Alumni
Alumni profile tsiddall
University of West London Alumni e-Newsletter Summer Edition
Alumni profile: Tim Siddall BA MA (Class of 2009)
Tim Siddall is a two time graduate from University of West London, beginning his academic career reading a Specialist Music Technology undergraduate Bachelor of Arts.
Having graduated with a 1st class, Tim went on to study a Masters in Audio Technology at University of West London graduating in the summer of 2009 after five years with us in total.
Now based in Islington and working at the prestigious Pinewood and Shepperton Studios in London, Tim updated us on some of the twists and turns of his remarkable path since graduating.
University of West London ALUMNI: Why did you first choose to study at University of West London?
TS: Whilst at sixth form college I had my sights set on studying in London, but was put off by the implicated costs so my first choice wasn’t in fact University of West London but LIPA (the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts). As it turns out I wasn’t accepted to my first choice and after talking things over with my family, I decided to try my luck and apply to universities in London through clearing.
Whilst researching the universities with available places on courses that I was interested in, University of West London came up and as it was one of the London universities I had originally been interested in, I applied and got the place.
My original degree title was Music Technology with a Radio Broadcasting minor but after the first semester I was able to switch to Specialist Music Technology after it became clear that that was where my real interests lay. I had to pick up an additional four modules in the first year to catch up and I found the course quite challenging but enjoyed it.
Every module seemed to improve my skills in a certain area, my skills weren’t great when I started but by the time I left they were up to scratch.
University of West London ALUMNI: Why did you decide to pursue an MA at University of West London?
TS: I graduated first class and was therefore eligible to apply for one of the Vice-Chancellors awards which I was lucky enough to receive. This additional funding covered the full costs of my course fees and was really the cherry on cake that made me decide to stay for the masters.
It was a challenge to work part-time and study but completing the masters over two years was a good decision, it gave me the chance to really learn and take things in. I had initially started full-time but then switched after my first semester as the workload didn't allow much room for a part-time job or a social life!
I found the Masters appropriately challenging for the level I was at and it helped build on my skills whilst being quite flexible. For example although there were several music modules, my main interest was in post-production, and I was able to apply the course well to work with sound for film and video, especially with my final project, so by the end I had a portfolio of work I could take to employers to really show off my skills.
University of West London ALUMNI: How did you make the step from being an MA graduate to actually working in the industry?
TS: I had a big slice of luck starting off in work after graduation. At a lecture one day I was talking to a classmate about my final project and he mentioned a job application that I might be interested in on BlackBoard, the University of West London student job portal. There was a job being advertised for an Assistant Sound Recording Engineer Trainee at Pinewood; a training course lasting a year and run by Screensouth, a screen agency supporting film and media in the South East and responsible for the development of independent film in the region.
The traineeship is coordinated by Screensouth but I work for Pinewood Post-production – so I'm based at Pinewood or Shepperton every day. Funding for the traineeship actually comes from Skillset, a lottery funded industry body which supports skills and training for people and businesses in the creative industries.
I'm one of a group of five trainees selected from across the country to take part and was one of two people selected for the sound roles from 200 applications nationwide.
During my time at Pinewood so far I've had the chance to work as a Foley Assistant on the most recent Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey Junior and Jude Law as well as for The Eagle, a film due out at the end of the year starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell. I was also involved as a Mix Technician for Route Irish, a Ken Loach film which showed at the most recent Cannes Film Festival.
The traineeship ends this September when I have decided to go into freelance work and have been building a network of clients and employers to ensure that I have constant work from then.
University of West London ALUMNI: How has the traineeship had an impact on your career and life so far?
TS: As well as the priceless work experience I've had so far my traineeship also included training at Operator Level in the Protools Software, a Digital Audio Workstation platform by AVID Technology which is regarded as an industry standard and is an invaluable tool for me to have going forward. The Protools training and qualification is also funded by Screensouth who are supervising mine and my fellow sound trainee, Luke's, placements.
We have been very lucky to have the funding behind us – we're the first and the last to receive it.
