Hello

My name is Eric Liu. I am a wheelchair user who was born with cerebral palsy. Originally from Beijing, I moved to England in the summer of 2016 to improve my education, opportunities and healthcare. My family settled in the cool, bohemian city of Brighton. Initially, my English was very poor and I struggled to communicate with people. I practised to improve my language skills by working with a private tutor. I then transferred to Blatchington Mill School & Sixth Form, working hard to achieve a Grade 8 in GCSE Marindain. 

 

In 2019, I successfully entered Brighton MET to complete a Gateway course in English, so I could proceed to study Art and Media. In art, I learnt about the tone and mood for each colour gradient and how to use light effectively in compositions. My work in Creative Media allowed me to build more hard skills, and learn different types of software. My first major project was a documentary on lift awareness for disabled students in the college. I was able to learn interviewing skills, camerawork and post-production using Adobe Premiere Pro. I also became a student rep for the college which allowed me to develop my soft skills in organisation, teamwork and leadership.  

 

I then began my Film & Broadcast course in 2022. I learned to capture high quality footage using the Exposure Triangle of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. I wrote and directed a range of films in different genres, including slapstick comedy, horror, and documentary. I had opportunities to work with external clients and charities which allowed me to build more confidence and communication skills. I also developed my cinematography skills and learned to operate a wide range of cameras, such as Sony X70, Sony NX5, Canon DSLR.

I am currently producing a film for St Peter’s Church in Brighton to celebrate a 200th anniversary since their foundation stone was laid. 

 

Alongside my academic achievements, I joined Amaze Sussex as a volunteer in 2019. Amaze is a UK charity which helps young people with SEND. My work here helped me to improve my time management and social skills. I also made a film called “Together We Amaze”. My film was used by the charity to demonstrate their great work on their website, and to petition the local council for increased funding. I was able to capture the optimum audio level using a clip-on mic when the interviewees were speaking to reduce the background noise. I also added the correct deciBel of background music and captured some b-rolls to show the interviewee’s point of view.

 

I am also a wheelchair rugby player for Brighton Buccaneers, a fantastic team who recently won the Development League tournament. Drawing on my media skills, I decided to create a high-octane documentary about the sport, called Warriors on Wheel. I blended intense action shots of the game with interviews with the players to inform and captivate the audience. The team put the documentary on their website and social media channels to encourage more people with disabilities to try out this amazing sport!