Film Course For Aspiring Tarantinos

Students from schools in South Wales are to attend a two-week residential film school to be held at the Bournemouth Screen Academy, alongside fellow filmmakers from London and the Bournemouth area.
The film school, which successfully introduced young people to film-making last year, has been increased this year to include two schools from the Newport area through collaboration with the Screen Academy Wales.
“Last summer the 30 young students filmed in 15 locations, directed 20 professional actors, brought in over 100 props and used filming equipment worth hundreds of thousands of pounds,” said David Hanson, Director of the Bournemouth Screen Academy.
“This year, with 40 students taking part, the whole operation will be much bigger and these young people will be experiencing at first-hand every aspect of film-making. We’re looking for the next Quentin Tarantino.”
Following an intensive scriptwriting process with Welsh writer Catherine Linstrum, whose credits include features and short films as well as TV and radio dramas, the two groups from St Alban's and St Joseph's are now making the final preparations for the trip to Bournemouth which will see them work alongside schools from the South West and London on their films Red Cross Code and Life's a Beach.
“This has been a fantastic opportunity for the young people,” said script mentor Catherine Linstrum. “I wish I’d been offered an experience like this at their age as it offers the chance to work under pressure to devise a storyline and then turn it into a film while working in a team – all of which are essential elements of working in the film industry. I think this scheme will benefit future filmmakers hugely.”
On the final night of the residential film school all the short films produced will be screened to family, friends and local dignitaries which will offer all involved a chance to compare work with their peers.
The Bournemouth Film School is a significant addition to the outreach schemes being organised or supported in Wales by the Screen Academy Wales, which includes the Zoom Young People’s Festival, the First Campus Moviemakers scheme, ITV Wales’ Its My Shout scheme and the Merthyr Media Project. It is hoped that those taking part will continue to be mentored by the Academy and encouraged to consider a career in the film industry.
For further information about next summer’s Bournemouth Summer Film School, other outreach projects in your area or the courses on offer at the Screen Academy Wales please contact:
www.screenacademywales.org
(DS)