Young Creators Run the Library Studio: Making (Up) the News
- Feb 28
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
February gave us a wonderful reminder of why we began this journey in the first place: creating spaces where young people can explore creativity, build confidence, and discover what they’re capable of.
Earlier this month we held two special film & TV practical workshops at Bexleyheath Central Library, transforming the upstairs into a working television studio for the day.
Across two three-hour sessions — one in the morning and one in the afternoon — young people from across the borough of Bexley joined us, with some even travelling from Croydon to take part. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm for creative media and storytelling.
A Library Turned TV Studio
We converted two library rooms into a connected broadcast setup:
• A green screen studio, where participants performed and presented on camera
• A control room, where cameras, sound and live switching were managed
Using wireless connections and talkback systems, the setup mirrored our real multi-camera broadcast studio & PCR in Sidcup. Cameras in the studio were connected to the control room, allowing the production team to communicate and coordinate just like they would in a professional television studio.
For many of the young people attending, this was their first time seeing how television production works behind the scenes — and once the cameras were rolling, the energy and fun in the new library studio spoke for itself.
Making (Up) the News
The theme for the day was a playful exploration of storytelling using green screen technology to travel through time and space. Participants were divided into small groups and rotated through different roles during the workshop:
Camera Operators – learning framing, movement and visual storytelling
Presenters and Performers – stepping in front of the green screen to deliver imaginative news stories
Vision Mixers and Sound Crew – working in the control room to switch cameras and manage audio
Each group had the chance to experience different roles during the session, discovering just how much teamwork goes into even a short broadcast segment.
The results were imaginative and brilliantly funny — from historic “live reports” to unexpected adventures across imaginary worlds. It was great seeing people meet for the first time, quickly becoming friends and enjoying the experience.
Confidence, Curiosity and Collaboration
One of the most rewarding parts of workshops like these is seeing confidence grow over the course of a few hours.
At the start of the morning, some participants were understandably hesitant about stepping in front of the camera. By the end, they were volunteering to present again, experimenting with characters, voices and storytelling ideas.
Meanwhile, in the control room, others discovered a real enthusiasm for the technical side — calling camera shots, creating sequences and coordinating with the studio next door.
It’s a powerful reminder that media production is truly collaborative. There isn’t just one role where someone shines — there are many different ways for creativity and leadership to emerge.
Real-World Skills in Disguise
The workshops we run like these may look like fun (and they absolutely are), but they also build valuable life skills:
• Communication and teamwork
• Problem solving and quick thinking
• Creative storytelling
• Digital and technical confidence
• Leadership and responsibility
These are experiences that stay with young people long after the workshop ends.
And most importantly, more now than ever, they show that media isn’t just something you consume — it’s something you can create.
A Return to a Familiar Space
The day also marked something quietly special for us, as the last time we ran an event at the library was in February 2020 during (I think the last?) Bexley Book Buzz — just weeks before the world locked down as the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a pause.
Back then, our young e2e Crew were the ones leading the event, running a green screen experience and proudly sharing the skills they had developed with the community. Our crew were still in Primary School then! It was one of those inspiring days where creativity, curiosity and teamwork filled the room.
None of us could have imagined at the time how quickly community spaces across the world would need to close their doors.
Returning to the library six years later carried a quiet sense of reflection.
The equipment may be more advanced now, and the young participants a new generation, but the spirit of the day felt familiar — young people experimenting with film technology, laughing at unexpected green screen moments, and discovering how much fun collaboration is!
In some ways, it felt like picking up a thread that had been waiting patiently to continue. Seeing the rooms buzzing with creativity again reminded us just how important real-world community spaces are — places where learning happens through doing, where ideas can grow and where fun can be the glue that holds it all together.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Returning to the library this February felt like more than simply running another workshop. In many ways, it brought our story full circle. Six years on from those early days, some of our original crew members have or are now stepping into entirely new chapters of their lives — preparing for university or college, starting careers, or pursuing their own creative paths. Yet the spirit that started everything is still very much alive.
Watching that spark of curiosity ignite again was a powerful reminder that creativity doesn’t stand still — it passes from one generation to the next.
As we continue re-imagining the future of end2end TV CIC, moments like these help guide the way forward.
With our animation and editing suite preparing for launch this Summer, new collaborations forming, and more community-led creative opportunities on the horizon, we’re excited to keep nurturing spaces where young people can explore creativity and technology media - as creators, storytellers and leaders.
Because when curiosity, creativity and community come together, something special happens. And sometimes, all it takes to start that journey is a green screen, a few cameras, and a room full of imagination. And maybe a couple of older creators who love visualising techni-colour opportunities and seeing if they can make them float, whilst understanding that sometimes sinking might be inevitable, but choosing to embrace and enjoy the journey anyway!
BIG SHOUTOUT to end2end TV CIC Director, Peter, for his amazing vision and effort in making our return to the library such a successful day. And to our crew member, Lily, for supporting the morning session with great skill and kindness.
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