Set up to succeed in prosthetics

Abbie Price; a 3rd-year student at the University of Bolton recently attended the biggest prosthetic event in the UK - The Prosthetic Event in Coventry - and took home a top prize. But she said that it was actually the University of Bolton who sent her the invite to apply! Without the nudge, she probably wouldn’t have known about the competition unless she stalked their Instagram. Abbie mentioned that she loves that Bolton is always keeping her informed about opportunities. The process was really easy and after completing a few details, she was accepted into the competition.

On the day, she used everything she’d learned at Bolton to reimagine a previous ‘Rat Boy’ character as a toxic fallout concept with boils, a hospital gown and a scar. She says, “When I did the first concept, I was missing something. With this competition, I got to take a previous concept and reimagine it as something more.”

It was a winning idea! Abbie walked away with a kit worth £200, a trophy, a big confidence boost and the title of “Application Station Competition Winner!”

How Bolton supported her ambitions

Abbie is pretty frank about how much her education at Bolton contributed to this win. She says that all her teachers are incredible but especially, “Natalie Woods, who has an impressive track record of work within the industry and is so willing to share those experiences with us. It’s really helpful.” Here are just a few of the things Abbie has learned during her course:

● A wide range of foundational prosthetic techniques

● Special modules on wigs & facial hair

● How to work with talent, including a focus on model comfort and the necessity of patch tests

● How to do creative ideation on a theme (such as Feral Nightmare) including mood boards, getting inspiration from other artists, sculpting with support from lecturers, making moulds, filling these moulds, painting and adding hair

● Help to curate an effective Instagram portfolio in Bolton’s professional portfolio module including employer cover letters, email communication, networking and self-promotion skills

● Soft skills around time management and communication

The best part, she says, is that “if you need help with something, the support is there straight away. I think this BA (Hons) Special Make-up Effects for Film and Television course is the best one in the UK,” she says, “If you’re thinking of which one to do for prosthetics, Bolton is definitely the way! This course is so niche and you’ll learn everything you need to succeed.”

If you think a career working in TV and Film is the right place for you, why not have a look at all the interesting courses we offer? At the University of Bolton, we’re well-positioned to help you forge an amazing professional path, no matter which specialism you explore. Our warm, supportive and inclusive campus environment is a great place for creative minds like yours to thrive. So, attend an open day and experience #UniAsItShouldBe for yourself or email admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk for more information. Our team is always ready to help you with any questions you may have.