Arts Institute Students Triumph at the Royal Television Society’s Student Television Awards

Students from the BA (Hons) Film Production Degree at The Bournemouth Film School, part of the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, have once again played a part in representing both their course and Institution in recognition of its commitment to education at the highest level.

The hard work, long hours and dedication of students on the BA (Hons) Film Production course paid off when, following on from the recent success of winning the Best Non-Factual Film at the Royal Television Society Regional Awards 2004, they won the National Award in the Undergraduate Non-Factual Section.

The winning piece; ‘Monica Guiltheart and the Mysterious Pencil’ was created by team of students from the Arts Institute including David O’Sullivan (writer, director and co-producer), Mikal Hovland (Camera) Nick Gillett (sound) and Simon Young (editor). The story is a touching tale dealing with many issues children face, such as bullying, but told from a child’s point of view. With the discovery of a mysterious pencil, Monica realises she can make amazing things happen…

The Arts Institute’s students were up against strong national competition in the form of contenders from the Manchester Metropolitan University and the Dublin Institute of Technology.

At the award ceremony, Tim Vaughan, (Executive Producer of Drama at Granada) Chairman of the judging panel said:

“The aim of the film was ‘to produce a pilot children’s TV series that tackles serious issues in a sensitive yet satirical and magical way.’ Well yes, exactly. It did so wonderfully, again and again. I’d only add my congratulations to the actors and give special thanks for some really brilliant costume and make up work. When will my kids be able to see it on the box."

Full information on the student awards can be found on the Royal Television Society website: http://www.rts.org.uk

The Arts Institute at Bournemouth has long been recognised for the extremely high quality of its film and animation provision. In 1998, it was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of the high standard of its film courses, chiefly the former HND in Film and Television which became the BA (Hons) Film and Animation Production. More recently the BA (Hons) Animation Production has received Skillset Animation Accreditation from the Animation Forum.

Film Synopsis:

Monica Giltheart is not happy. Bullied at school, with her parents splitting up and being hopeless at spelling tests, things look bleak.

Then, one day, Monica receives an old, wax sealed, envelope. Inside she finds a mysterious looking pencil wrapped in a note from her Grandma saying ‘I thought this might help you…’

Although Monica loved her Grandma dearly and although she drew lots of pictures to make herself feel better she could not quite see how this strange pencil was going to ‘help’ her any more than any of the other pencils she used. Then one day, in a spelling test Monica has drawn herself winning, she realises that everything she draws with the pencil magically affects the world around her, that she can make things better, save friends from trouble and make amazing things happen…

The question is what will she do next?

A touching and exciting pilot for a children’s television series, ‘Monica Giltheart’ appeals to children and adults alike. Children’s issues are approached with the sensitivity usually reserved for more ‘adult’ themes, but with lashings of satire, magic and cherries on top!