The Media School

BU graduates blaze a trail to Edinburgh

23 June 2009

Animation still of a figure climbing a hill to a tree with a green and yellow sunset

The creative talents of two BU graduates will share the limelight with some of the worlds finest emerging film-makers at this years Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) from 17-28 June, 2009.

Nicholas Hampshire and David Bell both developed their skills at the BU-based National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) before completing the BA (Hons) (Hons) in Computer Animation and Visualisation in 2008.

Nicholas' work Harvester will be shown as part of a press and industry screening in Edinburgh on Friday, 19 June at 9.30am in Filmhouse 2. The film will be screened to the general public on Sunday, 21 June at 6.45pm at the same venue as part of the McLaren Animation 2 programme. The McLaren programme features the best of new British and international shorts which fuse traditional film production techniques with modern technology.

Originally from the valleys of South Wales, Nicholas grew up with a great appreciation for the natural world. His film tells the tale of a forest creature who spends his time harvesting fruit.

On this particular night, he has unknowingly chosen to harvest in a wood containing mysterious energy says the 21-year-old. After cautiously searching and collecting some fruit, he finds himself being hounded by a growing number of forest spirits. After evading his adversaries for a few lucky times, he is eventually cornered and outnumbered by a maelstrom of spirits and loses everything that he worked hard to collect.

Harvester was inspired by the mixture of 2D traditional animation techniques such as shadow theatre, and modern 3D computer animation.

I like to consider the outcome as a visually-traditional piece that was obviously manifested via a highly CG-based approach, he continues.

Nicholas is furthering his studies at BU as a postgraduate student on an MSc in Computer Animation and Visual Effects. After settling at Bournemouth and realising the superb quality and experience of the animation staff in the BU Media School, I decided to stay for an additional year in order to learn more and improve my technical skills in the field.

David's production Toy will be screened as part of a Trailblazers' showcase on 22-23 June. David is one of two festival Trailblazers selected through the Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy.

The Trailblazers showcase unites the festival with the UK's network of Skillset Screen Academies to promote new British talent. The scheme honours 25 Academy students and graduates who are given a direct introduction to the UK film industry via the festival.

David is joined by fellow Bournemouth Trailblazer and Arts Institute graduate Momodou Musa Touray whose production 'Sweet Mother' will also be screened in Edinburgh.

Created in 1947, the EIFF was one of the world's first international film festivals. Over the years, the event has helped to launch the careers of a number of major names into the UK and global film industries including actress Samantha Morton, actor Daniel Craig, and directors Danny Boyle and Shane Meadows.

The Bournemouth Screen and Media Academy is a joint venture between BU and the Arts Institute at Bournemouth. The Academy, one of only two across a national network to have both Screen and Media status, provides education and skills development for students in further and higher education. Endorsed by the UK film and media industry, the Academy is recognised as a Centre of Excellence by Skillset, the country's skills council for creative media.