Media Production students at Coleg Llandrillo had the unique opportunity to hear from a former student who has made a remarkable leap into the film industry.

Jack Roberts, who goes by the professional alias Edward Tramaseur, recently wrote, directed, edited, and released his first full-length feature film, The Joy of Falling.

Jack, a Level 3 Media Production graduate from 2018, shared his journey from college to becoming an award-winning filmmaker, highlighting the importance of passion, persistence, and building industry connections.

“You’ve got to make your own opportunities,” Jack told students. “Make things that you enjoy making.”

His path to filmmaking began unexpectedly. Inspired by the film Hot Fuzz, Jack initially considered a career in policing. But repeated viewings and exploring behind-the-scenes content sparked a new ambition — to create films himself.

After university, he secured a video editing role with Manchester-based agency Bearded Fellows and began developing his own projects. It took three years to save the £3,000 needed for The Joy of Falling, which he produced with the help of friends from the industry.

Jack stressed the value of practical experience: “All of the best things I’ve done in my life so far are the projects I did outside of the classroom. Rent out equipment, ask your tutors for advice, and just have a go — you learn what works and what direction you want to take.”

The Joy of Falling has already received critical recognition, including five nominations at the International Film Festival of Wales, where it won Best Feature Film and Best Cinematography. The movie, due for release on Amazon Prime later this year, explores a love story set in Manchester against the backdrop of addiction, following characters searching for genuine human connection in a noisy, modern world.

Students were given insight into the filmmaking process, from casting to marketing, as well as the challenges Jack faced along the way. Reflecting on his time at college, he advised: “Enjoy it more! Don’t just count down to what’s next — soak in what’s happening at the time.”

Hannah Owens, Programme Leader for Level 3 Creative Media Production, said: “We are thrilled that Jack returned to show his award-winning feature film. His achievement at such a young age, writing, directing, and funding his own production, is inspiring. We are proud of his success and can’t wait to see what he does next.”

The visit was a chance to celebrate Jack’s accomplishments while motivating the next generation of filmmakers at Coleg Llandrillo, showing what determination, creativity, and hard work can achieve.