Bollywood High has hit off to a flying start this weekend with a group of young people starting acting and dance training at Llwyngwril Gallery. The group spent some hours doing an introduction to Bollywood dance before meeting with Mayur Raj Verma and Snehlata Verma for some intensive background workshops on Bollywood acting. Bollywood High has been made possible due to the support and vision of The Peter Saunders Trust, the Welsh Broadcasting Trust and The Film Agency for Wales. We are really looking forward to the months ahead and giving a bit of Bollywood to the area.

It’s Lights, Camera, BOLLYWOOD in Mid Wales this summer as FILM 15 Productions gets ready to unveil it’s Bollywood High project to young people in the area. Starting in August, the group of lucky participants will be involved in the production of a Bollywood inspired short film called “Dream Girl” .

The project will offer young people from Mid Wales an opportunity to get valuable industry experience and to work with a range of skilled industry professionals to produce the film. Filming will take place in three locations across Mid Wales with a significant part of the production being done at Aberystwyth University in their specially designed film studios. The young people will learn about Bollywood acting/Dancing under the expert guidance of Mayur Raj Verma and Sneh Lata Verma and professional choreographer Hema Houssin. FILM 15 Productions will be taking 20 young people on to the film production team where they will learn how to operate professional equipment and gain an insight into the film industry first hand. Throughout the production there will be a range of celebrity guests calling in to do cameo roles, so don’t be surprised if a familiar face turns up in your local.

The project has been developed by FILM 15 Productions in collaboration with Mayur Raj Verma [A famous Bollywood actor] and Sneh Lata Verma [A veteran Bollywood writer/Director] and is set to bring a taste of Bollywood to rural Wales.

Bollywood High is kindly funded by The Peter Saunders Trust, The Welsh Broadcasting Trust and The Film Agency For Wales with thanks to Aberystwyth University, VMI, Channel 405, PVP television Systems for their contribution of equipment and studios.

Emma Macey-Storch [Director of FILM 15 Productions] says “I am so pleased we have been able to get this initiative off the ground and offer such a wonderful opportunity to so many young people living in Mid Wales. Having Mayur and Sneh living on our doorstep has presented us with an unmissable opportunity to engage with one of the biggest film industry’s in the world while at the same time being able to offer young people in the area skill development and links to the film industry. I am a huge fan of Bollywood [and Mayur and Sneh] and believe this will be a fun and engaging experience for everyone. ”

Dan Thomas, Audience Development Manager of the Film Agency for Wales says: “Innovative, ambitious, and culturally significant, this is a project which is very important to the local areas of Mid Wales. It will provide Young people from different backgrounds with an amazing opportunity to get involved in a Bollywood production, and give them a chance to learn about the conventions, language and traditions of the genre. That’s why we were so keen to ensure that the Film Agency for Wales could offer support.”

FILM 15 Productions Ltd specialises in the research, development, delivery and exhibition of film related activities for young people in Mid Wales. We work with local venues, schools and communities to develop filmmaking activities, so as to give young people in the area a creative voice and help them develop real skills that can enhance their mainstream education, improve their profile in their communities or help them make career links with the film industry. Please see www.film15.org.uk

Well known independent writer/director Darren Paul Fisher  visited the FILM 15 group to share some of his experience and expertise with our group. Emma Macey-Storch, Director of FILM 15 Productions says, “This is a brilliant opportunity for a vibrant, motivated and skilled young British director to talk to our young people and inspire them to follow their dreams of becoming the next generation of filmmakers. Darren’s feature film “Popcorn” is something for us all to aspire to. We feel very privileged that First Light Movies have funded our project this year which has enabled us to bring Darren to Mid Wales to work with our local young filmmakers”. Darren ran an intensive one day workshop with the FILM 15 group focusing on directing performance and acting for film.

Week five in to our workshop programme and the crew from FILM 15 are producing their own 1950’s style sci fi action with a musical twist. Keep an eye out for it’s premiere this October at the Pink Snowball Awards.

We are delighted to announce that First Light Movies and The Film Agency For Wales have funded our FILM 15 project for 2008. A new group of fifteen young filmmakers from the area will produce another collection of short films with the FILM 15 Productions team and be heading for success at this years Pink Snowball Awards.

