Crowdfunded Trip Results in a Wow Factor Award

University of Bolton student Patricia Bielby wowed industry professionals by winning an award at the top UK industry special effects recruitment fair. Patricia, who has just completed her final year of study on the Special Effects for Film and TV degree at the university’s Centre for Film Effects, was presented with the honour by The Twins FX, a leading company in the field of theatrical special effects, illusions and animatronics. Patricia was attending New Blades 2019, annual model-making recruitment fair, at Holborn Studios in London, as part of a group of 12 SFX students from the university. The students had crowdfunded the trip for an opportunity to display their work to industry professionals. Patricia’s display stand, included an amazing model of Pixar robot character Wall-E, impressed The Twins FX team, who presented her with The Twins FX WOW Factor Award. Creative disciplines on display at New Blades included: architecture, product design, special effects, character creation, sculpture, prosthetics, model effects, animatronics, automotive, display, prototype, TV and film props, film miniatures, exhibition models, gaming, theatre, animation, set design and engineering. Simon Wiggins, Head of the School of Creative Technologies at the University of Bolton, said: “I am delighted that Patricia won this award at New Blades. “It demonstrates the level of talent we have in the field of special effects. We are very proud of all our students and they worked hard to raise the money to go to this important event.”