TWENTY20 Pictures is a Screen Scotland Education funded project delivered by Summerlee Photomedia Studio for young people aged 13-18 years old who live in North Lanarkshire with a focus on documentary filmmaking with the aim to build confidence in a supportive learning environment.
The project ran with two sessions per week including North Lanarkshire School’s Future Fridays, and Saturday afternoons. The young people were trained in story development, using camera and editing equipment towards making their own short documentary either using observational and formal interview techniques or through animation form.
Through partnerships with other industry leads, the young people were also given opportunities furthering their knowledge and understanding of the Scottish film industry including a masterclass delivered by Scottish Documentary Institute and a guest talk from director/animator Victoria Watson from Eyebolls which two young people had the exciting opportunity to shadow her on set.
For those aged 15 and over there was the option to attend monthly film screenings on a Tuesday evening at the GFT hosted by the Glasgow Film Young Ambassadors program.
In addition, the young people attended Glasgow Film Festival and Glasgow Short Film Festival screenings of the latest Screen Scotland and BFI shorts and had the opportunity to chat to the filmmakers at networking events.
TWENTY20 Pictures made an impact working with young people experiencing mental health issues and school refusers by providing a welcoming space to make friends and grow in confidence with making films, giving freedom to explore creative ideas as well as adding structure and routine outside a school setting.
One parent commented on the positive impacts made: “Twenty20 have provided a crucial support system that has helped my son overcome challenges he faced at school and with his mental health, transforming him into a confident young adult. The group recognised and nurtured my son’s talent in filmmaking fostering a passion that has clearly flourished. The groups positive impact extends beyond skill development providing a safe and supportive space for a diverse group of young adults to explore, discover and build friendships.”
Last year, one school refuser and two young people with anxiety went on to college to study art and media.
Some of the participants commented: “I really enjoy attending and socialising. I get to learn about cameras and filmmaking and watching the films broadens my view points. I love it very much. The films at the festival were really good and we got to meet the filmmakers and talk to them which was helpful and socialising. I also got to go and see the film set with Victoria Watson who did the talk and we saw how everything worked which was so fun and when the advert came out on TV, I was so excited. I was there! I would really like to do more animation.”
“I like the people that are here and the documentary filmmaking that we do, the fact that we can go on trips and stuff and all the trips that are film based, I like that. I liked watching films and learning the real meaning behind them. The film festivals was cool. I liked the films and I talked to Emma Ramsay who made Poly Baggage and I really liked talking to her, it was the best part."
“I’ve learned how to use an actual proper camera. It’s helped get me out of the house, I’m a bit of a shut in outside of here, you wouldn’t believe it. It’s been great and I’ve made a lot of friends. I ended up using Duncan Cowles for my media assignment in school and I got to meet him at the Glasgow Short Film Festival. I would like to do more outdoor filming. Honestly coming here is the highlight of my week.”
Filmmaker Wilma Smith who leads TWENTY20 Pictures said: “I am an example of lived experience when it comes to teenage anxiety and mental health issues and how filmmaking really turned things around for me as a thirteen year old who suffered silently from depression and had quite a high absent rate in the first two years of high school. I’ve loved seeing so many of the young people from this group grow and flourish in confidence through their storytelling as well as being confident to chat to new people at networking events and ask questions at the Q&As sessions and in front of a big audience at screenings. The films that they have made are a testament to their development through the funny, poignant and beautiful personal stories that they have told. I’m very proud of every one of them.”
David Peace of NLC Community Arts, Summerlee Photomedia said: “Through Screen Scotland’s support we are having a real positive impact on the young people form North Lanarkshire’s lives through the medium of film is such a pleasure to see and hear.”
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Image credits
Images courtesy of Wilma Smith