Red carpet rolled out for young Huddersfield filmmakers

YOUNGSTERS from four Kirklees schools attended their first film premiere.

And after walking down the red carpet, the film they saw on the biggest screen at Odeon Huddersfield was – their own.

The schools were awarded Lottery cash of almost £23,000, via First Light Movies, to each create a short film alongside company Big Voice Media as part of the Magic Frames project. Kirklees artists Fabric Lenny and Yvonne Roberts provided expert back-up.

Their four three-minute films were screened for the first time in front of an enthusiastic audience which included arts dignitaries from all over the country.

The films were: A Garden in My Pocket by Ashbrow School; Theo’s Worries by Netherthong Primary; The Pirates of Rabbit Doll Island by Battyeford CE Primary; and Lumpy Boy, A Tale about Diversity by Crossley Fields Primary, Mirfield.

The event attracted some big names, including Susan Coles, president of the National Society for Education in Art and Design who described the films as “astonishingly good”, and First Light Movies operations director Paul Hewlett.

First Light is a national organisation which helps youngsters make their own films. It distributes National Lottery money through the British Film Institute.

The funding gave pupils hands-on experience across a range of filmmaking genres, including 3D replacement animation, pixilation and documentary.

Tim Copsey, of Holmfirth Film Festival, was so impressed by the films that he is including them in this year’s May festival.

Magic Frames organiser Natalie Power said: “It was an amazing evening, one which the children will remember for the rest of their lives.

“They hadn’t seen the films and it was so exciting for them to see them on the enormous screen at the Odeon. The standard is exceptional.

“Our special thanks to Clifford Baillie, general manager of Odeon Huddersfield who has hosted the event and has given us fantastic support.”

Magic Frames has been an unqualified success and arts leaders are looking at rolling out the Kirklees project to other schools across the country.

And the screening was just the beginning for the films, which will now join national and international film circuits where they will be entered for various competitions.

News of the films has even reached Hollywood stars. Battyeford Primary School has set up The Rabbit Doll Company to produce merchandising to accompany their film.

And in an amazing scoop, one enterprising parent presented a Rabbit Doll to film star Whoopi Goldberg at a New York charity event last week.

Yorkshire Fur Fabrics of Queen St South, Huddersfield, produced a range of rugs depicting characters from each of the film projects, creating a unique red carpet for the film premiere.

Dora Plant, headteacher of Ashbrow School said: “We are very grateful for this whole opportunity, and to Baldev Hayer a director from Yorkshire Fur Fabrics for adding to an amazing event for our youngsters.”