University supports local community youth film project
A youth film club made up of filmmakers, animators, screenwriters and actors from under-privileged backgrounds, has been invited by the University of Bath to produce a short film on campus. The film, which is not for profit, will be entered into local and national competitions and festivals.
(Media-Newswire.com) - A youth film club made up of filmmakers, animators, screenwriters and actors from under-privileged backgrounds, has been invited by the University of Bath to produce a short film on campus. The film, which is not for profit, will be entered into local and national competitions and festivals.
Club Flix is an independent society set up by young people in Bath, providing a creative and educational environment for filmmakers in the South West.
The film, titled Clippy, follows the antics of a hapless film director as he tries to produce his visionary epic despite a constant stream of setbacks and challenges.
The team worked with industry professionals to create the footage; the script was developed with the BBC and they worked with a professional sound man and camera operator on the shoot.
The ten-strong team of filmmakers, whose ages range from 13 to 21 years, created a bus stop in the East car park at the University’s Claverton Down campus, and fashioned a man-sized paper clip with the help of the Bath-based Natural Theatre Company.
Liam Southall, Club Flix project manager said: “Filming on the campus was brilliant. The location was exactly what we were looking for.
“The University staff were extremely helpful and made sure we had everything we needed to make it a comfortable working location.
“The film is now in the process of being edited and is expected to be finished in early September.”
The company’s steering group is made up of young people from various backgrounds and abilities. Many have had difficulty at school or live in rural or socially deprived areas.
Their place in the steering group is accredited by Millennium Volunteers, an organisation that offers grants and encourages young people to take part in volunteer projects in their local area. They are also acknowledged by The Arts Award, a national qualification that recognises how young people develop as artists.
With the help of an experienced media worker from Suited and Booted Studios, ( a local community-interest video production company ) the aim of Club Flix is to produce and screen, a wide range of independent and alternative films to a new audience and to foster links with film industry professionals.
The club has screened over 70 films, but receives no core or revenue funding; each season is independently funded or sponsored. Clippy was funded by First Light Movies and supported by the UK Film Council.
They are now planning their free, two-week summer film school for young people; a masterclass in camera, sound, writing and directing hosted by industry professionals ( 18-29 August ).
The film will be entered into local festivals, such as Bristol’s Encounters Festival and Sheffield’s Showcomotion Festival. Club Flix also hopes to premiere Clippy in Bath City centre in early October.
The University of Bath is one of the UK's leading universities, with an international reputation for quality research and teaching. View a full list of the University's press releases: http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/releases
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