The next generation of cinematographers gathered at the University of Lincoln last month to take part in a new course, led by the British Film Institute (BFI). The initiative brought together 30 ambitious 16-to-19-year-olds for an intensive, hands-on week of training.
The course was spearheaded by filmmaker and lecturer Jack Shelbourn, who explained the course’s “learning by doing” approach. He said, “The focus was on listening to professionals and being able to walk away with hands-on skills to bolster [the students’] CV and employability. Each one is now ready to step onto set as either a camera trainee, grip trainee, or trainee spark.”
For many students, the course provided a taste of what their future in filmmaking might look like.
Izzy Kearns, 18, credits the course with their decision to enrol at the University of Lincoln. “I’ve met some really lovely people, and it was a pleasure meeting Jack Shelbourn, who will be my future lecturer in September.”
Jack Shelbourn was supported by Tony Daniels in setting up the course, which included talks, seminars and workshops.
Iona Dorsett, 17, from Leeds Art University, is studying an extended diploma in creative practice at Leeds Art University. She said she enjoyed the course’s professional atmosphere. “It’s a lot more professional because we have people from the industry coming in to speak to us,” she explained.
Sashi T. Kissoon, a director of cinematography who worked as a 2nd unit director on Netflix’s 3 Body Problem hosted talks.
Steve Young and Cody Nichols from the university assisted from a technical perspective and lecturer Chris Greybe joined on the final day to deliver a class on colour grading.
Actors Steve Gillard and Laura Turner offered their talents to allow the students to practice filming and directing.
Dorset’s favourite moment was a party scene they filmed for a short movie. “It was really fun to do that,” she said, adding that she’s now considering a filmmaking foundation year.
Daniel Meikle, 16, recently finished his GCSEs. He came to the course knowing he wanted a career in cinematography. He said, “I’ve learned a lot about how the industry actually works and how different roles on set interact.” His highlight was also making a short film, “It was a lot of fun,” he said, “I think we’re going to edit it soon and it’s going to look really cool and it’s going to win everything. All the Oscars.”
I was recently interviewed by the incredible Michael Hingson, a NYT bestselling author and survivor of the 9/11 attacks. Blind for virtually all of his life, he led people out of the tower with his trusty guide dog, Roselle. He’s a miraculous human being. Not just because of his story, but because of his positive attitude towards life and how he treats others.
In Michael’s podcast, Unstoppable Mindset, I talked about my past with trauma and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), and how I went from a place of fear to fearlessness. The trauma itself is not the focus of the podcast (no doubt, there will be a time for this discussion in the future!). Instead, I focus on PTSD and its impact.
As someone who came from “a hopeless situation”, I believe that nobody is broken beyond repair. And yes, PTSD can go away. It is treatable.
So, why am I sharing this? I have three main reasons:
One – to inspire hope. Hope and faith go hand in hand. It often means believing without seeing. I remember the first time someone else shared their healing journey with me. It was like I could borrow their hope. So, I’m here to offer mine to those who need it.
Two – people don’t understand PTSD. I want to educate people about my experience, aiming to debunk myths around PTSD, including the misconception that it is “incurable”.
Three – I’m doing this for my younger self and those who are still struggling. Sharing my journey isn’t something I take lightly. I still get scared sometimes!
But if I think about that young Kara who was undiagnosed for so many years, she would have loved to hear these words:
Nobody is broken beyond repair.
If you would like to listen to my interview on Unstoppable Mindset, you can find the podcast on Spotify and Apple.
If you need support with PTSD, below are some resources.
* NHS: Call 111 or book a GP appointment. * MIND: Call 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk * PTSD UK: online resources to learn more about PTSD.
If you’re feeling distressed, in a state of despair, suicidal or in need of emotional support you can also contact:
* Samaritans: Call 116 123 * Shout: text CONTACT to 85258 for support
A street of independent shops in Lincoln is defying a national trend of increased shoplifting.
Shoplifting figures are at their highest since records began, according to the Office of National Statistics, with the East Midlands being the most impacted area.
However, Steep Hill in Lincoln appears to have very few reports of shoplifting.
The street is known for its unique retail shops, vintage character and unsurprisingly, its steepness.
