Young east London film makers showcase their work at premier of UCL East campus cinema

The event was an end of term celebration for the Film and Media Club, which meets weekly during term time and is open to students in Years 9 and 10 living or going to school in east London. UCL runs the Club in partnership with East London Arts and Music Academy (ELAM) in Bromley-by-Bow, as part of the National Saturday Club network.

It is one of two new Clubs set up by the UCL East Schools engagement team this year with the aim of supporting young people over time in developing valuable skills.

This term has seen members work with ELAM tutors Brittany Sutcliffe and Fiona Moore, along with award winning Hackney-born documentary filmmaker Ashton John.

Students have learnt about shot types and camera angles, explored a range of filmmaking equipment, and developed their editing skills. The group has also worked on how to connect with an audience and tell a story by creating short films about their own identity.

These films were showcased on the brand-new screen of the One Pool Street cinema, making this some of the first content to be shown in the auditorium, which also doubles as a lecture theatre. Club members brought family and friends along and enjoyed a proud moment as their work was celebrated in front of the audience and creative industries experts from UCL and the team behind the university's BA Media degree.

There was praise for the students' work and for ELAM's tutors, who have ensured Club members have had a rich experience across the term.

With an eye on the future, the speakers also talked to the students about the impact and success of the UK’s creative industries, and possible pathways into the sector through further study and professional placements. In November, students visited UCL's Bloomsbury campus in central London to see higher education in action.

Fiona Moore, ELAM director of film and TV and tutor for the Club, said:
"I have really enjoyed watching these young filmmakers grow in confidence as they develop ideas and grasp a fundamental understanding of filmmaking. The programme has allowed them to come out of their comfort zone and look inwards exploring what’s important to them and putting that into a film format. Programmes like this are important because they are developing not only technical skills but the soft skills needed to take young people forward in the creative industries."

Ashton John, documentary filmmaker and guest tutor for the Club, said:
"It has been amazing to connect with younger minds. I’m inspired by working with them and the output of the work has been truly moving and I’m just very proud of what they’ve created in such a short space of time. These programmes are very important to inspire the young generation to work in the creative industries." 

The UCL East Film and Media Club currently has 18 members from 17 different east London schools, with new starters poised to join in January. After a well-earned break, next term the students will embark on a series of animation sessions led by ELAM tutors in art and games design, Brittany Sutcliffe and Curtis Le Blanc.

UCL also runs an Art and Design Saturday Club for students in Years 9, 10 and 11, in the Slade Studio of our One Pool Street building on our new UCL East campus on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford in east London. Both Clubs will take part in the National Saturday Club summer show in June to showcase their work.

Links

• UCL East Film and Media Club
• UCL East Art and Design Saturday Club
• East London Arts and Music Academcy (ELAM)
• UCL BA Media
• UCL East campus

Images

• Students and guests enjoy the showcase event in One Pool Street's cinema
• Film and Media Club tutor Fiona Moore, ELAM, and guest tutor Ashton John, filmmaker
• Film and Media Club students on the steps of the Portico on UCL's Bloomsbury campus

Read more about UCL East's National Saturday Clubs