Lights, camera, action as young offered film chance

Act 2 Cam will be holding workshops in Harrogate, Leeds and York for aspiring actors and film makers between the ages of eight and 18.

The free sessions will be followed by ten-week courses run at each location offering young people the chance to make a film about their local areas and the build up to the London 2012 Olympics.

The workshops take place at Rossett School, in Harrogate, next Tuesday from 5.20pm to 8.20pm; at Alwoodley Community Hall, in Leeds, on Saturday September 10, between 9am and noon; and the following day at Poppleton Road Memorial Hall, in York, from 5pm to 8pm. Young people who take part in the free workshops will be invited to create, perform and shoot the films over ten weeks leading up to Christmas.

Each of these films will then be premiered at the Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds, released onto DVD and entered into film festivals world wide. Parents will get a chance to see their children’s work and also receive a free copy of the DVDs made.

To be involved in the filming, acting and production of the films young people will sign up to a ten- week course costing £80 – around £4 per hour of contact time with mentors working for Act 2 Cam.

The drama school is launching in Yorkshire for the first time having established itself in the North East. Its director, Steve Woods, said: “Act 2 Cam is a new film school in Yorkshire, specialising in screen actor training and experience for young people. We are offering the workshops to young people age eight to 18, introducing them to skills in creating screen drama and performing on film.

“Young people will get a chance to dramatise their own ideas, perform on camera and see themselves on screen.“

Mr Woods said the school aimed to give the next generation of film-makers the skills they needed to produce their own work. No previous acting or film-making experience is necessary.