1 July 2010
Deep Sea discovery secures video competition prize for Alan
A 90-second journey around Dundee, culminating in a fish supper from the legendary Deep Sea Restaurant, has won first prize in the University of Dundee’s video competition.
Alan Ferrier, a factory worker and student at Dundee College, submitted his video, The Search, which was adjudged both Best Overall Entry and Best Student Entry to the 'What's worth discovering @ Dundee' competition. Amateur filmmakers were challenged to capture on film something about the city they felt everyone should know about.
Dundee is no stranger to innovation and invention, and the City of Discovery continues to lead the way in fields as diverse as drug discovery and digital media. However, the competition organisers were interested in discoveries of a more personal nature, and sought videos which captured the special nature of the city and people of Dundee.
The University received dozens of short films, animations and photo montages in which the creators detailed discoveries they have made in the city.
Alan’s film opens with a young man walking along Riverside Drive and then past many well-known city landmarks including the Discovery, Sensation, Dundee Contemporary Arts, and Dundee Rep. Set to a pulsating soundtrack, the film references the three J’s that made Dundee famous before the hero discovers one of the city’s favourite eateries.
Alan, who is from Forfar, explained the inspiration behind his film.
'The Search came about after the competition was brought to my attention by one of my lecturers at Dundee College,' he said. 'After thinking it over for a while, I came up with the idea of focusing the story on The Deep Sea as this is a personal favourite of mine. I'm traditional when it comes to fast food and it's a bit of a local legend!
'I'm a mature student with a passion for video production. This year I've been studying Video and Audio Production at Dundee College and next year will study Media Analysis. I'm currently working in a local factory, but am hoping to change direction and move into the videography field.'
Alan received £350 for Best Overall Entry and £50 for Best Student Entry. The Search, and other winning entries may be used in the University’s promotional material in the future, and has been used to launch its new YouTube channel. Other prizewinners were: George Massie (Best Overall Entry (runner up) - £150); Andrea Santoni (Most Original Entry - £50); Pat Lawrence (People's Choice and Theatrical Dundee prize - £50 and two tickets to the Merchant of Venice at the Univesity’s Botanic Gardens); Erica Waters (Active Dundee prize – eight free visits to the University’s Institute for Sports and Exercise).
Judith Barnard, Director of External Relations at the University and one of the competition judges, congratulated all the winners and praised the high quality of entries.
'We received dozens of high quality, innovative, and entertaining entries, so choosing one which stood apart from the rest was a difficult task.
'In the end, we chose Alan's video because, in a playful way, it showcased Dundee's cultural heritage, its natural and built environment, and a legendary local haunt in the Deep Sea fish and chip restaurant!
'The entrants were asked to present their own personal picture of the city and let others know what's worth discovering here - and Alan certainly did that. All the winners deserve praise, however, as each showed an originality and captured a fresh way of looking at the city.
'As someone who has only recently moved to Dundee myself, these videos have certainly informed me of things to see and do in the city. I'm looking forward to following the video makers' lead and making my own discoveries about this fantastic city.'
All winning videos, as well as some shortlisted ones, can be seen by visiting the Video Competition page or www.youtube.com/dundeeuniv.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
