At Open Sessions, speakers share their career-defining moments and advice for getting started in a creative field. It is also an opportunity to make new connections and meet like-minded people.

Open Session #5 was about making music videos; image, style, content, working with artists, having your own vibe and pathways into the music industry.

Reece Proctor

Reece Proctor is a creative manager, award-winning video director and founder of the creative management and visual production company 'Purpled Elephant'. Reece is self-taught and has been making home movies since he was a child going on to make a name for himself in the music industry with labels such as Columbia Records, Ministry of Sound and Relentless Records. His videos have featured on SBTV, MTV, MTV Base, MTV Dance, GRMDaily and LinkUpTV. His music video 'Skwod' for artist Nadia Rose won Best Music Video at the 2016 MOBO Awards.

Lauren Joy Kennett

Lauren Joy Kennett is a Brighton-based photographer and creative film director, specialising in music, charity and youth culture. Interested in the complexities of human nature, Lauren’s unique understanding of visual storytelling enables her to elicit the beauty behind even the darkest and troubling aspects of life.

Formally Viral, now Lighthouse Young Creatives, is a project for 16-25 year olds who want to work in the creative and digital industries, but who don’t have the opportunities, facilities and connections they need. The project is for young people from diverse backgrounds, including those not in work or training.

Over six months the young people receive production training, business development, mentoring, showcasing opportunities and peer-to-peer support. The project focuses on a range of disciplines including music, film, photography and design.

Viral Open Sessions are presented by Lighthouse with support from Re-Imagine Europe, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union and are part of the Viral programme.