Emma Macey, Director of FILM 15 Productions says “FILM 15 Productions are delighted to have the backing of First Light Movies and The Film Agency for Wales for our FILM 15 project this year. We are really excited about the opportunity we are being given to make four high quality short films with a new group of young people from the area. With the help of First Light Movies and The Film Agency for Wales we will be able to take the work to a wider audience and give each film production much more time. Over the past four years we have been proud to have worked with and discovered some exceptionally talented young people from Mid Wales and can’t wait for our new project to start.”

The work will evolve through a series of intensive workshops that will help the young people generate their own ideas, scripts, production teams and making skills. FILM 15 Productions will be showing the results of the project on the 25th of October, at The Pink Snowball Film Awards in Mchynlleth, 2008.

Match funding for the project has been provided from The Film Agency for Wales, with local support being giving by Machfringe who actively support FILM 15 annually.

Applications are closed but if you would like to take part in FILM 15 next year please contact Emma Macey-Storch at info@film15.org.uk or download the application form. FILM 15 is for 14-19 year olds.

We would like to welcome Nicola Burgess on to the FILM 15 Productions team. Nicola is joining us as an administration and development officer. Nicola is going to help us develop more courses for young people and integrate drama mentoring into our programme. Nicola has a great deal of experience to bring to our team. WELCOME NICOLA.

Young film Maker Emrys Pierson [15] is off to Belfast on the 24th of November to see if his film “The Day of the Night of the Next Day of The Dawn of The Living Ted” will scope an award at this years Coca Cola Cinemagic Young People’s Film Festivals. Emrys’s film, made during the FILM 15 2007 project at the Corris Institute, was shortlisted for an award out of 800 entries nationwide. Emma Macey, [Director FILM 15] says, ” This is a very prestigious award on the national young peoples short film circuit. Just to be in the shortlist makes Emrys in the top 11 entries received this year. This is a real credit to Emrys and all the people who were involved in the making of the film, from actors down to friends and family who actively supported the process. We are very excited about the opportunity Emrys will have to attend the festival, show his film on a national platform and mix with industry professionals. “. Emrys will be accompanied by fellow FILM 15 film maker Ryan Jones [15] who also acted in Emrys’ film. Ryan’s film “Mr Smith” was runners up at this years Pink Snowball Film Awards. Both attend Ysgol Bro Dyfi in Machynlleth.

Over 20 films over two hours of viewing and some really outstanding talent exposed. Not only did the audience make every effort to look like they had just stepped out of Hollywood but the films were of a standard that would rival Hollywood too. The winners of The Pink Snowball Awards include Food Factor by Machynlleth Primary School, Nutty Biscuits by Dewi Selman, Nick Davies, Danny Dixon and Andrew Alterton from FILM 15 and Cheat Neutral by Beth Shepard. The Audience Award was given to Food Factor.

Congratulations to our young filmmakers from FILM 15 who showed their collection of five films at The Pink Snowball Film Awards in Machynlleth on the weekend. All of the films were of an exceptional standard and the judges commented on just how hard it was to arrive at a decision for a winner. All were completely different and varied and showed a great level of skill and understanding of film production. Overall though, Film 15 film, Nutty Biscuits by Tywyn pupils Dewi Selman, Nick Davies, Danny Dixon and Andrew Alterton [all 14] was the judges winning choice. Lembit Opik [MP and guest Judge on the night] commented on how truly funny it was and that it had drawn tears in much of the audience. In second place was Mr Smith by Bro Dyfi pupil Ryan Jones [15]. The judges commented especially on Ryans cinematography, acting skills and use of a complex and mature story line that left the audience putting all the pieces together right up until the end. All of us at FILM 15 would like to thank all of the participants for being such a great group this year. We enjoyed working with you all and hope that we will be able to work with you all again. You all showed a great level of commitment and determination to bring your creative ideas to life and we are proud of all your achievements. The FILM 15 2007 film compilation is now on sale. Please contact info@film15.org.uk for orders.

The 24 pupils who took part in our project Food Factor were crowned with not only a Pink Snowball Award in their category but also scooped the audience award too. The announcement unleashed an almighty roar from all 24 students and their teachers. The project which was carried out over two days at the school saw the students devise, develop, script and animate a lesson about healthy eating. It’s a true tale of good verses evil as The Amazing Apple Man fights the rival gang of junk food. The film will be online for all to enjoy shortly!!!!!!