Middlesex University features in new comedy series Youth

Students get first-hand production experience as campus facilities used in high-profile film and TV shows

Middlesex University staff and students, as well as Barnet residents, may recognise scenes from Hendon campus in the new comedy series Youth which debuted on UK screens last week.

Parts of the series were filmed at Middlesex following an agreement with leading UK film service FilmFixer to bring major filming projects to the University’s Hendon campus and facilities at StoneX stadium.

HBO Max’s Youth stars Sharon Horgan as a 50-something woman navigating midlife dating while caring for ageing parents and a teenage son. In episode one, the University’s Grove Atrium is the setting for son Ruari’s school graduation. The series is one of eight productions filmed at Middlesex over the last year, with projects also involving Apple TV, the BBC, Netflix and Studio B.

Students from Arts and Creative Industries courses have had the opportunity to watch live filming, see first-hand the work of production crews, work as paid extras, and gain on-set experience with the specialists including the locations team, crowd assistant director, prop master, art department, graphic design team and Digital Imaging Technicians (DITs) who manage the digital workflow on set.

Dr Bendon said: “Through this partnership, we’re helping to remove barriers to gaining access and experience on large-scale high-end productions. We look forward to continuing to work with FilmFixer to bring more productions to Middlesex and create opportunities for our students to build their skills, networks and industry experience.”

The University’s partnership with FilmFixer makes it a key location for filming and supports the growth of Screen London Barnet. This partnership between education including the University’s MDX Studios, industry and local government aims to position the Borough as a growing hub for film, television, and digital content production.

Middlesex students were thrilled with the opportunity to experience live productions first-hand.

Third-year BA Film student James Afflatt said: “Being so close to the professional cast and crew along with professional industry standard equipment was fantastic. It gave film students like me a real-world industry experience, seeing the production of an actual film or show that will be seen by a large audience.

“Having film industries present at our University helps us grow as filmmakers as it reinforces our inspiration, shows us how it's done and makes us more determined after seeing filmmaking first-hand.” 

Second-year BA Film student Jieun Sin, who was an extra on one of the productions, said: “It was a novel experience to witness real filmmakers working on a TV series that will be aired. As students, it's important not only to learn film theory but to understand the different roles in a real production environment.”

Kieran Kail, a Foundation Year BA Advertising, Public Relations and Branding student, said: “It was great experience that gave me a glimpse into the film-making process and an opportunity to see how it's like to be an extra first hand. It opened my eyes to the time and scale necessary for a large-scale filmmaking project and I'm glad I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity."

Emily Charlton, Film Service Manager at FilmFixer, said: “Working with Middlesex University to welcome HBO’s Youth to the campus is a fantastic example of how bringing major productions into educational environments can create meaningful opportunities for students and the wider screen community.

“The University offers an impressive range of facilities and locations, with Youth using the Grove Atrium for its graduation scene. The University’s openness and flexibility make it an invaluable addition to London’s location filming industry, and we look forward to welcoming more productions to the site in the future.”

Find out more about our Arts and Creative Industry courses at Middlesex University.

Image credit: Sharon Horgan as 50-something Alex with her son Ruari in Youth - HBO Max.