Our visit to the University of Nicosia’s Mediazone gave a group of students from The Grammar School, Nicosia a practical, step-by-step introduction to taking a concept from idea to camera. One of our main goals was to prepare students who will be entering the British Council Your World Video Competition and the experience delivered exactly that.
From the moment the guided tour began, the studio felt like an exciting extension of the classroom. Lights, microphones, control rooms, and the green screen transformed from “mysterious equipment” into tools the students could handle with confidence.
The day started with an introduction to the production environment and quickly moved into using a mobile phone as a powerful filming device. Students learned how to lock focus and exposure, select the right frame rates and resolutions, and stabilise their shots so that movement felt purposeful rather than distracting. In the green-screen studio, they discovered how careful lighting and framing create clean, convincing composites, and why recording a few extra seconds before and after each take makes editing much smoother.
With the technical foundations in place, students shifted to building stronger images and planning simple visual narratives. Concepts such as the rule of thirds, headroom, and action space stopped being abstract rules and instead became practical tools to guide the viewer’s attention.
Professional practice shaped every part of the workshop. We explored media releases and the importance of informed consent, discussed copyright-safe choices for music and imagery, and examined how to publish student work responsibly while keeping online safety and GDPR in mind.
From the moment the guided tour began, the studio felt like an exciting extension of the classroom. Lights, microphones, control rooms, and the green screen transformed from “mysterious equipment” into tools the students could handle with confidence.
The day started with an introduction to the production environment and quickly moved into using a mobile phone as a powerful filming device. Students learned how to lock focus and exposure, select the right frame rates and resolutions, and stabilise their shots so that movement felt purposeful rather than distracting. In the green-screen studio, they discovered how careful lighting and framing create clean, convincing composites, and why recording a few extra seconds before and after each take makes editing much smoother.
With the technical foundations in place, students shifted to building stronger images and planning simple visual narratives. Concepts such as the rule of thirds, headroom, and action space stopped being abstract rules and instead became practical tools to guide the viewer’s attention.
Professional practice shaped every part of the workshop. We explored media releases and the importance of informed consent, discussed copyright-safe choices for music and imagery, and examined how to publish student work responsibly while keeping online safety and GDPR in mind.
Our students left not only more confident behind the camera, but also better prepared to plan, credit, and share their work – skills they will now carry into the Your World Video Competition and into future creative projects at school.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the University of Nicosia and Mediazone, with special appreciation to John Ioannou, Kyriakos, Galena Yaneva, and the entire Mediazone team. Their exceptional hospitality, expert guidance, and the unforgettable experience they provided made our visit truly remarkable.
If you are a student in the Communications, or Design and Multimedia Departments and want to become part of the Mediazone team, apply today!
Apply Now! Don’t miss this chance to make an impact in the audiovisual world and your future.
** Apply Here! **
Fall dates: Applications open-> First week of August until the last week of November of every year.
Spring dates: Applications open-> First week of January until late-June of every year.
