After the successful trailer round, the film competition, NU-Through My Lens, has reached its final phase in which the teams have to make a 3-minute video about what they love best about their lives at Newcastle University and the city of Newcastle.

Sixteen teams will now create videos, with the winner of the ‘Best Film Award’ receiving prize money worth £2,500. Runners up will get £1,000 each for ‘Best Concept’, ‘Best Cinematography’ and ‘Best Original Music’ at an Oscar-style ceremony in May.

To help them with their submissions students have received expert advice from media professionals, including Mark Scrimshaw, Chair, BBC division, BECTU.

Mark, an alumnus of Newcastle University and producer at the BBC, held a two hour master class with the teams and gave them his expert advice on their trailers, individually. He was very impressed with the student initiative, the interest and the potential of the teams. “I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am looking forward to seeing the end results. There is some real talent here so hopefully we should get some great videos,” he said.

The NU Thru my lens video competition is being run by Newcastle media students Anahita Guha, Zhenhua Jin and Maham Masood. The trio are ensuring that the teams are provided with all the assistance they need by arranging the skills workshops and making professional equipment and resources available.

Anahita, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to the competition with 17 separate entries, covering all different genres of film form comedy to silent movie. This is a great opportunity for our students to show off their skills and create something which could really help to promote the university and the region. It is a challenge for most of them as they are not media students but the training has really helped them and they have been having a great time.”

Newcastle University Vice Chancellor, Professor Chris Brink, has provided the funding for the competition. He said: “There are many different reasons why our students enjoy their time at Newcastle and this competition gives them the opportunity to capture that in film.

“The entrants are also learning new skills and we are grateful for the involvement and enthusiasm of our expert judges in supporting the teams.”

published on: 19 April 2013