Nick Cope showcased at film festival

Nov 21 2008 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

A LECTURER will be celebrating 23 years of film making with a special screening of his work at a festival this weekend.

Nick Cope, a senior lecturer in media production at the University of Sunderland, will show his retrospective work at the Beyond Film Festival in Durham tomorrow and Sunday.

His Journeys in Film ranges from rave visuals of the 1980s and 1990s to images of his travels in China.

His interest in Buddhism, for instance, led to his shooting 80 hours of footage in Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet over the past three summers.

Nottingham-born Nick, who has taught at Sunderland for five years, said: “My inspiration comes from the rich and varied history of experimental film making, music, travel, art, spirituality and life.”

The Beyond Film Festival, which focuses on the best of artists’ films from around the world, takes place across the city. For information call (0191) 332-4041.

A group of students from Sunderland University are also celebrating film making success.

At any other time a film described as a turkey would ruffle a few feathers among its makers, but the 20 hardworking students from the BA and MA animation courses are delighted at having their new animation picked to open a leading film festival.

Gary and the Three Turkeys is a timely tale, in view of the fact Christmas food orders are already on people’s minds. It tells of Gary, whose greed for turkey drives the birds to the edge of extinction. But, as he sets out to track down the remaining three, he finds them ready to fight back.

The film was chosen to open the Bradford Animation Festival, beating competition from such industry movers and shakers as Aardman Animation, Warner Brothers and Disney.

Featuring the booming vocals of actor Brian Blessed, the film was written, created and produced entirely in Sunderland, with the students even setting up their own studio, Talewind Productions.

Animation lecturer Melanie Hani said: “I was amazed how well the students adapted to working under the rigours of a professional animation studio.

“They worked seven hours a day, five days a week throughout the summer. They were rewarded with a great film.”

One of the young animators, Kam-Li Cheng from South Shields, said he loved the experience: “I feel that I learned a lot from my short time working on the project,” he said.

Fellow student Annabelle Hoggard said: “It was a great film to work on.

“The team get on really well so, although there was a lot to do in little time, I think we all enjoyed it.”

Barbara Hodgson

I was amazed how well the students adapted to working under the rigours of a professional animation studio