The glitz and glamour - and even the gore - of Hollywood made its way to Highfields when the school hosted its second annual Young Wolf Film Festival.
The magic of the movies was brought to life during the week-long extravaganza, which celebrated all things film related whilst honouring the talents of budding directors, designers and performers from across the city.
The event kicked off on Monday 1st July with 'Movie Maker Monday'. Highfields welcomed dozens of students from City schools for a series of film-based practical workshops, including a professional make-up artist and special effects designer to create their own grotesque Hollywood-style injuries. They then used a green screen, along with digital and sound effects, to make their own short film, called Disasterquake 2, which paid homage to classic global disaster movies.
Day two of the festival saw 60 students experience the wonder of filmmaking first-hand with a trip to the Harry Potter Studio Tour.
The trip, which acted as a reward for members of Highfields Film Club from Years 9 and 10, gave students the chance to see the impact of the British film industry and the vast array of careers it offers, whilst taking part in active workshops entitled ‘Script to Screen’ and ‘Camera Choices’.
The third day of the event gave students and staff the chance to put their knowledge of the big screen to the test by taking part in a lunchtime movie quiz. Wolverhampton’s Lighthouse Cinema, a proud supporter of Highfields’ Film Studies department, donated tickets which were handed to the winners.
The red carpet was rolled out on Thursday 4th July as the talents of budding young filmmakers was celebrated at the Young Wolf Awards. Students’ mini cinematic masterpieces that have been produced throughout the year were played to a sold-out audience in the school’s Lyceum, whilst crowds were entertained with a performance from the cast of this year’s Upper School musical production of The Addams Family.
Ian Francis, Director of Flatpack Film Festival, was special guest at the Oscars-style event. He handed out trophies and certificates to students in a range of categories, including Best Key Stage 3/4/5 film; Best Lone Wolf (awarded to students who had made films in their own time without help); Best written Film Review (picked by Simon Brew, Editor of Film Stories Magazine) and Best Silent Cinema film.
The night also acted as the world premiere of Disasterquake 2, with certificates given out to all of those who took part.
The festival was wrapped up in spectacular style on Friday 5th July as students used Hollywood soundtracks and themes to stage the annual Summer Song and Dance show in front of a packed audience. Following live performances of music, drama and dance, more than 100 visitors moved outside to watch a screening of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse on a huge, inflatable outdoor cinema screen.
Crowds flocked with camping chairs and blankets for the Night At The Movies event, and were given hotdogs, burgers and popcorn to enjoy with the film.
Film Studies teacher, Mr D Cooper, said: “The festival was another brilliant success. Students have got a lot out of the activities they have taken part in, and the guidance they have received from the experts.
“We have some incredibly talented students at Highfields who are very enthusiastic about the various elements of the filmmaking process.
“The festival brings hundreds of people together to celebrate the wonderful world of movies, whilst providing an excellent platform to celebrate the creativity of students.
“We look forward to seeing the filmmaking talents of our students develop even further over the next academic year so we can stage another successful festival in 2020.”
The Young Wolf Film Festival was first launched by Highfields in 2018 due to the success of the school’s award-winning Film Club.
Due to the increasing popularity of the subject in school, Film Studies was introduced to Year 9 students last year, whilst a GCSE course across Key Stage 4 was launched for the first time this academic year.
