Warwick Davis attends a Creative Careers Fair at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter in Leavesden (Image: PinPep)
Over 300 students were treated to a magical Harry Potter experience as they attended a Creative Careers Fair in the iconic Great Hall. Set against the enchanting backdrop of the globally renowned sets, pupils from secondary schools across the UK had the opportunity to meet Warwick Davis, famed for his role as Professor Flitwick, and uncover the secrets behind some of the most creative roles in cinema.
The careers fair, organised by Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, provided them with exclusive access to the film’s behind-the-scenes maestros. This included an art director, head prop maker, chief sculptor, special effects supervisor, and sound designer who shared how they brought the blockbuster series to life.
Warwick Davis said kids were unaware of what was available (Image: PinPep)
From costume design and editing to special effects and production, the youngsters delved into a variety of career paths, learning how school subjects like art, physics, English, and design can lead to real industry jobs.
Warwick Davis said: “For the film industry to prosper it’s really important that young people have access to creative careers education so they can understand what roles are open to them.
“Many of those I spoke to today hadn’t realised the number of people it took to bring my characters to life on these very sets. But after the Careers Fair and chatting to the people who run the education programme, a world of possibilities has opened up.”
A study of 500 pupils from year eight to 13 has found that an astonishing 72 per cent already possess talents that could lead them towards a career in the film industry, without even realising it.
The young students demonstrated practical experience in filming footage (70 per cent), editing content (63 per cent), creating models (45 per cent), and writing scripts (61 per cent).
Students in Years 8 to 12 from schools across the UK attended the free Creative Careers Fair (Image: PinPep)
Alice Henderson, aged 16, who attended the fair, said: “It was magical, I never realised there were so many careers in filmmaking. It felt like a whole new world of possibilities opened up before my eyes.”
Jo Zanetti, head of careers at Parmiter’s School, added: “The fair was truly inspiring, it opened our students’ eyes to the vast and varied careers in filmmaking, sparking imaginations and ambitions we can’t wait to see grow.
“Events like this remind us just how important the arts and creative industries are in shaping futures and nurturing talent.”
After returning to their classes, 48 per cent of the students have registered for, or plan to join, an artistic club. Meanwhile, 60 per cent are eager to learn more about careers in the creative industry, with film and media being their top choices.
One third believe that media subjects are not given enough attention in schools, while 34 per cent feel the same about creative subjects such as art and design.
Despite this, 61 per cent of respondents are keen for more education about creative industry pathways, and 51 per cent believe creativity will be crucial to their future careers.
Julie Green, education and learning manager from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, which launched the fair to build on its existing education programme for students aged 16 and over, said: “The future of the film industry depends on fresh, diverse talent, which means showing young people the many paths that lead behind the camera.
“Whether their passion lies in technology, design, movement, storytelling, or science, there’s a place for them in this industry.
The event showed pupils the range of roles in the industry (Image: PinPep)
“Through our Education Programme, we open the doors to those hidden careers, giving students a first-hand look at the skills, creativity, and innovation that power the films they love.”
Earlier this month, the fair was launched to showcase the diverse career opportunities available and inspire the next generation.
It follows research that showed secondary school pupils could only identify an average of three film industry positions, despite hundreds of specialist roles being vital.
Meanwhile, a report from the British Film Institute suggests that the sector must continue to support initiatives to improve careers guidance throughout schools and within higher and further education.