Newport Film-Making Graduate Selected To Be Mentored By Kenneth Branagh

An up-and-coming film writer and director who studied at the University of Wales, Newport has been chosen from over 500 people to be mentored by actor, director and producer Kenneth Branagh.
Keri Collins is one of 25 people chosen for the Guiding Lights mentoring scheme, which aims to help develop the skills of aspiring talent in the film industry.
Thirty-year-old Keri, who is originally from Caldicot, but now lives in Cardiff, said: "I'm really pleased to have been selected for this scheme, especially as I'm a big fan of Kenneth Branagh and his work.
"Branagh has so much respect from everyone in the film industry and being an actor himself he's a great director because he knows exactly how to get the best out of actors he's working with."
Keri was so inspired by Branagh's film of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing', he adapted the bard's 'Comedy of Errors' - updating the setting to Baghdad - and his screenplay will be one of the things he will be working on with Kenneth Branagh.
"He's going to read my script and give me comments and notes on how to improve it," said Keri, who has already met with the actor backstage at his latest West End success, Chekhov's 'Ivanov', to discuss the mentoring scheme.
Keri has wanted to be a filmmaker for as long as he can remember - and there was even a reference to his interest in films on his school report when he was eleven.
He said: "I've always enjoyed the escapism of going to the cinema and love films of all genres, especially independent, quirky films. I learned a great deal about working in the film industry during my time at the International Film School Wales (FSW). I cam to Newport as a mature student having previously worked in the civil service. It was very important to me to have a degree and I spent a lot of time looking for the right course."
He added: 'Studying at Newport fed my creativity and showed me what it's like to be a professional filmmaker. I found the tutors there to be inspirational."
His graduation film attracted much attention as he managed to secure actor Frank Kelly, of 'Father Ted' fame, to be in the film. Since graduating he has been assistant director on feature films and made a documentary about a controversial Miss Landmine beauty pageant in Angola.
He is now working on a number of projects including a film comedy set in heaven which has already attracted interest.
Further information is available at: www.newport.ac.uk.
(KMcA)