Second Chances

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The experience of sitting through a well-crafted film for me is incomparable. Brilliantly written characters, shots that evoke real emotion, lighting and sound designed to lure the viewer into the director’s mind and immerse them in the story they’re telling. It’s this experience that comes to mind when asked, “What is it you want to do?” Since I got my first camera at 9 years old, I’ve known that I want to study film and to create experiences like these for the rest of my life. Outside of school I have constantly worked on my own ventures, teaching myself how to edit, and making short films. My love for this artform has only grown over the years; the feeling of being free to express yourself is something that constantly inspires me, and I’m always searching for new chances to improve.
While Film Studies was not available at my school, I opted to study Drama, which grew my love for producing and directing, as these would often be the tasks I would assume on a group project. Through this I gained confidence in directing a team of actors and knowing how to convey my vision clearly to them, as well as how to light a scene properly, the importance of sound in a film, and how to tackle costume and set design. Outside my studies I was also one of two members of the yearbook committee, tasked with creating the annual yearbook. This involved the organisation and execution of photographing over 150 students, collecting each student’s quote and liaising with the printers. This experience strengthened my ability to work under pressure of deadlines and to problem solve when handling large scale tasks. I learned more about teamwork as a trombone player in a local group entering the Fife Wind Band Competition. Every Saturday for a year we worked together to prepare, and were rewarded with a gold certificate for our performance. This experience of working together towards a common goal, by relying on one another’s strengths, is something that I feel can be applied to film making. I was also asked to create a video encapsulating the 6 years my peers and I had spent at Madras. The resulting 15-minute film was greatly praised by the Head of Year at our final assembly. That feeling of knowing that something I made has impacted people emotionally is what motivates me to pursue film.
Outside school I pursued filmmaking independently. I remember picking up my camera with no clue what I was doing but loving it anyway. I was inspired by films such as “Napoleon Dynamite”, drawn by its blend of humour and low-budget indie aesthetic. They sparked my interest and after finding amateur filmmakers on the internet like Jack Howard and Sammy Paul, I realised I could do it myself with my friends and the resources I could pull together. I taught myself, how to shoot, edit and structure a short film all on my own. I made videos that would go on to be seen by thousands. I constantly tried to improve. I began doing freelance work and edited videos for other creators on YouTube, I shot and edited a music video and in August of 2019 I was selected to be part of the BFI film residential course in Edinburgh. This highly competitive course took us through an intensive process of creating a short film in a week. We worked in an extremely fast-paced environment, meeting directors, producers, writers, sound designers and lighting experts who taught classes on film, freelancing and what working in the film industry is really like. This course was incredibly helpful; being part of a team of people passionate about the same thing, working with industry professionals, and making an end product that we were all proud of was an experience I will never forget, and only confirmed that this is what I want to do.
In conclusion, I believe your university is the perfect place for me to continue to improve as a filmmaker. While I have taught myself as well as I can, I know there is much still to learn and I feel ready to continue that learning under your guidance.

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