Adventure Filmmaking students showcase final projects

The Design and Performing Industries department of the Carmarthen campus at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David proudly presented the culmination of three years of hard work by their BA (Hons) Adventure Filmmaking students at the Hidden Narratives event.

Held at Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, this showcase featured a diverse array of projects, including documentaries addressing sea pollution, accessibility in surfing, and the benefits of wild swimming, alongside photography and publishing work.

This event provided a platform for students to showcase their hard work and dedication to an audience of friends, family, and industry professionals. It gave them the chance to experience seeing their work on the big screen and to practice public speaking within a professional environment.

Josh Knight was one of the students who showcased his work. He said:

“Showcasing a piece of work in front of an audience is always going to be a nerve-wracking experience. This event was by far the biggest crowd I’ve publicly screened any of my films in front of. However, seeing something you’ve put a lot of time and effort into appear on the big screen is always a very rewarding feeling.

Another student showcasing his work was Joseph Morris. He adds:

“It was quite a nervous process for all of us, as creatives our projects never feel finished there’s always more you could add and change so it was really great to get such a genuinely positive response to all our projects.

“It can be quite difficult to know what level of quality your work is at as we’re all quite critical, and so getting feedback and seeing people’s response in real time was very helpful.”

Student Molly Austin added:

“It was very nerve racking at first as I had worked very hard on the project and so wanted people to enjoy it. As soon as the film ended, and the crowd started to applause I felt a relief of joy and it felt like all of my hard work has paid off.

“It has massively improved my confidence and given me the encouragement I need to move forward with my filmmaking career. I think this is hugely important to me as a filmmaking student because it is preparing us for the real world where in future, we may be expected to give talks at film shows.”

A panel discussion with the students was held at the end of the event which allowed them to reflect on their journey as filmmakers, telling their story from the beginning, providing more context to the work and efforts that goes on behind the scenes to make these films possible.

Josh added that:

“The experience of public speaking and showcasing my work in front of an audience has only increased my confidence as an individual and shown me that I can be proud of the work I produce. As a creative it’s hard to feel fully satisfied with the finished product of a piece of work you create, but since this event I’ve found that showing it to an audience and getting their response to something you create is sometimes the missing piece that completes a project.”

Adventure Filmmaking Programme Manager Dr Brett Aggersberg said:

“I am extremely proud of the professional level work the students put into the content of the show. During the Q and A panel session each student performed admirably as they discussed the nature of being an adventure filmmaker. Hopefully the event was inspiring to up and coming filmmakers.

“The evening was a celebration for family and friends that have watched and supported these individuals over the last three years. If this show is anything to go by, they all have a bright future ahead of them in the industry.

The work can next been seen at the Lyric Theatre Carmarthen on the 3rd of June at 7:30pm.

For more information about the BA (Hons) Adventure Filmmaking course at UWTSD, visit: Adventure Filmmaking (Full-time) | University of Wales Trinity Saint David (uwtsd.ac.uk)