It’s taken over a week but we have finally recovered from our second BFI Film Academy Scotland Residential. Eleven days in which 24 of the brightest young filmmaking talent from across the UK descended upon Edinburgh to learn from eight filmmaking tutors in the disciplines of screenwriting, directing, camera & lighting, sound, production and editing, receive masterclasses from ten industry guests and break into teams to produce three dynamic short films.
Taking place at Screen Education Edinburgh in Pilton, Craigroyston High School and Fettes College, the intensive residential supported and developed the young people into craft specialisms with the goal for them to work as part of a crew to make a short film. All 24 participants developed and wrote screenplays with three eventually chosen to be made. Working with professional actors over two shoot days and three edit days three short films were produced.
They were:
Make Them Laugh, written and directed by Ruidi Collins from the Scottish Borders.
Way to Tell, written by Rebekah Copeland from Ayrshire and directed by Maria Moss from Manchester.
Alex, written and directed by Lauren Warde from Northern Ireland.
Along with the intensive craft learning sessions the participants had the opportunity to learn from and speak to industry professionals including Peaky Blinders director Colm McCarthy and Not Another Happy Ending producer Wendy Griffin. All the industry guests gave the young people candid sessions outlining their own careers and job roles, which reached across the value chain of film; from production to festivals and distribution to funding and talent development.
For many of the young people, all aged 16-19, this was their first time away from home, which can be daunting, but they all bonded quickly with life long friendships and collaborations made.
The final short films were made completely by the young people after the intensive training and rank as some of the best produced here at Screen Education Edinburgh. They will now be entered into festivals and we are hopeful they will do well.
Congratulations to all the young filmmakers who threw themselves into the residential with passion and enthusiasm. On top of all the above they also all completed a NCFE Level 2 Award in Preparing to Work in the Film Industry; the first group in Scotland to do so.
