Lights. Camera. Action!

A student from Shrewsbury College was amongst the stars who attended the Into Film Awards, in London’s Leicester Square, earlier this week.

Level 3 Creative Media student, James McDougall, 18, from Shrewsbury, was part of a team of young adults who were nominated for the ‘Best Animation (13 and over)’ award at the BFI (British Institute of Film) supported, Into Film Awards.

The Star-studded event, which aims to honour young filmmakers (5 – 19) and highlight their abundance of creativity, during a red carpet ceremony, was attended by A-list celebrities from the industry. Including, Into Film Ambassador, Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead/Star Trek), Ed Skrein (Deadpool) and James Norton (War and Peace/Happy Valley) - to name just a few.

Although James and his team did not take home first prize, being just one of three films shortlisted from thousands of entries and attending the glamourous award ceremony, was reward enough.

“It was amazing to just be there amongst so many well-known and up-and-coming talented industry people.” Explained James. “The whole day was so much fun. I travelled down there with the group who I made the film with.

“Walking on the red carpet was slightly surreal, but the highlight for me was when Sara Bennett - who won an Oscar for the Visual effects for Ex-Machina - came on stage to present an award and she brought with her the Oscar. It was very inspirational.”

The short film which James and his team were nominated for, ‘The Tale of Mad Jack’, is about a young man who falls in love with a woman and tries to win her affection by showering her with elaborate gifts.

James said: “I was involved in writing the script and did some of the camera work – the story has aspects of comedy romance, but I wouldn’t define it as either. We worked on the film last summer through an initiative set up by Media Active in Wem, which is sponsored by the BFI.

“I really enjoyed doing it, and as part of the Media Active group I’ve continued to make more commissioned films – it’s a great way for young, enthusiastic film makers to get a chance to do a lot of practical, hands-on film making.

“I’m due to finish my creative media course at Shrewsbury College this year - which I’ve loved. I’d never done media before coming to college, so everything I’ve learnt, I’ve learnt at the College.

“With the experience I’ve gained from doing extra film projects and my work at the College, I’m hoping to take a year out and make a bunch of my own films, before possibly pursuing the Apprenticeship route.”

For more information about Into Film, visit www.intofilm.org

For more information about Level 3 Media and Higher Education courses, at Shrewsbury College, please call 01743 342411  Alternatively you can follow the College on Facebook: shrewsburycollege Instagram: shrewsbury_college and Twitter: @shrewsburycol