A budding film maker from Westminster Park has the cut of the jib after receiving a new piece of film equipment as a Christmas present.
Christleton High School sixth former Ben Hanratty, 17, was given a jib, a boom device with a camera on one end and a counterweight and camera controls on the other, and has been out shooting a short film of his home city.
Ben is studying biology, economics and business studies at A level but hopes to study at the Northern Film School in Leeds next year.
He said: “I teach myself filmmaking in my spare time. Every Christmas and birthday I will get a new piece of filmmaking equipment to improve and make my films look better.”
To date Ben has posted more than 21,000 short films on his YouTube channel.
He added: “I once directed a music video for a signed music artist in LA, Josie Nelson. Her manager Jaron Lowenstein owns a record label, and got in touch with me. The video has over 13,000 views on her Youtube channel.
“I have also received some great feedback from industry professionals. Phil Hawkins (Steven Spielberg named him one of the best up and coming film directors) said my work is very impressive’ and Steve Annis, who has shot music videos for Calvin Harris and commercials for Waitrose, said my work is ‘extremely impressive for a 17-year- old.’
Ben shot his film at the end of December in and around Handbridge, Overleigh cemetery, the Duke’s Drive and Chester Racecourse in just over two hours and then spent three hours editing and colour grading it.
He said: “I was very lucky as there wasn’t a cloud in sight, giving me very nice footage of the light piercing through trees.
“The visuals of the film were inspired by Richard Ayoade’s film Submarine. He is a big inspiration to me.”
