Young film makers from Swindon Borough Councils cre8 Studios saw a culmination of their hard work premiere on the big screen at Swindon's Cineworld on July 17th.
The primary and secondary age children created their movies through 'Young cre8ives' an initiative by cre8 Mobile Media outreach project. Their films were each around ten minutes long and ranged from drama to documentaries.
At the films launch, BAFTA-nominated David Collier, a script executive for Granada TV's My Parents are Aliens and former cre8 screenwriter in residence, presented the young filmmakers with certificates of achievement and praised their efforts.
Sci-fi drama 'Horror High' was created by Commonweal School Swindon Dyslexia Unit. The students worked with David Collier on the script, and evil.twin.artworks to make scary aliens and mix live action with animation.
Hreod Parkway School's Boffin Club made the haunting thriller 'Icehouse'. David helped the Boffins write a sensitive script, filmmaker Keith Phillips assisted direction and editing, and cameraman Phil Ball advised filming.
Filmmaker Gurchetan Singh assisted Swindon's Saturday Caribbean Club with their cultural documentary 'Mixing It', featuring Caribbean food, hair and traditional stories.
Premiering alongside the young cre8ives work was 'Making Choices', an anger management drama by Swindon's Nyland School students.
Councillor Justin Tomlinson, cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Recreation commented: "The young filmmakers have gained skills in literacy and teamworking and have built up their confidence as well as contributing to Swindon's cultural profile. Swindon is really lucky to have cre8 studios and Mobile Media - very few towns have facilities to engage with young people in this way."
Mobile Media young cre8ives project attracted £40,000 of funding from First Light, the Film Council's Young People's initiative and Nationwide Building Society. The cash meant the children could work with film professionals including writers, directors, crew, and animators.
Nationwide spokesman Andrew Litchfield explained why the organisation supported the project: "Mobile Media isn't just an opportunity for the community to be creative, The Young cre8ives scheme gives young film makers the chance to work with industry professionals to make films for which they can be proud for years to come."
NOTES
Mobile Media is a cre8 studios youth arts project taking the excitement of new digital technologies and professional arts practice to children and young people in school and community settings throughout Swindon. Using animation, web based work, moving and still imagery, Mobile Media aims to create positive opportunities for young people and their communities.
Cre8 studios is based at the Town Hall, Regent Circus, Swindon. It offers digital and film making courses for adults and children, professional support for film makers and digital/film visual artists, and has film, photography and audio equipment for hire. See http://www.cre8studios.org.uk/. cre8 is part of Swindon Borough Council arts services, see www.swindon.gov.uk/artsandculture.
From 22 July clips from the films will be available by visiting http://www.mobile-media.org.uk/ or telephone cre8 on 01793 463210 for a copy of the DVD.