Local talent Joyce Harris, Mikela Wilkes and Ben Herbert turn on the charm for the camera during the filming of “The Trouble with Gran” in August. “The Trouble with Gran” is a short film production being done in collaboration with It’s My Shout and the BBC and is providing 40 young people in the area with a chance to act in a professional film or be crew during production. The three days filming was very exciting and we can’t wait to see the final film.

Look out for the broadcast on BBC1 in December

This project has been kindly supported by The Arts Council for Wales, The Community Foundation for Wales, The Skiathos fund

After nearing 10 months working in schools, FILM 15 productions has produced three exquisit animated fairytales with three primary schools. The BIG premiere is on the 23rd Oct, at The Pink Snowball Film Awards.

This wonderful opportunity has been supported by the Lottery through the UK Film Council’s First Light Movies initiative. Other supporters include The Peter Saunders Trust Fund,  The Film Agency For Wales, Powys County Council, Ysgol Penybryn, Machynlleth Primary School, Corris Primary School and FILM 15 Productions.

This weekend FILM 15 are collaborating with It’s My Shout and BBC to make a short film based in Corris and Machynlleth. The film will draw on 22 young people from FILM 15 as supporting crew who are being trained by a group of industry professionals in specific production roles. 20 young people from the area have also had training in acting for film with a selection of professional acting coaches. Sixty people from the local community have been cast to appear in the film, which is being broadcast on BBC Wales in November.

Shooting on Saturday will be taking place around Corris Primary School

Shooting on Sunday the 22nd of August will take place at Y Plas, near the leisure centre in Machynlleth.

The film, “The Trouble with Gran” is a sweet little comedy about how 80 year old Grandmother, Patricia, protests over the cancellation of the mobile library service in Corris. The film is designed to capture the spirit of our locality, which is beautifully brought to life by 82 year old Joyce Harris from Machynlleth.  The area has been combed for talent with a series of auditions attracting over 80 people. Tywyn High school pupil Mikeala Wilkes has been cast as granddaughter Terri,  Machynlleth primary school pupil Ben Herbert is playing the Grandson Liam and their mother Kathryn is played by local actress Andrea Edwards. Andrea is a fantastically talented local actress who played Annie Wilkes in last years production of “Misery” at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Librarian, Mrs Teakwood is being played by Mary Howell from Dolgallau.

This wonderful selection of local talent will be supported by 45 other young people cast as background actors and a bunch of adults from the area who will play the counsellors or adult roles.

FILM 15’s collaboration in this  project has been funded by The Community Foundation for Wales, The Skiathos fund and The Arts Council For Wales and has involved a selection of preliminary training sessions for young people on the acting and technical side so as to prepare them for this amazing industry experience.

Already groups of young people have benefited from workshops with Celia Bannerman [acting coach on Nanny McPhee] and Roger Burnell [Head of talent BBC Wales]. Other young people on the technical side have benefited from training as a focus puller with professional DOP Ray Orten and set and props design with one of the production designers for Dr Who.

“The Trouble With Gran”, is being broadcast in December on BBC 1.