Silence is golden for movie project

Young Potential, a charity based at the Soundwave Art of Life Centre in the old Regal Theatre on Carlton Road, Worksop, have made their own 1920s-style silent film.

Anyone who thinks that black and white silent movies can’t keep an audience entertained anymore, have only to look at The Artist, which scooped five Oscars.

The youngsters’ film, called The Rough House, tells the story of a poor mining family who meet up with a rich family, constrasting their lives.

Young Potential is open to disadvantaged 13 to 19-year-olds. Youth worker Dez Wilson, who worked on the project, said: “We had nine young people working on the movie.”

“They worked with film makers from Urban Angel in Nottingham and helped to write the script and they all had a part in the film.”

“They learnt about how different life was back in the 1920s compared to now, and the differences between the rich and the poor.”

“It’s been an amazing project, some of the young people were very insular and wouldn’t speak out before, so it has improved their confidence massively.”

Dez said the movie project received a grant of about £30,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The film will be premiered at the centre on 22nd March with a 1920s-themed evening from 7pm to 9pm.

Members of Young Potential will be dressed in 1920s clothes, and members of the audience are invited to do the same if they wish.

The admission prices have been worked out at the equivalent of 1920s prices, so it will be 88p for adults and 27p for children.

The film is 50 minutes long and there will be a buffet of 1920s inspired food.

Dez said: “We will have a compere introducing the film and talking about the project.”

Katie Cooper, 16, of Water Meadows, has been attending Young Potential for three years.

She heard about it through a friend. “I wanted to learn the guitar and my friend said it might be a good place to go,” said Katie, who is studying AS levels at Worksop Post-16 Centre.

“I enjoyed making the film, we all contributed our ideas. We haven’t seen the finished film so it will be a surprise on the night.”

Jade Brunt, 16, of Manton, also studying AS levels at the Post-16 centre, said she was excited and nervous about seeing the finished product.

“It was a great experience and interesting to do because we went to Worksop Library to do some research and I looked up people from the past with my surname.”

“I’m glad I live now and not back in the 1920s.”

To buy tickets for the event, or to find out more about Young Potential, go to www.youngpotential.co.uk.

“We welcome donations of time, money and equipment, “ said Dez.