Students from Blackburn College have helped produced a stunning new video for local band Lightguard.
The youngsters were tutored in how to conceptualise, produce, film and edit footage for the video for the Clitheroe band.
Richard McKenny, curriculum manager for Film, Television and Music at Blackburn College, led the project, which was part of a year-long programme of events and initiatives run in conjunction with the National Film and Television School in Leeds and Blackburn Film Academy.
He said: “Most young people think that making film content is easy, as the influencers they see every day seem to make it look effortless.
“But most influencers have professional film crews behind them, and therefore their content has strong production values.
“With this project, the student filmmakers were able to learn, first-hand, how difficult filming projects can be.
“We are able, through this project and our film and television courses at the college, to show how to develop filmmaking and video production skills so learners can take them forward along a career path.”
Over the past year, a series of initiatives have been running through Blackburn College, in conjunction with the National Film and Television School, Leeds, aimed at encouraging young people aged 14 to 19 to become involved in the world of filmmaking.
The final session, a week of workshops, was held at the college’s film and television studio with the students showcasing their hard work, a powerful and professional-quality music video for the Clitheroe band’s new track, Nameless.
In five days, the group learned how to create, develop, produce and edit footage, taking on a variety of roles before finally delivering a music video ready to be viewed by millions.
At the start of the course, the group, some of whom are current film and television students at the college, began with a blank canvas to come up with creative ideas and a script for the video.
Throughout the week, they were mentored by television and film industry professionals, including award-winning producers, directors and editors, whose credits include blockbuster hits Waterloo Road, This City is Ours, The Bay, Boiling Point, All Creatures Great & Small and others.
Issa Karolia, 16, said: “It has been an amazing experience, but it has also been quite a lot of pressure as it is a really short time frame to produce a music video.
“I have been helping the gaffer, adjusting lighting, moving cameras. It is very interesting. Everyone has been really easy to work with, and we have collaborated well.
“We have all been learning different skills and being able to apply those to the tasks of making the video.
“This has definitely helped inspire me. My hero is Steven Spielberg. I really admire his work. When I finish my studies, I want to try and have a career in the film industry.”
Industry professionals, including director of photography Jenni Suitiala, screenwriter Beth Rowland and Charlene Jones, an acclaimed director of music videos and drama.
Beth, who acted as assistant director for the project, said: “We began the week taking them through a masterclass film workshop, and it was great that they were able to take what they had learned in the workshop and produce a real music video.
“The students' ages ranged from 14 to 19, so their previous experience varied, but, because in the film industry veterans regularly work alongside people with less experience, we were able to impart knowledge, tips and tricks to the learners.
“A lot of the older ones already knew some things about filmmaking, but they were well aware that they don't know everything by any means and are very willing to learn.”
Jenni added: “The students are going to take a lot away from this.
"The facilities that Blackburn College have are incredible, as is the true passion college staff have for helping young people shine.”
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