Alumni profile: Tim Siddall BA MA (Class of 2009)
Tim Siddall is a two time graduate from University of West London, beginning his academic career reading a Specialist Music Technology undergraduate Bachelor of Arts.
Having graduated with a 1st class, Tim went on to study a Masters in Audio Technology at University of West London graduating in the summer of 2009 after five years with us in total.
Now based in Islington and working at the prestigious Pinewood and Shepperton Studios in London, Tim updated us on some of the twists and turns of his remarkable path since graduating.
University of West London ALUMNI: Why did you first choose to study at University of West London?
TS: Whilst at sixth form college I had my sights set on studying in London, but was put off by the implicated costs so my first choice wasn’t in fact University of West London but LIPA (the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts). As it turns out I wasn’t accepted to my first choice and after talking things over with my family, I decided to try my luck and apply to universities in London through clearing.
Whilst researching the universities with available places on courses that I was interested in, University of West London came up and as it was one of the London universities I had originally been interested in, I applied and got the place.
My original degree title was Music Technology with a Radio Broadcasting minor but after the first semester I was able to switch to Specialist Music Technology after it became clear that that was where my real interests lay. I had to pick up an additional four modules in the first year to catch up and I found the course quite challenging but enjoyed it.
Every module seemed to improve my skills in a certain area, my skills weren’t great when I started but by the time I left they were up to scratch.
University of West London ALUMNI: Why did you decide to pursue an MA at University of West London?
TS: I graduated first class and was therefore eligible to apply for one of the Vice-Chancellors awards which I was lucky enough to receive. This additional funding covered the full costs of my course fees and was really the cherry on cake that made me decide to stay for the masters.
It was a challenge to work part-time and study but completing the masters over two years was a good decision, it gave me the chance to really learn and take things in. I had initially started full-time but then switched after my first semester as the workload didn't allow much room for a part-time job or a social life!
I found the Masters appropriately challenging for the level I was at and it helped build on my skills whilst being quite flexible. For example although there were several music modules, my main interest was in post-production, and I was able to apply the course well to work with sound for film and video, especially with my final project, so by the end I had a portfolio of work I could take to employers to really show off my skills.
University of West London ALUMNI: How did you make the step from being an MA graduate to actually working in the industry?
TS: I had a big slice of luck starting off in work after graduation. At a lecture one day I was talking to a classmate about my final project and he mentioned a job application that I might be interested in on BlackBoard, the University of West London student job portal. There was a job being advertised for an Assistant Sound Recording Engineer Trainee at Pinewood; a training course lasting a year and run by Screensouth, a screen agency supporting film and media in the South East and responsible for the development of independent film in the region.
The traineeship is coordinated by Screensouth but I work for Pinewood Post-production – so I'm based at Pinewood or Shepperton every day. Funding for the traineeship actually comes from Skillset, a lottery funded industry body which supports skills and training for people and businesses in the creative industries.
I'm one of a group of five trainees selected from across the country to take part and was one of two people selected for the sound roles from 200 applications nationwide.
During my time at Pinewood so far I've had the chance to work as a Foley Assistant on the most recent Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey Junior and Jude Law as well as for The Eagle, a film due out at the end of the year starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell. I was also involved as a Mix Technician for Route Irish, a Ken Loach film which showed at the most recent Cannes Film Festival.
The traineeship ends this September when I have decided to go into freelance work and have been building a network of clients and employers to ensure that I have constant work from then.
University of West London ALUMNI: How has the traineeship had an impact on your career and life so far?
TS: As well as the priceless work experience I've had so far my traineeship also included training at Operator Level in the Protools Software, a Digital Audio Workstation platform by AVID Technology which is regarded as an industry standard and is an invaluable tool for me to have going forward. The Protools training and qualification is also funded by Screensouth who are supervising mine and my fellow sound trainee, Luke's, placements.
We have been very lucky to have the funding behind us – we're the first and the last to receive it.
Tim Siddall, Class of '09
Alumni
