Congratulations to International Film School Wales graduate, Emma Pratt, whose short film ‘Brennan’s Sacrament’ was voted Best Student Film at the British Independent Film Awards.
Emma’s success comes as Kathryn Bigelow scooped the best director Oscar for The Hurt Locker - becoming the first woman to receive an Academy Award in the category - and Emma said, “Hopefully this means other women in the industry will be getting recognised for their achievements as well.”
Click here for full story: http://www.penarthtimes.co.uk/news/latestnews/5066408.Award_winning_film_director_thinks_big/
Showing posts with label International Film School Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Film School Wales. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Text and Drive Crash Video is Worldwide YouTube Hit
A graphically realistic car crash video about the dangers of texting while driving, which has been produced and directed by a lecturer, students and graduates of the International Film School Wales, is scoring more hits on YouTube than scenes from the new movie by ‘Titanic’ director James Cameron.
The video, ‘Cow’, made by award-winning Documentary Film-Making Lecturer Peter Watkins-Hughes in conjunction with Gwent Police and Tredegar Comprehensive School, has quickly become an international viral sensation with over a million hits.
The 30-minute video tells the story of fictional character Cassie Cowen, ‘Cow’ to her friends, whose life is changed forever after her friends are killed in a horrific crash caused because she sends a text message whilst driving. Since the film had its premiere in June, it has attracted attention from the BBC and it is hoped the film will become part of the core schools programme across Wales and the UK.
“We have been stunned by the coverage the video has gained – it’s a genuine internet phenomenon,” said Peter who originally poster a clip from the film on YouTube to share with a friend at the BBC.
“The idea for the film, which is based on one I made about joy-riding fourteen years, came from students at Tredegar Comprehensive School. Gwent Police then commissioned me to make it to be shown in schools around Wales.
“I engaged students and graduates from the Documentary Film-0making degree course at the University of Wales, Newport to work on the ambitious 30-minute drama which focuses not only on the crash itself but its emotional aftermath within the families and the wider local community.”
The film was enhanced with computer technology to depict second-by-second a multiple car highway accident to emphasise the message of what can happen when drivers are distracted from the road by a texting conversation.
To view the clip on YouTube go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I54mlK0kVw
For details of all film-making and all other courses at the University of Wales, Newport contact the University Information Centre on 01633 432432 or visit http://www.newport.ac.uk/.
The video, ‘Cow’, made by award-winning Documentary Film-Making Lecturer Peter Watkins-Hughes in conjunction with Gwent Police and Tredegar Comprehensive School, has quickly become an international viral sensation with over a million hits.
The 30-minute video tells the story of fictional character Cassie Cowen, ‘Cow’ to her friends, whose life is changed forever after her friends are killed in a horrific crash caused because she sends a text message whilst driving. Since the film had its premiere in June, it has attracted attention from the BBC and it is hoped the film will become part of the core schools programme across Wales and the UK.
“We have been stunned by the coverage the video has gained – it’s a genuine internet phenomenon,” said Peter who originally poster a clip from the film on YouTube to share with a friend at the BBC.
“The idea for the film, which is based on one I made about joy-riding fourteen years, came from students at Tredegar Comprehensive School. Gwent Police then commissioned me to make it to be shown in schools around Wales.
“I engaged students and graduates from the Documentary Film-0making degree course at the University of Wales, Newport to work on the ambitious 30-minute drama which focuses not only on the crash itself but its emotional aftermath within the families and the wider local community.”
The film was enhanced with computer technology to depict second-by-second a multiple car highway accident to emphasise the message of what can happen when drivers are distracted from the road by a texting conversation.
To view the clip on YouTube go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I54mlK0kVw
For details of all film-making and all other courses at the University of Wales, Newport contact the University Information Centre on 01633 432432 or visit http://www.newport.ac.uk/.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Out to Africa to make monkey movies
Met up with Cheryl Wagstaff, an amazing student film-maker who is going to Africa to help save endangered baboons by making educational movies for the internet.
Cheryl who’s studying Documentary Film and Television at the University of Wales, Newport, will be going to Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa to work for the charity The Great Primate Handshake.
She told me that chose to work with the Great Primate Handshake because it aims to help raise awareness of African primate sanctuaries and conservation programmes by harnessing the latest communications and multimedia technologies to broadcast their work to a local and global audience via the internet.
She wanted to give something back and decided this was the way to do it after finding out through the charity that 25% of primate species are close to extinction. She’ll be filming various primates to raise awareness about the problem. Apparently, the baboons in particular are in danger – the locals see them as a pest because they are moving into towns looking for food as deforestation destroys their natural habitat, and they are being killed. Working with teams in a fully equipped mobile workshop, Cheryl will be touring conservation areas and making films for the charity’s website.
She hopes the films she makes will educate people about the possible extinction of the baboons.
“Up to now my films have been about people so it will be a big departure making films about baboons!” she said.
Cheryl has so far raised £500 but needs another £1000 to be able to take part in the project. Anyone who would like to help her reach her target can email her on primatevolunteercheryl@hotmail.co.uk for details about the project, can visit http://www.primatehandshake.org/
For details of film-making and all other courses at the University of Wales, Newport call the university information centre on 01633 432432 or visit http://www.newport.ac.uk/
Cheryl who’s studying Documentary Film and Television at the University of Wales, Newport, will be going to Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa to work for the charity The Great Primate Handshake.
She told me that chose to work with the Great Primate Handshake because it aims to help raise awareness of African primate sanctuaries and conservation programmes by harnessing the latest communications and multimedia technologies to broadcast their work to a local and global audience via the internet.
She wanted to give something back and decided this was the way to do it after finding out through the charity that 25% of primate species are close to extinction. She’ll be filming various primates to raise awareness about the problem. Apparently, the baboons in particular are in danger – the locals see them as a pest because they are moving into towns looking for food as deforestation destroys their natural habitat, and they are being killed. Working with teams in a fully equipped mobile workshop, Cheryl will be touring conservation areas and making films for the charity’s website.
She hopes the films she makes will educate people about the possible extinction of the baboons.
“Up to now my films have been about people so it will be a big departure making films about baboons!” she said.
Cheryl has so far raised £500 but needs another £1000 to be able to take part in the project. Anyone who would like to help her reach her target can email her on primatevolunteercheryl@hotmail.co.uk for details about the project, can visit http://www.primatehandshake.org/
For details of film-making and all other courses at the University of Wales, Newport call the university information centre on 01633 432432 or visit http://www.newport.ac.uk/
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Newport hosts international festival of digital artists worldwide
I was at the launch of an exciting new venture recently – a unique year long, on-line event which will showcase the work of digital artists worldwide, the International Festival of Digital Arts (IFDA).
By using the internet with enhanced video and sound quality, the Festival will transcend any traditional boundaries of time and space. There are several categories - including video and music - and anyone and everyone is invited to enter their work online.
I’ll certainly be entering some of my work – including a short film I’m working on about the love affair between a real person and their computer generated alter ego.
Partners in the Festival include the International Film School Wales which is based at Newport’s University, Newport City Council, Real Radio and The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre. Further details can be found on the Festival’s website: http://www.amritsa.com/idmf/home09.htm
By using the internet with enhanced video and sound quality, the Festival will transcend any traditional boundaries of time and space. There are several categories - including video and music - and anyone and everyone is invited to enter their work online.
I’ll certainly be entering some of my work – including a short film I’m working on about the love affair between a real person and their computer generated alter ego.
Partners in the Festival include the International Film School Wales which is based at Newport’s University, Newport City Council, Real Radio and The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre. Further details can be found on the Festival’s website: http://www.amritsa.com/idmf/home09.htm
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