At Sparks Film School, our monthly film award shines a celebratory spotlight on a film production made by Sparks film crew members.
Whenever taking part in a Sparks Film School youth filmmaking course, our students all work incredibly hard to produce their own film productions.
On our courses, workshops and events, they work collaboratively to make a film that expresses their ideas and creativity, whilst also showcasing their technical abilities and skills. Each month, we love to shine a celebratory spotlight on their filmmaking achievements!
Our panel of judges – assembled from our team of filmmaking instructors – look at submissions from across Sparks Film Schools nationally. They assess based on each film’s impact on screen and explore all its little details to uncover all the things we love about each film chosen.
Film of the Month: Selection Criteria
To be selected as Sparks Film of the Month, a film production needs to be…
Original:
We look for originality and imagination above all else when choosing the winner of Film of the Month. We looks for films that surprise us, offer some inventiveness and challenge convention.
Interesting:
To be chosen as Film of the Month, a production needs to be interesting. We want to see what happens next; we want to learn more about the characters. We should be invested in watching until the very end.
Well Made:
We need to be appreciate the technicality in how a film has been made for it to be awarded Film of the Month. It should feature a clear storyline, be well shot, well acted, well edited and put together.
Made by Students of Sparks Film School:
Film of the Month can be awarded to any film production made by students at any Sparks Film School across the UK. It can be made independently or during film school sessions.
Congratulations to the crews behind TRAPPED from Sparks Film School Derbyshire North!
This month’s winner is the mysterious and eerie thriller film TRAPPED.
This film was produced by Sparks Derbyshire North students from Studio 4 during their Summer Term 2024.
TRAPPED follows a lone boy as he is transported into a world where he cannot escape. As he meets his fellow captives, all with their own quirks and ways of coping, they resolve to outsmart their captor and escape from their strange prison!
From the Judges…
“TRAPPED opens with our main character in some establishing shots of a lovely day in the countryside.
Firstly, our panel was really impressed with the camera work and use of location on display here. The shots are varied and the film simply looks gorgeous with the surrounding location and all the greenery. There was great use of filming locations.
The crew have made great use of extreme wide shots, putting our hero (who is soon to be trapped and isolated) into shots that really minimise them and make them appear small and powerless against their wider world, a theme that the film explores brilliantly as it progresses. There is some lovely subtle storytelling here in the first few moments.”
Our judges were very impressed with the use of colour grading and sound design on display in the film. Throughout the film the oppressive tone is revealed to us through the colour work. As our hero is taken into the trapped world, his world turns from lush greens and colours to a dark and moodier grey with rainstorms outside. The sound design and music is simple but effective, really lending itself to the mystery and strange atmosphere of the film with its subtle chords and beat.
The panel also really enjoyed the very imaginative sequences of our main character discovering that he cannot escape. These sequences are really well done, one example being when he tries to run up the stairs but keeps appearing at the bottom, only to try again in an infinite loop. Similar to when he tries to escape through the exit at the end of the corridor, but it drags him back to the beginning. The panel felt there was effective world-building on display here from Studio 4, all brought together with some very smooth and expert editing.
The crew have really excelled in this film with their interesting use of costume design and character work. The other characters we meet have amazing designs which really pop out against their oppressive and inescapable surroundings. We loved the use of makeup too, which really helped these odd characters stand out, especially on the evil mastermind who has trapped them all, it really helped establish him as this strange and otherworldly character.
The performances in the film from the cast are all really strong too. All the actors really embody and have fun with their characters, which come across to the audience. The cast have really thought a lot about who their character is and how they live in this strange world.
Overall our panel was incredibly impressed with TRAPPED. It’s a really well paced and intriguing film, with a great amount of mystery and fun.
The filmmakers have really done themselves proud and we are so happy to announce Sparks Derbyshire North’s TRAPPED as July’s Film of The Month.
Congratulations to all involved in the making of this production!
About Sparks Film School’s Filmmaking Courses
Sparks Film School offers filmmaking, animation and photography workshops for ages 5-18, including term time classes and holiday camps.
We offer free taster classes and there are lots of opportunities to get involved. You can find out more about our filmmaking courses here >>>
