Young filmmaker Leon is a film student with Sparks Film School St Albans.
We sat down for a chat with Leon about his experience as a young filmmaker and Sparks Film School student.
Can you tell me about when you first joined Sparks Film School? Tell me about your first day?
It was really good because I was starting with a few people I already knew at the time. There were other people in the group who I didn’t know, but now we’ve become friends and are all part of one nice big group. The session was really fun and I wanted to keep going back.
What first interested you about filmmaking?
Initially it was because my friends were doing it and I had tried it a little beforehand with them. It was a case of the more I tried it the more I wanted to do it.
Now my dream is to be making my own films. I am currently studying film at college, and it’s actually not that bad. I am wanting to pursue film as my career now.
How would you say your filmmaking has developed over your time attending classes at Sparks Film School? What kind of things have you learned about?
I have learned a lot about different types of shot types and how to take a shot in a lot of different and interesting ways.
I’ve also learnt how to set up a shot not just because it would look cool, but because it would also add to and make sense with the story and tone of the film. So recently, we were making a mystery film and had a normal shot of someone looking through the window, and I thought we could do more with that and give it a better sense of mystery. So I changed the shot to be a reflection of them looking through the window. It looked so much better and made sense with the film’s tone .
What has been your favourite Sparks Film School production you have worked on?
I would say my favourite film would be the Pie & Mash Shop we worked on recently. I played a killer clown who would hide in the shop, and after murdering a victim, the clown and the owner of the shop would put them in the pies to sell! It was a thriller horror film and I really loved making it, and especially playing the killer clown.
Tell me about some other films you have made with Sparks Film School? Or other sessions you have particularly enjoyed?
Recently we made a film about a war, where we were students in the school who were finding out about the war starting. I really enjoyed this one as it was a thriller and had some mystery to it.
I’ve also been with Sparks Film School for a while, and I’ve learnt a lot about the different roles on a set and that I really enjoy acting. I’ve also done some directing that I think I’ve been good at, but I’d rather be behind the camera as camera operator, or acting in the film.
What advice would you have for younger filmmakers, or other children interested in joining Sparks Film School or learning more about filmmaking?
I would probably say that a new student might be quite nervous, but there is no need to be as the sessions are always fun and the group will always include you. No need to be nervous, just come along and give it a go!
Find out more…
Leon attends the Sparks Film School weekly classes at Sparks Film School St Albans.
Sparks Film Schools offer weekly filmmaking classes at a range of venues across the UK. If you’d like to take part, you can find your nearest Sparks Film School here >>
