The creators behind two of the most talked about television dramas in recent years are to deliver a filmmaking masterclass at the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus next Monday.
Writer/directors Alex Garcia and Wayne Yip, the team behind the BAFTA award winning E4 series, ‘Misfits’ and ITV’s ‘Secret Diary of a Call Girl’, will share their skills and take part in a Q&A with up to 200 young people during a Film Nation: Shorts Filmmaker Masterclass at the University.
The event, chaired by Michelle Eastwood (Producer at 104 Films and Escape Films) is FREE, open to anyone between the ages of 19 – 25 and takes place between 11.15am and 1.05pm in the campus’s Barmouth (Room E102).
The visit by Alex and Wayne is a major coup for the University’s School of Media, Film and Journalism and shows the high regard in which the School is held by masterclass organisers, Film Nation: Shorts – a project funded by the London Organisation Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
Run in partnership with Panasonic, Film Nation: Shorts includes a filmmaking competition offering everyone who enters the chance to have their work shown around the UK. Winning films will be screened in front of the crowds in venues during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012.
The Shorts project is one of the major Cultural Olympiad initiatives and will introduce young people to film making and support them in developing filmmaking skills.
University of Ulster lecturer, Jim Curran said: “The School of Media, Film & Journalism at Coleraine is absolutely thrilled that the Film Nation competition organisers have selected the University of Ulster's Skillset-approved Media Studies and Production undergraduate course as a venue for one of their UK-wide masterclasses.
“These masterclasses are aimed at encouraging students and young people to enter the Film Nation: Shorts competition 2012, which is a fantastic platform for our students to show off their media skills.
“The guest speakers do not come any bigger than the writer/director team of Alex Garcia and Wayne Yip and we are delighted to welcome both of them and all young aspiring filmmakers to the University of Ulster at Coleraine.”
Wayne Yip is also looking forward to his visit to the University of Ulster.
He says: “Both Alex and I are very honoured and excited to have been asked to come and speak to young people at the Film Nation Masterclass.
“The world of film and television is tough and exciting and can be incredibly rewarding. We hope that what we have to say is entertaining and helpful… well, at least entertaining!”
*The Film Nation Film Maker Masterclass takes place in the Barmouth on the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus on Monday December 12, 2011. This FREE event takes place between 11.15am and 1.05pm and is open to anyone aged between 19 and 25-years-old.
Places can be booked online at: http://www.doodle.com/3rc8pzbtm3gts2a2
For information about the Film Nation: Shorts project and competition, go to: www.filmnation.org.uk
**For further information or to arrange an interview with Alex Garcia or Wayne Yip, contact: Audrey Watson (a.watson1@ulster.ac.uk). Tel: 028 90366386. Mob: 075 40139366.
Note for editors:
1. Alex Garcia and Wayne Yip are a directing and writing partnership originating from London. Their first project together was a music video for Quasi (Peace and Love) which won the Domino Records and Audience Award at the Radar Festival (2007). They then went on to direct videos for more bands including James Yorkston (The Hills and the Heath) and Groove Armada (Drop the Tough). Their first short film Happy Birthday Granddad won the BAFTA ’60 Seconds of Fame’ (2007). In 2010 they made Would Like To Meet, a 30-minute film for Channel 4’s Coming Up series and also directed season four of Secret Diary of a Call Girl (staring Billie Piper) for ITV. They have just completed working on season three of ‘Misfits’ for Channel 4.
2. ‘Misfits’ follows a group of ASBO teenagers who develop strange powers after they are caught in a freak storm. This comedy drama series first aired in the UK in November 2009 to massive critical acclaim and went on to receive a host of awards and nominations including a BAFTA for best drama series in 2010.