For entrepreneur and media producer Georgina Hurcombe it was her experience at AV and her love of Bournemouth town led her to found local media production company LoveLove Film.
The award-winning businesswoman studied TV Production at AV and decided to stick around after graduation. Explaining why she decided to stay in the area, she said: “I fell in love with Bournemouth and Dorset for its beautiful landscape and relaxing feel. After graduating I worked as a producer for local media production companies and then finally decided to start my own company, LoveLove Film, in 2010.”
Georgina attributes a lot of her success with LoveLove Film to the foundations she built during her time studying at AV.
“My BA in TV Production gave me all the key ingredients I needed to be able to prepare myself for working within the video and TV industry.
"The great thing about AV and the Faculty of Media & Communications is that you get so much hands-on experience and you really develop great team skills working on projects with your peers. Every day I use the skills that were taught to me at AV, there’s no way I’d be in the position I am today without the education I received at AV.”
LoveLove Films spent its first two years building its portfolio, with Georgina overseeing a range of successful projects, including the completion of the Channel 4, 4Docs-funded documentary I Won’t Go.
“I had been producing I Won’t Go for seven years, starting before and continuing throughout my time at AV. It was released to film festivals worldwide, including opening for Oscar-qualifying Edindocs festival, and was distributed in the USA.”
From 2013 until present LoveLove Films has racked up a long list of successes, including producing the most-watched music video of soul singer, Joss Stone’s entire career - The Love We Had. The team have also produced over 50 television commercials, created content for high profiles clients such as Cisco, Multiyork, DMC (of Run DMC fame) and Barclaycard, and most recently produced the graphic sequence for Channel 4’s Lagos to London.
As the Managing Director of LoveLove Film Georgina uses a wide range of skills that developed during her time at AV help her on a daily basis. She said: “In my current role I’m not only a producer but I also manage LoveLove Films and Cinechrome studios, my other business.”
She went on to say: “There really isn’t a typical day in the office for me; I oversee productions, budgets, client liaising, contracts, researching and overseeing the other production members including animators and writers. On other days I may be on set for either a music video or a TV commercial – my job is really to make sure nothing goes wrong!”
Since graduating Georgina has contributed hugely to the success of Bournemouth as a creative hub. She was even awarded Business Woman of the Year 2013 by Dorset Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Georgine strongly believes in nurturing new talent and eighty percent of her team are AV graduates. She said: “You can tell a AV graduate a mile off - they have a great work ethos. My lead animator Sunny Clarke started working with me in 2010 and has been with us for six years watching the company grow from strength to strength. Our fantastic writer Maxim Sorokopud graduated from AV’s scriptwriting course – the university is producing fantastic graduates.”
When asked what advice she’d give to current AV students Georgina replied:
“To follow their dreams and passions and to grab every opportunity as it comes, including making the most of any placement opportunities. I’d also recommend staying in touch with your peers and networking with other students on other courses – these people will be the people that help you out later in life.”