Every year, The Brunel Writer Prize is awarded to the student whose article submission for the Creative Industries module on Brunel University’s Creative Writing Programme is the highest graded. This year’s winner is Perri Wickham. Perri’s article shows how she used the various skills acquired through the Creative Writing course in an exciting industry environment.
HOW MY SHORT FILM ‘LONDON MADE ME’ FEATURED ALONGSIDE RAPMAN’S ‘BLUE STORY’ SCREENING
by Perri Wickham
During an unproductive day of tapping through Instagram stories, I came across the LDN Filmmakers application. The week-long course was organised by the Mayor of London and Digital Cinema Media to help applicants write, direct, and produce a short film. I immediately swiped up, excited to put my screenwriting skills to use outside of my Creative Writing degree, to finally get behind the cameras, and to connect with aspiring filmmakers.
The application process was straightforward. I had to write down my personal information and in 250 words, explain why I wanted to participate. I felt this was a fantastic opportunity for me to get equipped with new skills as I had never made a film before, and to put my vivid imagination into action. A week later, I received a notification to say that I was successful.
Industry members from Chocolate Films Production led the training at Genesis Cinema. During the introductory session, they gave us a brief to base our plot on London. They told us that each of our films would feature alongside the screening of Rapman’s new movie ‘Blue Story’ at Genesis, which turned the pressure up a notch. ‘Blue Story’ is an adaptation of Rapman’s 2014 YouTube series of the same name that explores gang rivalries in London.
I teamed up with six participants, and we were allocated a mentor for support. We brainstormed ideas about what London meant to us, and how we could capture our message cinematically through the plot as well as visuals.
Initially, there was a miscommunication on our first idea, as everyone had slightly different visions, which was confusing. Thanks to our mentor, we managed to narrow it down enough to pitch to the other groups and their mentors. Receiving feedback was essential as it helped us to clarify our concept and make it appropriate for younger viewers, as our film was going to be screened in schools.
My group and I decided to tell the story of a protagonist, who on her way home, reflects on London’s vibrant culture and how it shaped her into a successful adult, using flashbacks of her past. It only made sense to add an inspirational spoken word poem to talk the audience through her journey. Since I am a poet, I volunteered to write and perform the voice over.
After receiving training on how to use film equipment, we solidified our storyboard, then set out to film in Stepney Greene. The first day turned out to be experimental, and we decided to extend our filming location to Stratford as it had more landmarks that would benefit the visuals. We spent the next two days knuckling-down, ensuring that we had enough footage to make a high-quality final draft.
The final day of the course was crucial, as we had to complete a rough draft of our edits and create a shot list for Chocolate Films, who would polish it. We had a guest visit from Amani Simpson, the creator of his autobiographical short film ‘Amani’, and one of the main actors, Ellis Witter. It was inspiring to see a director who had no experience, establish connections, and gain enough funding to compose a successful short film with over one million views.
On the 24th November, I attended my first red carpet premiere in Hollywood. Okay, it was at the Genesis Cinema. Watching my first short film on the big screen was a powerful experience, as I was able to witness how a project, I made in under a week could transform into a dynamic yet professional piece.
LDN Filmmakers taught me that if you strongly believe in your vision, it is possible to execute it with the right equipment, no matter the time constraints. Now that I’ve gained confidence as a filmmaker, I am determined to make my mark in the film industry, and that starts now.
You can find Perri’s short film “London Made Me” on LDN Filmakers.
Perri Wickham is a flourishing Creative Writing Graduate looking to make her mark in the Entertainment Industry. Hailing from Southeast London, where the trains run slower, Perri currently freelances as a blogger for Fledglink, a journalist/comms assistant for Brits + Pieces, and writes poems as well as scripts in her spare time. If she goes MIA it means she’s working on a special project. Her material is very audacious!
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