With a gradient of 16.12 degrees, shoppers regularly trek up the fourth steepest street in England to reach independent shops, such as Steep Hill Wines, The Pot Shop and On The Hill.
Named Britain’s Greatest Street in 2012 by the Academy of Urbanism, Steep Hill now appears to be championing another achievement: low shoplifting numbers.
Yvette Mills, project manager for Lincoln Big, a business improvement group, said: “We have an intelligent database which the shops sign up to, and we have a security radio link for the shops and pubs in that area.”
Of the five shop owners who were interviewed for this article, all said they had not been impacted by shoplifting.
One of them is Jackie Hodson. She sells fine jewellery in her shop, On The Hill/ Her average sale is £200, but shoplifting is a rare occurrence.
Jackie praises the local policing policy, saying: “The relationship between the police, the council, and the traders, is very good.
“I’ve been open for two and a half years and I had two instances of shoplifting, the last one about a year and a half ago. So, shoplifting is definitely not an issue.”
The first screening of student documentaries made in partnership with the Lincoln City Council took place on the 17th of January, 2024 in the Lincoln Arts Centre.
It was the first sign of success for a new filmmaking module called “Community Film”. The module is being led by Phillip Warnell, a lecturer at the University of Lincoln.
Phillip said on a LinkedIn post: “I’m extremely grateful to have colleagues such as Ben Anderson [from the Lincoln Arts Centre] and Frances Plant [from the Lincoln County Council] with the vision to be able to build community relations and documentary studies within the city of Lincoln.”
He said: “There’s genuine value in each of these projects for those involved, but they’re also evidence of the good work being done around the city.”
The module allows students to select a community project to document, which they eventually turn into a documentary.
Staff in the council coordinate the first line of contact between students and community projects. Students can pick from a long list of council-funded initiatives to film as part of their documentary project.
Paul Carrick, the neighbourhood manager for the City of Lincoln Council, said: “To see them [the documentaries] on the big screen is truly unbelievable.
Regarding the community projects, Rejwan Gareb, a first-year film production student at the university, said: “[The screening was] was really cute. I didn’t realise there were all these little things to do in Lincoln.”
From litter-picking to football clubs and charities, there were many different subjects covered by the screening.
Rachel Scarrott, a filmmaking and documentary lecturer at the university said: “The more you connect with communities, the more you find the unusual things that are happening.”
*Disclaimer: this was written in the style of a live updates page, for the purposes of a journalism assignment*
– Written on the 2nd Nov –
A fireworks celebration will be held in Lincoln this evening with street food, performers, DJs and a funfair-style carnival.
The Lincolnshire Showground will be hosting the Autumn Lights for its fourth year. Over 7000 people are expected to attend the family-friendly event.
DJ and presenter Ryan Swain will be performing as well as presenting the event’s many performances.
Events:
4.00pm: a welcome and DJ show.
5.50pm: fire dancers and performers.
6.00pm: “spark drummers” performance.
6.40pm: Phats & Small band performance.
7.40pm: children’s fireworks show.
8.00pm: party band performance.
9.00pm: the grand finale fireworks show.
Stay tuned for live updates.
4.00pm
The last natural light of the day leaves the Lincolnshire Showground as the sun sets. It’s cold – around 11 degrees Celsius – but this will get more severe as the night goes on.
Over 7000 people are here to endure the temperature and enjoy the show.
More than 20 food and drink stalls are on the site including a bar, a Cadbury’s hot chocolate stand, street food and sweet vendors.
4.50pm
With another 2 hours and 50 minutes until the first bang, I spoke with the senior firer for today’s show. As the lead pyrotechnic, Rick Rawson’s job is ensuring all the fireworks go off safely and smoothly.
The 37-year-old said: “We fire electronically over 800 individual firing points with 60 shots to 120 shots [each], so it’s hell of a lot.”
For context, a shot is an individual effect, or firework. With 800 individual firing points with an average of 90 shots each, that is 72,000 fireworks altogether!
5.12pm
DJ and presenter Ryan Swain is calling people to the main stage area, where he will be unveiling a challenge for the audience.
This will be for a “dance-off,” with the winner pressing the button to begin the next fireworks display taking place at 7.40pm.
5.31pm
The winner has been crowned by Ryan. “Matty” was chosen for his unexpected splits move.
