throughout my four years of study. Whilst I knew in the long term that I was set on pursuing my career in video production, I’d always had a passion for the performing arts throughout high school, and the BA (Hons) Theatre & Film course provided me with the opportunity to explore the best of both worlds – that was a strong point for me.
Were there any particular course activities you found especially interesting?
This shifted for me throughout the duration of my time at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥. In the beginning, I was much more interested in the practical production side of the course (from creating short films to devising theatre). But as the course continued, I started to find my feet and gain confidence with the theory side of the course and enjoyed the opportunity to apply this to my knowledge and opinions of the given films, theatre productions, and other elements of media explored through lectures and seminars. I had always enjoyed working on practical projects outside of my studies, so delving into in-depth analysis during seminars was a refreshing change of pace for me. Socially, I had always loved the opportunity to talk people's ears off regarding films and television, so getting the chance to do this with like-minded people was always a rewarding experience.
How did your lecturers support your learning?
Throughout my four years at Queen Margaret, every lecturer I had was always willing and fully engaged in having one-on-one conversations with me outside of class time, whether to discuss anything from the lectures and seminars or to talk about my career path in my later years of study. Robert Munro - who was my supervisor during my dissertation - was always keen to let me explore topics I was passionate about during my essays in third and fourth year, which was certainly a big factor in my growing appreciation for the theoretical side of film.
What challenges did you face with the course and/or university life? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge when doing a course such as Theatre and Film was getting over the initial fear of speaking up, especially in seminars. I think you tend to forget that you're in an environment where many of your classmates feel the same way as you - but ultimately, they’re just as passionate about the same things you are, so just go for it! Equally I wasn’t entirely confident in my skills regarding Theatre. I knew I had a good understanding of Film Theory, but Theatre was a vast new topic to dive into, but the course did a fantastic job of easing me into things.
Do you have any advice for students who might be interested in this course?
It will likely sound incredibly cliché, but when people say to keep an open mind, they mean it! When I first started the course, I had a set idea of what I wanted from it and who I wanted to be in four years, but by the end of it, I found myself on a different path due to the way I had been able to explore where my best skills lay - and, more importantly, where my passion in my chosen field was.
If applicable, which University services did you use to support you through your university journey and how did they help you?
In my first year or so, I quickly realised that one of the skills I was lacking was essay writing, which is quite a crucial aspect of some of the assessments of the course. It wasn’t that I found the essay writing unbearable, but when you're writing about something you have a deep passion for, you can tend to drift into a writing style that isn't quite right academically. ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥'s Effective Learning Service (ELS) offered one-on-one support with a staff member who would review your writing and offer useful tips to help guide you toward a more academic style. All my lecturers were also incredibly accommodating when discussing my writing; they were always determined to give constructive feedback to ensure I was continuously improving.
What’s your ‘top tip’ for making the most of being a student?
Back to the clichés again, but remember that while university is challenging and requires a huge amount of work, if you study something you’re passionate about and surround yourself with others who share that passion, you will have the most amazing time.
" I look back at my four years at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ and remember them fondly as a time filled with laughter and creative fulfilment—which is just a bonus on top of the knowledge you leave with. "
What was the most valuable lesson that you learned at university?
The more you put into your course, the more you will get out of it. Engage in seminars, chat with your lecturers if they’re available, and try not to feel overwhelmed in those early days. When I look back at my work from day one to the day I handed in my dissertation, it feels like they came from two different people.
Can you tell us about your life post-graduation?
Graduating during the start of a global pandemic was difficult, to say the least, but it also allowed me to explore a path in film and gaming journalism-writing various reviews, articles, interviews, and plenty of other pieces for independent gaming and film outlets. I eventually combined this with my video production skills and started creating fully self-produced videos to accompany not only my own writing but also other site contributors' work. Eventually, as things opened back up again, I found myself working as a Production Assistant for an Edinburgh-based production company before quickly working my way up into a full-time Video Editor position for the advertising agency Leith. I've had the opportunity to work on pieces for major clients such as The Scottish Government, The Macallan, and the Royal Bank of Scotland, but the highlight of my career so far must be helping cut the 2024 IRN-BRU Euros trilogy of adverts. Seeing so many people share and react so positively to them was truly the best kind of feedback for years of hard work.
Anything else you’d like to share about life at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ or as a graduate?
A career in the creative field / performing arts is not a linear one – don’t feel overwhelmed if you aren’t sure what you want to do with your skills when you first start out. I had always edited videos as a hobby from the age of 10, I just hadn’t worked out when I joined ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ that this passion was an actual possibility for me to pursue as a career. Try different things, you won’t know what you want until you try it.
