Students enjoy master class with Kung Fu Panda Director John Stevenson

Our students recently received an excellent opportunity to attend a virtual master class with Director John Stevenson and got to hear about all of his work from his beginnings working with Jim Henson’s company, to working on Shrek, and then in directing Kung Fu Panda.

Stevenson worked as a story artist on well-known feature films including Labyrinth and Little Shop of Horrors before being hired as the Head of Story at DreamWorks Animation in 1998. He worked on fan favourites such as Shrek, Shrek 2 and Madagascar before being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for Kung Fu Panda.

The students got an amazing insight to help support their career ambitions into the film making industry, and in the various roles that John has undertaken over the years. His inspirational words of wisdom have really helped to provide students with a positive lift, and of the need to love and privilege of working with such creative mediums to tell stories. The master class was chaired by our tutor Ian Cawley, who did an amazing job to explore John’s career from its early beginnings to projects currently in waiting.

Students have sent some really positive feedback following the session and a huge thank you goes to John for his time. Find out more information regarding our Film & TV courses at Lichfield College.