David picked from all UCLan shortlist
A mature student from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has scooped a regional Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Award for his animation work.
David Lambie won the prize at a ceremony at MediaCityUK which recognises the best in student talent from across the North West. Awards were spread across four categories; Animation, Factual, Comedy and Entertainment and Drama.
The 48-year-old dad of three and part-time school cleaner from Thornton, Cleveleys, was part of an Animation shortlist made up entirely of UCLan students. He won for his silent comedy film in the style of the early 20th Century cinema that sees Dr Frankenstein create a daughter before sending her on a series of disastrous blind dates.
"To win is a brilliant feeling and to now be representing the North West is an honour. My children's reactions when I told them I'd won were fantastic."
David, who will now go on to represent the region in the RTS national final in June, commented: “It hasn't really sunk in yet. To win is a brilliant feeling and to now be representing the North West is an honour. My children's reactions when I told them I'd won were fantastic. It's something that I can now add to my CV and it’s also made me more determined to secure a job in the animation industry.”
The judges chose David’s film as the winner as they felt: “This was a very different entry with old school graphics, superb sound, effects and excellent music. It had great depth and they were very impressed by the quality.”
UCLan Animation Course Leader Sarah Kennedy congratulated her student. “We are so pleased that David won. He is a hard working student and he deserves this prize. David is currently on the MA Animation course developing his film making and animation skills even more and I am sure the combination of achieving his MA and this RTS win will ensure he goes on to work in the industry. Well done.”
David, who has also worked as a technical clerk, computer technician and self-employed fruit and vegetable man prior to pursuing his studies, was up against fellow MA Animation student Jordan King-McCoy and current final year undergraduate student Frances Humphries in the Animation category. Recent film production graduates Matthew Hall and Andrew St Maur were shortlisted for their film Bored Games in the Drama category.
"How fantastic it is that the next generation in TV and video creativity are already proving that the North West is at the top of the game."
Alex Connock, Chair of the RTS North West Centre and Managing Director of Shine North, said: “How fantastic it is that the next generation in TV and video creativity are already proving that the North West is at the top of the game. There are a good number of colleges and universities in our region helping students to reach excellence in scripting, shooting and editing before they are even into their twenties – and that can only be good for the industry long term.”
The RTS Student Awards were hosted by TV presenter and journalist Ranvir Singh at the Lowry Theatre, MediaCityUK. The awards ceremony followed a half-day event, produced in partnership with Salford University, which was attended by students from across the North West. The ‘RTS North West Student Conference – Engaging with the Media’ consisted of a range of informative sessions with high profile speakers.
Watch David’s award-winning film along with the other two shortlisted animations on the UCLan YouTube Animation Channel and the film Bored Games.