Young filmmaker makes big screen debut thanks to First Writes

A short film created by an 11-year-old has made its big screen debut alongside two other winning films from the young people’s screenwriting competition First Writes.
The films were premiered to a packed audience at the UGC Fountain Park, Dundee Street, Edinburgh at 10.30am on Thursday January 22.
Comedienne Elaine C. Smith introduced the three films made under the First Writes scheme, which invited young people between the ages of 11 and 16 to write stories that could be turned into short, five-minute films for their own age group.
The winning stories were written by Nicole Gove, who wrote ‘Grandad’s Big Secret’ when she was 11-years-old; Rachael Gavan, the writer of ‘Final Move’ when she was 15-years-old; and Lewis Clark, a 16-year-old when he wrote ‘The Great Breakfast Race’.
The three winners had their stories developed into scripts, which were then filmed by a professional production company. The young scriptwriters were involved throughout the filmmaking process, from casting right up until final editing.
First Writes is the brainchild of Scottish Screen and First Light, the UK Film Council Lottery-funded initiative for young people’s filmmaking.
Catherine O’Shea, First Light Director, said: "The First Writes films demonstrate how a youthful imagination can provide the basis for a strong piece of cinema. To have watched the winning ideas develop from promising beginnings to outstanding final product has been greatly rewarding."
Martin Stewart, Education Projects Officer at Scottish Screen, added: "First Writes has been a huge success, with everyone involved gaining a great deal from the scheme. Hopefully we have developed the next batch of talented Scottish writers who will go on to write more award winning scripts."
(GB)