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INSPIRED by reports of ghosts on board Brunel’s ss Great Britain, a group of students with learning difficulties have made their own viral film. |
The pupils, aged 14 and 15, filmed using a mobile phone and handheld camera – very much in the style of ‘The Blair Witch Project’, the 1999 low-budget horror movie.
Like ‘Blair Witch’, the narrative is presented as a documentary pieced together from amateur footage. And 10 years on it is a Bath-based production company, Constellation Media, which has worked with the students.
The movie trailer is now posted on YouTube – under the title ‘Where’s Vinny?’ – with three further films on the official Brunel’s ss Great Britain website (www.ssgreatbritain.org). The film has already attracted almost 1,000 new visitors to the Trust’s web pages.
It tells the story of five schoolchildren who go ghost-hunting on Bristol’s iconic ship, prompted by media coverage. One of their group, Vinny, goes missing. The video and mobile phone footage is discovered, but not Vinny, or any of the other students.
The stars, who did most of the filming, are Tom Wilder (Vinny), Faisal Mimish (Dazza), Dixon Lewis (Danny), Ben Hiscox-Smith (Robbie) and Tom French (Gavin).
It follows filming by Living TV’s ‘Most Haunted’ in May – broadcast on January 20 – as well as extensive coverage in the local media.
The boys, from Mark College in Somerset, also worked with Constellation Media to edit the film. Stuart Wild of Jarsens.com, based in Gloucestershire, designed the ‘Where’s Vinny?’ web pages on the Trust’s website.
The project had a shoestring budget of less than £250, with Constellation Media giving their time free of charge. Professional actor Martin Williamson, who played the ghost, and the web-design company Jarsens.com provided their services at a fraction of commercial rates to help the student project and Brunel’s ss Great Britain.
As a registered charity and independent museum Brunel’s ss Great Britain, receives no central or local government funding, generating resources through visitors and venue hire.
The students, who were joined by fellow pupils for one scene, are using the experience as part of their National Curriculum drama course.
The film is split between a movie trailer, on ‘YouTube’, plus three elements on the Brunel’s ss Great Britain website – entitled ‘The stowaways’, ‘Where’s Vinny?’, and ‘The ghost…?’.
The project has been especially well received as the students all have extreme forms of dyslexia, but excel in creative work. Mark College, on the Somerset Levels, and near Burnham-on-Sea, is part of the Priory Group.
The film is expected to promote Brunel’s ss Great Britain to new audiences. It will also contribute a fun element to tales of Brunel’s ss Great Britain having ghosts on board. And according to LIVING TV’s ‘Most Haunted’, the ss Great Britain is the ‘most haunted ship in Britain’.
Tom Wilder (Vinny), aged 14, said: “It was great fun being able to run around such a famous ship. It was all improvised so we could go where we liked. I liked filming the sneaking on to the ship and when Robbie did the shot with his arm around the mannequin. I may be biased but I think the footage I filmed, with my phone, of me stuck in the cabin is the best bit!”
Head teacher Julie Kay of Mark College, which is part of the Priory Group, commented: “This has been a truly valuable and enjoyable experience for all our Year 10 students. They have gained an insight into the filming process and have had the enviable opportunity to work on board such a wonderful vessel.
“The five students who were lucky enough to be the main characters have grown visibly in self-confidence because of the experience. It has been a wonderful opportunity for the whole school to be involved with.”
Mark Scoble, Managing Director of Constellation Media, commented: “We are delighted to have been involved with this project. Being able to work with the Brunel’s ss Great Britain team and the children from Mark College has been a real delight.
“It’s so inspiring to see these kids overcome their learning difficulties and prove to us, and more importantly to themselves, that there is no barrier to success when you challenge yourself. This project and these children have left a profound mark on all of the team at Constellation Media.”
Stuart Wild, of web development company Jarsens.com, said: “I am honoured to be involved in such an exciting project, fusing the historic with new media, helping to giving a contemporary edge to Brunel’s ss Great Britain, which can only encourage younger generations to become involved.”
Sophina Jagot, the ss Great Britain Trust’s Marketing Officer, said: “All involved, and especially the students, have developed a fabulous set of films, for Brunel’s ss Great Britain.
“We expect that the project will help us to reach new audiences, especially those who regularly use the internet and social networking sites. We hope that after seeing the film, they will be keen to learn more about Brunel’s ss Great Britain, the alleged ghostly experiences on board, and most importantly decide to visit!”
Students at Mark College, in the meantime, are keeping their fingers crossed that ‘Where’s Vinny?’ will have a global reach.
- Watch the 'Where's Vinny?' trailer:
Find out more about Constellation Media, who developed and edited the film, and produced the 'Where's Vinny?' illustrations.
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