Roll out the red carpet…LoLo film heading for an Oscar!

‘When Alan met Sharon – a U-Value romance’ launched on SEA Superhomes’ Youtube channel and awarded second prize at Durham Energy Futures Film Festival.

UCL Energy Institute and Loughborough University students Mike Fell, Louis Fifield, Faye Wade and Kate Simpson have been inundated with prizes including a novelty clapper board trophy, Amazon book vouchers and prize money for their short production.

The team created the film in just six hours during the LoLo Summer Event in July. The initial challenge, set by course tutors who liaised with SEA Superhomes was to produce a video to explain ‘what is a U-Value?’. The crew were rewarded for their efforts when LoLo stakeholders from AECOM, ARUP, BRE, E.ON, EDF, CIBSE, Crest Nicholson and Willmott Dixon awarded them first prize. The competition was fierce but the team overcame the odds with their attempt to amusingly engage audiences.

“The winning team certainly know the way to a Marketing Manager’s heart. The video is technically excellent - beautifully constructed, scripted and conceived” said Gordon Glass, Sustainable Energy Academy.

The thanks really have to go to Alan and Sharon - the iconic Lego characters who played the lead roles, confirming that the essential ingredient for any winning film is still just a little romance.

Credit should also go to Pink & White wafer biscuits and good old fashioned marshmallows for their performance as cavity walls and U-value warriors. The carefully selected song ‘Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’ was beautifully orchestrated to the U-Value improvements by Mike Fell who also plotted the storyline.

The Durham Energy Futures Film Festival competition was launched just days before the film production and team members had their sights set on movie recycling. Fellow CDT network PhD students from the Durham Centre for Doctoral Training held the festival at Tyneside Cinema on 27th September 2012. They successfully encouraged the creation of thought-provoking energy related films for ‘a light-hearted evening’.

“It is great!” said PHD student  Samantha Clarke of Durham CDT. “We love the romance, the stop motion sweets and the message about insulation, of course!”

The first prize was awarded to York CDT for their fantastic film: "Why Build a Sun on Earth?”. James Courtney received the best photograph prize for his “Rotating Disc Electrode Vortex". All entries can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/UaXGGg

Article written by Kate Simpson