4 March 2011
META team hope for mega success at award ceremony
A film by a Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design student has been nominated for one of the premier awards for emerging filmmaking talent in Scotland.
Edinburgh-born Matt Cameron (26), who is currently studying on the MSc Animation & Visualisation course at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, has been nominated in the Technical Achievement category of the BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards 2011 for his film 'META'.
Matt completed his undergraduate Time Based Art & Digital Film degree at DJCAD in 2010. META formed the centrepiece of Matt’s Degree Show work and was one of the most talked-about student films of last year’s exhibition. The film is a gritty science fiction tragedy filmed in locations around Dundee. It explores addiction through the prism of sci-fi, using genre conventions to tackle grim social issues in a fresh way.
The 17-minute short was produced by fellow DJCAD graduate John Fairfield, who has been nominated in the Producer: Short Form category.
Matt built up a team of talented classmates to produce a series of films, including META, which used visual effects to reinforce their story. As well as directing the film, Matt was heavily involved in the whole process from the story development to the post-production.
'I'm really chuffed with the recognition the film has received,' he said. 'I would say I'm hopeful rather than confident of winning, but John and I are just delighted that the film is getting some good exposure.
'The whole film was shot in Dundee, mainly by students and graduates of Duncan of Jordanstone. It’s influenced by sci-fi films by the likes of Kubrick and Ridley Scott while still trying to engage with relevant social issues. I think science fiction allows you to put a different spin on a subject and deal with it without the baggage of traditional drama.
'I was lucky to have so many talented colleagues who could help out and add their expertise and I would like to thank everyone who contributed.
META will also be screening at the Screentest Festival in London on the 18th of March where Matt has also been nominated in the Best Comedy category for his film 'Feet for hands'.
The BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards are designed to identify, encourage and support the best young filmmakers in the country, and are regarded as a vital springboard for directors, producers, writers and others involved in the industry to progress in their careers.
The awards will be made at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Thursday, 24th March. John (32), from Dundee, explained that most of the crew involved in making META will be attending the ceremony.
'To be nominated is an amazing piece of recognition,' he said. 'The cast and crew worked long and hard to complete the film, and this is a testament to the support we had from them. We are all looking forward to the awards; it will be a fantastic night.'
More information is available at www.bafta.org/scotland/news/new-talent-awards-2011,1679,BA.html.
Watch Matt’s showreel at www.mattcameronfilm.co.uk/2010/05/showreel.html.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
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