Argyll benefit from FilmG workshop on Skye

FilmG is MG ALBA’s innovative Gaelic media ‘shorts’ film competition, launched last year and aimed at finding and developing new creative talent to take up opportunities in the Gaelic media industry.

FilmG, in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), has just completed a weekend workshop hosted at Skye’s renowned Gaelic College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. This was a great success, with more than 23 budding film makers in attendance, one of whom was Duncan Berndt, pictured above with Margaret Jane Mason, from Minard in Argyll.

Michael Hines, the acclaimed director of drama and comedy who has directed Still Game and River City, joined the panel of tutors to share his experience and expertise.

THe panel of tutors for the event also included actor, scriptwriter and UWS lecturer Stuart Hepburn; Amanda Millen, Screen & Broadcast Industries Development Manager for Highlands & Islands Enterprise; sound recordist Becky Thomson; cameraman Keith Ingram; and production co-ordinator Mairi ‘Ord’ MacKenzie.

Michael Hines says: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed teaching on this course. The students were so keen to learn and there was a great buzz during the weekend’.

The aim of the workshop was to give new film makers grounding in how to make a 3-5 minute short film and to build participants’ confidence to take on their own projects. As well as providing new skills, the weekend gave participants the chance to share their ideas and to work in collaboration with each other.

With 12 of last year’s participants winning prizes in FilmG 2008 and the level of interest received at the workshop, it is hoped that this year’s group will be as, if not more successful.

FilmG will be holding more workshops over the coming weeks including story and script development days and front of camera workshops for Gaelic speakers.

If you’re interested in this but are put off by not (yet) being a Gaelic speaker, do not despair. FilmG also launched a new initiative this year, TàlantG which seeks to encourage non-Gaelic speaking filmmakers to enter the competition. TàlantG includes a bank of Gaelic speakers who are willing to help non-Gaelic speakers with different aspects of their films.  You can read more about TàlantG and other training opportunities on the FilmG website.