However, he gave his prize to a fellow competitor’s daughter, Esme from Lincoln.
She will be on the main stage to push the button later, setting the fireworks for the first display.
5.44pm
Light performers on stilts will be taking pictures with the audience throughout the night.
Their costumes vary but are all very colourful and bright.
5.50pm
Light dancers have begun performing to music from the Greatest Showman. With only four individuals on the stage, it is not anything like the Hugh Jackman musical.
Still, families and friends are enjoying it, with visible smiles all around.
5.54pm
Did you know? Fireworks originated in China over 2000 years ago.
The haunting presence of the spark drummers is now here.
With their unchanging expressions and near-tribal beat, they present a different vibe to the other performances.
6.11pm
The audience is waiting for the next event, as I am waiting for Ryan Swain to speak with me about the Autumn Lights.
The 7000-strong crowd is a sea of heads from the stage, which is where I will be interviewing Ryan.
6.17pm
Ryan Swain introduces himself as a DJ, entertainer, actor, professional skateboarder and “potentially the most famous person you’ve never heard of”. He is presenting this evening. He agrees to speak with me on the main stage area.
He said that his highlight of the event is “to see the crowd, the look on their faces, not just with fireworks but with the music as well.”
“It’s to try and engage with them, get them involved, make them feel like the stars of the show, which they are. Because without the audience, we wouldn’t have a show.”
He said that every year, the shows get “bigger and better.”
6.21pm
Also on the stage is Jason Phats, 54, from the electronic band Phats and Small. He tells me the band have done “around 80 gigs” since March but will be wrapping up for the Christmas period.
He also tells me there is new material coming out next year, pending negotiations that he “can’t really talk about.” He also tells me what it means for him to perform in Lincoln tonight.
Vocalist Ben Ofoedu is on the stage, performing alongside Jason.
7.00pm
Fireworks are composed of many materials, but only a few give them their colour. Here is an infographic explaining what elements are responsible for the colour of a firework.
7.35pm
The crowd for Phats and Small is massive, with most attendees taking their loved ones to hear the music of the electronic duo. The music is a wide range of party house music, appropriate for all ages.
7.57pm
The first firework goes off! The children’s fireworks show gives younger audiences the opportunity to see fireworks during a more sensible time of the night.
8.09pm
Another “fire performance” takes place in the food vendor area, as handmade pizza is stone-baked. The variety of entertainment, games and food is massive here. Although the event does not cover the entirety of the Lincolnshire Showground’s large area, it has plenty to keep everyone occupied – and full.
8.51pm
Next up is the Party Band with a four-piece wind instrument set as well as guitars and vocals. They are performing well-known songs by artists such as Dolly Parton and Freddie Mercury. They are also running over their schedule time.
9.21pm
21 minutes after its official schedule, the final fireworks display is taking off to an explosive start, with music-synchronised explosions of light. Although on a much smaller scale, there are similarities to be drawn with London’s New Year’s Countdown. Throughout the event, the music choice was a wide mix of well-known tunes from the past, and popular tunes from the present. This display is no different, with multi-era songs being played through the several-minute long show.
9.27pm
That’s all, folks! With the final fireworks fizzled out, people are making their way home after a colourful day at the Autumn Lights event. The presenters, performers and journalists on location wave goodbye to you all.
“This is the time Line, when can I direct your call?”
I wrote the script for Time Line under creative boundaries. It was going to have a short running time, a small cast, and only a few locations. The theme was “time” and it was something I wanted to laugh at.
I never expected to write another script in 2024. I thought one was enough. I intended to take a break and focus on my journalism studies. Until one of the filmmaking lecturers asked me the question:
“Are you sure? It could be fun.”
Well, the simplicity was nice while it lasted.
I jest. The quiet was very boring and I was happy to be persuaded to work on another film again. I wrote the first messy draft in an hour or two and christened it “Time Line”.
“Time Line” had a deadline and that was December. I was going abroad shortly after that, and most students (and crew) would be leaving for the Christmas holidays after the second weekend into December. That was three months away: a little less than my first short film’s deadline.
But I had something that past me did not have before:
The headache-inducing, tear-jerking, stress-soaked experience of making a short film for the first time.
I was seasoned (lightly salted, more like). But I had some experience under my belt thanks to my previous film, and I intended to use it wisely.
