Vote for pupils in filmaking finals

PUPILS at Cumbernauld High School are finalists in two categories of a national filmmaking competition.

They produced two films, called Discrimination and The Art of Being Happy, for BT’s Big Voice competition, which are currently viewable online, and Cumbernauld High is one of 36 schools shortlisted for big prizes.

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Voting is now open until the end of June, and the winners will be announced in July.

Last year BT announced its BT Big Voice project by inviting people aged 11-19 to submit films exploring issues affecting them and their communitites. 36 schools were shortlisted, and working together with their production partners and a £1000 grant from BT, their ideas are being made into real short films. The winning entries will be shown on massive screens being set up around the UK as part of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. A judging panel will select gold, silver and bronze award winners, while the public also have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice winner.

Linsey Hall, English teacher at Cumbernauld High School, said: “It has been great working with the pupils on this. They have had to work hard to meet deadlines and organise different things for their films. I have been pleasantly surprised by the mature approach they have taken to working together. It really has been a collaborative effort. I hope the final product reflects their hard work on the project.

“They have all enjoyed the extra responsibility of organising their film projects. The production partners have been really supportive in enabling the young people to carry out as many of the duties associated with the film as possible, such as casting for the actor/actresses and looking for suitable locations for filming. In fact, both of the films are being filmed in their own school.”

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Discrimination is about a bully who ruthlessly torments her victims, but then she has a dream when she is the victim of bullying she inflicted on others, By the end of the film she realises the error of her ways and seeks to make amends with one of her victims.

The Art of Being Happy is about a graffiti artist who is caught committing vandalism. However, rather than simply punish him the community helps him find a better use for his talents.

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