On Friday 12^th October Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) teamed up with Access VFX and VFX software company FXHome to deliver a day-long visual effects workshop to college media students. Access VFX is the UK Visual Effects Industry’s initiative to inspire the next generation of talent in VFX, encourage diversity in the UK’s VFX industry, and to help create new talent routes into the VFX industry. The workshop was delivered as part of a nationwide programme of events, following Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Paul Franklin (Interstellar, Inception, and Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy) receiving an honorary doctorate from NUA at this summer’s graduation ceremony. Students were shown how to create their own visual effects, with US superstar VFX trainer Javert Valbarr, who said “The workshop was about introducing the students to visual effects. We’re using the HitFilm Express software, which is the software that we make and we’re going through a couple of basic techniques like rotoscoping.” Students were allowed to keep and use the software they were shown how to use. The students were also treated to a guest appearance from Chris Cook, a VFX artist and industry professional from the creative studio Framestore. The Bafta and Oscar-awarding winning studio offers a range of visual effects, production, direction and post production services for films including Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Bladerunner 2049.  Chris gave the students careers advice and tips to young people considering a career in visual effects. Chris Cook said: “From an industry point of view, we’re hoping to inspire them to realise that visual effects is a legitimate career path for them and hopefully come and work for us one day.” Javert Valbarr, “This is the first time we’ve delivered workshops and so it’s good. They’re learning it quickly and they are enjoying themselves and having fun. The idea is that they take the software home with them. Hitfilm Express is free so they can go home and download it and try it themselves and continue their VFX journey.” Paul Gibson, programme manager of visual and performing arts, said: “Students have learnt new skills that they will be able to incorporate into their programme of study. They have also gained invaluable experience of working with external tutors and an understanding of the software. I hope they have been inspired by the people that have visited us today, to broaden their horizons when considering their future career paths.”