Speaking to students, James reflected on how his passion for filmmaking, developed during his time at Blue Coat, has grown into exciting opportunities within the creative sector. His story provided an inspiring example of where dedication, creativity and perseverance can lead after leaving school.

James also spoke about his role in organising the Liverpool Horizon Film Festival alongside fellow Old Blue Matthew Hannah. Held annually each April at Liverpool's Unity Theatre, the festival celebrates independent filmmaking and showcases the work of emerging filmmakers from across the region. Students enjoyed hearing about the behind-the-scenes work involved in running the festival and supporting new creative talent.

Members of the Cinematography Club were delighted to share details of their own current film project, leading to an engaging question-and-answer session. James offered valuable advice on careers in the film industry, routes into creative media, and the skills and experiences that can help aspiring filmmakers succeed.

The visit was both informative and inspiring, giving students a genuine insight into the opportunities available within the film industry. Following James's encouragement, there is now the exciting prospect of Blue Coat submitting a student-produced film to next year's Liverpool Horizon Film Festival.

We are extremely grateful to James for returning to Blue Coat to share his experiences and inspire the next generation of young filmmakers. We look forward to following his continued success, and perhaps seeing a Blue Coat production on the big screen at the Horizon Film Festival in the near future.