NEWCASTLE FILM CLUB
Education Officer (elected, voluntary), since January 2025.
The club
Newcastle Film Club is a creative community of filmmakers, writers, producers, actors, artists and musicians of all ages and levels of experience. It is a social enterprise that aims to lead a united front for the development of community filmmaking and to expand opportunities for filmmakers in and around Newcastle.
My role
As Education Officer I plan and deliver the club's education programme: workshops, support for members' films, and the club's collaborative productions. I set the education plan around what members need, working with the club's leadership on open, inclusive membership. The club's education happens through workshops, classes and competitions, and through the films members make together. This year the community chose three films to make as a club.
I also supervised a Newcastle University PhD placement student, Cícero Pedro Leão, organised workshops with him through NUSU, and supported theatre-based acting for film workshops.
The club is where my practice and my interest in research on community filmmaking meet.
Example: Script Workshop
The Script Workshop was a three-hour Script Lab at Brinkburn Brewery on 14 September 2025, built around the club's Q3/4 film challenge. It followed an online scriptwriting webinar I delivered in February for the Voice Over Challenge.
Members sent in short script briefs (50 to 250 words) on the challenge theme. After a talk on developing scripts for short films, mixed tables worked on the submitted briefs, outlining scenes with post-it notes, then rotated through timed feedback from facilitators, led by prompts such as "How does this film connect with the challenge theme?" and "What would happen if...?". People without a script joined as readers and commenters.
The last part was open: participants walked between tables to see each other's outlines, formed teams and played writing games. The workshop was open to all levels, from first-time to experienced writers.
