In October 2024, Aunty Social began an exciting journey with 13 talented young filmmakers from the Blackpool area, inviting them to be a part of their BFI Film Academy programme. Over the next 4 months, these aspiring creatives explored the world of filmmaking, learning valuable new skills from local industry professionals. Through a mixture of hands-on workshops and insightful online sessions, they not only learned the ropes of the film industry, but also developed and produced their own unique short film, Christmas.DV.
Aunty Social has been working as part of a North West consortium which includes FACT Liverpool, Touchstones Rochdale, Signal Film & Media Barrow, led by HOME Manchester, to deliver one of five North West Film Academies, part of an initiative by the BFI. The Film Academy programme is designed to help train and inspire the next generation of UK filmmakers and production crew, supporting 16 to 19-year-olds to develop the skills and industry knowledge needed to kickstart a successful career in the screen industries.
Throughout the course, participants were involved in the entire filmmaking process, learning how to bring a film to life from the ground up. Led by a team of industry professionals – Gillian Wood (writer, director & costume department), Ben Kirk (filmmaker and technical support), Ruth Shuttleworth (film educator) and guest industry experts – participants took part in a mix of hands-on practical workshops and theory based sessions.
From developing ideas to writing scripts, and casting actors to sourcing props, participants were immersed in the essentials of planning a film shoot. For those with a passion for costume and textiles, a special visit to Gill’s costume workshop was arranged, offering a rare behind the scenes insight into this crucial aspect of filmmaking. Gill shared her knowledge of costume techniques used across different genres, showcasing examples of various projects she’s worked on, including Fury (2014), Tolkien (2019) and Cloud Atlas (2012).
The participants also developed their technical skills, including directing and working with actors, sound recording and camera operation, learning firsthand how to create a compelling scene. Leading an exciting session on cinematography was guest speaker Brad James (writer, director and composer), who shared his industry insight to help the young filmmakers visualise their short film and learn the techniques needed to bring their vision to life.
The film was shot over the course of 3 days, with additional scenes captured at Aunty Social’s own venue. These shoot days offered our young filmmakers invaluable experience to learn the logistics of working on a busy film set, interacting with actors, setting up equipment and translating their film from script to screen. Participants stepped into a range of roles – from director and assistant director to sound recorder, camera operator, sound technician, hair & makeup artist and runner – allowing them to explore different aspects of filmmaking and develop their specialised interests.
After the shoot, the group delved into editing using Adobe Premiere Pro, experimenting with various techniques to see their film come together. In the sessions led by Ben Kirk, participants learned tips and tricks to help them work with professional software, with one participant sharing “I had a very basic level of knowledge on how to use it [Premiere Pro] and I now have a much deeper understanding”.
Throughout the programme, participants worked towards earning their Silver Arts Award by documenting their Film Academy journey in a creative portfolio. Designed to give young people a unique creative challenge, this nationally recognised qualification encourages participants to take on a leadership role and expand their skills beyond practical filmmaking. By combining creativity with research, project management and critical reflection, participants developed a wide range of transferable skills and gained a Level 2 qualification.
After wrapping on their short films, all of the North-West Academies were invited to an awards ceremony with lead partner HOME in Manchester. Our Blackpool cohort made the journey to watch their film on the big screen, alongside the work of the other groups from Barrow-in-Furness, Liverpool, Manchester and Rochdale. This special evening rounded out in an awards presentation, where participants were invited to collect their certificates marking the end of the programme.
Back in Blackpool, a special local screening was held at the Backlot Cinema, where friends, family, actors and general film enthusiasts were invited to see the cohort’s work and hear more from the filmmakers themselves. The screening was followed by a Q&A session with 3 participants and Ben Kirk, where they discussed the filmmaking process, their experience with the Film Academy, and answered audience questions.
Although this year’s Academy has come to a close, it’s far from the end for our young filmmakers. The Film Academy experiences has opened new opportunities, with many participants now collaborating on creative projects, exploring film and media-related university courses, and developing their CVs and portfolios to take the next steps in their creative journeys.
Christmas.DV
It’s Christmas Day and Alex has just opened her present – a video camera! As the day of joy and celebration unfolds into chaos and family secrets, Alex’s camera captures it all.
Christmas.DV is available to watch now on YouTube.
