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Young filmmakers uncover the region's heritage gems in national project

Tyneside Cinema’s Northern Stars Young Filmmaker’s Academy is hard at work on the production of two short films that will explore the heritage of Tyneside and celebrate local identity and pride - but with a twist.

As part of the nationwide Portrait of a Nation campaign, Northern Stars have worked with Tyne & Wear Museums to contact a range of youth groups from across the region to explore what young people believe are Newcastle and Gateshead’s most unusual landmarks and hidden gems.

As a result of a series of workshops with scriptwriters, directors and many other industry professionals, the young filmmakers formed two crews and they are now using their research with youth groups to inspire the writing, shooting and editing of their new films. Holli McGuire, Project Leader for NewcastleGateshead, said: “It’s been a real journey of discovery for the Northern Stars, who have found inspiration in the City’s sites and people.

“Newcastle’s Flickr Wall and Heaton Park’s Shoe Tree for example, both have extraordinary stories behind them and have been transformed into significant sites that see the community come together. One of our crews will be exploring these in their film.”

Northern Stars is an academy for the region’s most talented aspiring filmmakers aged 15-18.

The films will be finished in September and will be premiered as part of Northern Lights Film Festival 2008. The young people will then take their work to Liverpool in December to take part in the closing ceremonies for Capital of Culture.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .