Keighley youngsters film drama on alcoholism (From Keighley News)

Keighley youngsters film drama on alcoholism

11:22am Friday 24th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Drinking problems were in the frame for pupils of St Anne’s Primary School, in Keighley.

The pupils filmed a drama about a six-year-old girl and her alcoholic mother.

Year five students devised the script and the filming while year one students played the roles.

They were guided by award-winning professional film-maker Shyla Lee during the three-month project.

Shyla, from Keighley, edited the children’s footage and turned it into a five-minute movie.

She also carried out a similar project with children from Keighley’s Positive Futures youth project.

The hope is that both films can be screened at Keighley’s Picture House cinema and entered in young people’s film festivals.

Shyla has made several short films in India and England, including the award winning Honour. With husband Luke she started her own company, Clayhouse, making short documentaries.

Shyla has also worked as an assistant editor on ITV series Emmerdale and Heartbeat, and BBC film White Girl.

She decided to pass on her skills by setting up film clubs in schools and work with local groups using camera equipment bought with a charity grant.

Shyla spent three months at St Anne’s Primary School, in North Street, with students,including those from the “Gifted and Talented” programme. When asked what the subject matter should be the older children talked about bullying and loneliness.

Shyla said older pupils worked on story and character development, writing the script and carrying out the filming.

Younger pupils chose the subject matter, alcoholism, after some of them spoke about problems faced by adults in their families.

Shyla said: “They had a choice of making a light-hearted film but they wanted one that would have an impact and make a difference to the audience.”

The six-year-olds played characters in the film, with one girl unable to enjoy a party because she thought her mother was at home drinking.

Hannah Kilcoyne, one of the young film crew, said: “We didn’t really write it down, we knew what they were going to say.”

Shyla also made a film about bullying with young people from the Positive Futures project, which deals with disaffected children from Keighley.

Shyla said: “The children did a brilliant job acting in the film. It was their first time in front of the camera.

“All of us were very proud of the film. They are constantly told they are good for nothing but the film gave them a chance to explore their hidden creative talents.”

Shyla can be contacted via the website clayhouse.co.uk.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)