For the last 4 months, Ethan has been completing his UoL placement with us at Forepoint and has worked on a range of projects to develop his design and motion skills. Most recently, Ethan has produced, with the support from one of our Senior Designers, Lee Moonan – a series of animated stage backdrops that are being used in the Preston Musical Comedy Society’s (PMCS) 2025 current production of Peter Pan.
This marked our second year providing creative support to PMCS for their stage backdrops, and it offered Ethan an ideal project to expand and develop a new set of skills – exactly what we want our placement students to get out of these experiences. He was able to work on his animation skills, alongside learning and embracing AI animation and prompt writing. This provided a great crossover between traditional animation and the enhanced use of AI.
At Forepoint, we see AI as a tool to enhance creativity, not replace it. The true value lies in human creativity, our ability to think, connect emotionally and craft unique, impactful ideas. We encouraged Ethan to use AI as a support tool to push his own creative boundaries.
“I haven’t done this type of work before, so it was all new to me – lots of trial and error. I would like to thank the team for helping me with their constructive feedback, and for pushing me to animate certain aspects of the still images. Very happy the client liked it and I was glad I could be of help for the team.”
Ethan Shaw
By creating subtle but magical animations from original still images supplied, Ethan managed to bring the stage set to life. This received great feedback from our contact at PMCS. The final outcomes produced were animated backdrops for seven scenes.
“Thank you so much for these!! They are absolutely amazing! I really don’t know how you do it! More than happy with everything you’ve managed to do it such a short space of time and I am extremely grateful!”
Vice Chairman of PMCS
As a business, Forepoint has always been passionate about giving back to education. Whether through student bursaries, industry briefs, or hands-on work placements like Ethan’s, we recognise the importance of providing support and guidance to the next generation of creatives. It’s about sharing what we know, offering meaningful guidance and opening doors. We couldn’t be happier with how Ethan has fit into the team during his placement and the quality of work he has produced so far. We’re looking forward to supporting his growth further over the upcoming months.
“This is a true win-win for us! We’re proud to give back by supporting local cultural events and charities as part of our socio-economic and social impact policy. It’s not just about making a difference in the community – it’s also a fantastic opportunity for our younger team members to take on new challenges, grow their skills, and contribute in meaningful ways. Great to see impact and development go hand in hand!”
Steve Gill, Forepoint’s Managing Partner