Lord Puttnam helps student film-makers
to make a movie using their iPhones and laptops to reflect their isolation experience.
While some chose to make documentaries, others opted for comedy or drama.
The six films have been showcased online from Lord Puttnam’s studio in Ireland and the intention is to enter them in festivals as a chronicle of the UK’s time in lockdown.
The former Chancellor of the university and an Oscarwinning producer of films including Chariots of Fire, The Mission, The Killing Fields and Midnight Express, has been an inspiring figure to all those taking part in the programme. Luke Smith, from the Red House area, recently completed his Masters Degree in Media Production (TV and Film).
The 23-year-old said: “The whole experience has been something of a whirlwind. At first it was very intense and I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, wondering if I was good enough.
“But that is the amazing thing about Lord Puttnam – he makes you feel like you deserve it, that you are good enough.”
Katie Stubbs, 19, from Cleadon in South Tyneside, is studying Screen Performance at the university.
She said: “The feedback from Lord Puttnam has been invaluable. I found his lecture on creativity and identity inspiring, teaching me that I need to see a little bit of myself in everything I create.
“Being mentored by someone with his experience is priceless.”
The programme saw the students taking part in a series of interactive seminars.
Lord Puttnam said: “Supported by a CISCO operated video-conferencing facility, I was able to work with individual students – all of whom were forced to stay in their respective homes – from my office in south-west Ireland and I think we managed to do so in a truly meaningful way.”