Focus on film as island pupils eye top prize
Workshop boosts creative skills
High school pupils on Mull this week enjoyed learning as part of the FilmG Gaelic Short Film Competition.
They were joined by broadcaster Calum MacAulay and former Tobermory High School pupil Shannon MacLean.
Calum works as a freelancer across news and sport and is experienced in front of camera and in technical elements of filmmaking.
Shannon is a FilmG ambassador, having made independent entries while at school and as she continues to study Gaelic media at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
The workshop was one of 35 being delivered by FilmG across Scotland, giving children the opportunity to make a five-minute short film in Scottish Gaelic which they can enter into the FilmG competition.
The FilmG project has been running for 12 years and the youth category has grown beyond all expectation, from 12 films in the first year to 70 youth entries last year. The bulk of these entries come through FilmG’s innovative workshops.
There are 15 tutors on the FilmG bank, based in regions from Lewis, to Glasgow, to Inverness.
Pupils on Mull prepared their own script, props and locations for their day of filming, followed by a day of editing. Much of the filming took place on the school’s playing fields as their film follows a footballer who loses his job with a top squad and is making efforts to get back to the top. They look forward to unveiling the film in mid-December.
The main youth category prize is £1,000 for best film.
FilmG project manager Eilidh Rankin said: ‘The FilmG workshops are a fantastic opportunity for high school pupils to get their teeth into a project and to speak Gaelic outwith the classroom.
‘We encourage pupils to use their individual talents within the team, with room for everyone to shine. We hope FilmG continues to uncover budding writers, actors, prop-makers, makeup artists, interviewers, social media officers, camera operators and directors.’
Independent film-makers of high school age are also encouraged to go it alone, with a £500 for Best Young Film-maker, with other awards open to independent entrants.
The recent addition of the Best Youth Group Film award, open to primary classes and youth clubs for children of primary age, has also been a hit and organisers of FilmG hope to see equally healthy entry numbers this year. The FilmG project is funded by MG ALBA and delivered by Cànan Graphics Studio on the Isle of Skye, with Bòrd na Gàidhlig also providing support.
The FilmG deadline is December 10. For more information, visit filmg.co.uk.