Film Premiere Big Success

See below for extract from Dorset Echo (CLICK HERE TO READ ON DORSET ECHO WEBSITE) - A PARALYMPIC-inspired film created by Dorchester school children has had its first screening. Pupils from the Prince of Wales School enjoyed the premiere of their creation, Running Blind. The film, which was shown at Dorchester Middle School, tells the story of the country’s leading blind goal scorer David Clarke as he prepares for the Paralympic Games. A lost match ball is mysteriously heard moving around the pre-Games venue at Maiden Castle and the ensuing adventure features an angry bull, a Dorset farmer and the Team GB Paralympic training camp. The film project was inspired by a visit from Paraympian and former Prince of Wales School pupil Mark Newton and was made possible by lottery funding from the First Light project and support from West Dorset District Council. Project producer and drama therapist Sharon Hayden has been working with the pupils for the last month as they came up with the story ideas as well as drawing, animating, voicing and directing the three-minute film. She said: “Through drama sessions and working with our scriptwriting mentor, they have produced a great story – and done it justice with some lovely drawing and animation. “We are incredibly grateful to funders First Light and West Dorset District Council who have given these children the opportunity to make something which will be seen by thousands during the Olympics .” The youngsters benefited from visits by a number of industry experts including visual artist Nic Rawling, music producer Mickey Wills, scriptwriter Peter Snelling, photographer Celeste Hayden and animator and coordinator Alistair Nisbet, whose company was the school’s production company. Mr Nisbet said: “The school has had a big focus on the Paralympics – so to make a film about the Paralympic Games seemed a wonderful way to round off their year. “They have been fantastic hosts during our time in residence – we love their enthusiasm and their ‘can do’ attitude towards everything they do.”