Step one: find money and a crew
Regarding money, I had none. This contrasted with my previous film, which was luckily grant-funded.
Crew were much easier to come by. I could reach out to people I met through Petalled Apologies. The legendary cinematographer Oliver Townsend was involved, but we still didn’t have a full crew.
Step one was not fully achievable on my own, so I needed to enact step two.
Step two: find someone who can find money and a crew
The role of a producer is not something to take lightly. In a nutshell, they produce a film. But that means a lot more than one word. They produce money, crew, cast, locations, schedules, and signatures for paperwork. That’s a lot to produce if you are just one person.
So I would recommend getting more than one producer.
In the end, there were probably three of us.
But every one of us had our roles and responsibilities, and I can not thank the other producers enough. M Carter organised the paperwork side of things and enlisted some of the crew. Meanwhile, Maddie Oastler helped to organise the bake sale and helped M. She also stepped in as the assistant director on the day of shooting.
Together, we raised around £200.
Step three: locations and cast
We needed two locations and two actors.
Sounds straightforward, right?
I thought so too.
For the office, I adventured into the city to try to find places willing to have us film there. We found gold with one location, but they could not let us film on a weekend.
Eventually, I asked the university if we could film on the premises. They said yes, but we still needed a student’s room for “Kate’s” scenes.
I took to social media and asked for anyone willing to allow us to film in their accommodation. A student got back to me and gave us permission to film in her room.
M Carter organised the schedule, which meant we had a time and place to film.
Admittedly, we waited a little late before finding a cast. That wasn’t anyone’s fault. We used the platform mandy.com to find applicants but ran into an issue with the account and so had no cast a week before shooting.
I managed to persuade a friend and colleague to take on the role as Time Line Operator.
Alex Lewczuk harnessing his inner “Time Line Operator”
…and I was about to make my debut as an actress.
Step four: go with your gut
Confession time: unless you class primary school plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and my Munchkin performance from the Wizard of Oz as “acting”, I had never acted before.
For a while after considering myself as “Kate”, I sat in a state of disbelief. I alternated between knowing I was capable of portraying her and doubting that fact.
There were a few last-minute alternatives, but nothing gave me peace. It was partly the last-minuteness of it, and partly the fact that I knew I could do it. I had to listen to my gut.
As an autistic woman, I have learned to mask efficiently. Nobody can really generalise something like autism, but I think a lot of autistic people in social environments and workplaces have to adapt to become acutely aware of their face, body language and tone.
In essence, I had not acted before. However, I know what it means to measure body language. This would feel a bit like that, but taken to an extreme.
Step five: doubt your gut (optional)
I think most people taking on large projects at some point ask themselves: “What on Earth am I doing?”
Several answers can flood in all at once:
“Doing something great.”
“Doing something crazy.”
“Making a fool of yourself.”
There was a brief time when I was surrounded by people who would show no hesitation in telling me that. “Stupid, irrational, silly and weird” are childish words, but they can linger in one’s mind if you let them.
Thankfully, I have good people surrounding me who are really encouraging. This is an important element of taking on a big project: a great support system.
You can only go so far as one person.
Step six: fear and embarrassment are hurdles you have to jump.
I have never been drunk a day in my life.
I have only observed drunkenness from a distance thinking: “Thank goodness I never need to know what that feels like!”
But Kate, my character, does. She gets really tipsy after a night out. I wrote it as such and now I had to act it.
If I let myself think about all the ways I could embarrass myself, I would never have done it. If I let myself feel any fear, then it would have shown. I was the director as well as lead actress. Being a leader, any fear from my end might have impacted the crew as well.
So, I had to jump it. Give up my right to feel afraid. Let myself feel only a little, so I can ride the wave of anxiety as opposed to being drowned by it. After all, fear mixed with excitement is a great alternative to caffeine.
With embarrassment, I have found that it is something to be embraced. It’s bound to be a part of life. If I avoided embarrassment while acting, I figured I would only embarrass myself more.
So I dove straight into it. Slurred speech, messy hair, fake vomit and all.
True, I made some mistakes at first. As the writer of the script, I had no excuse to forget my lines!
However, I managed to strike a balance between my pre-prepared director’s notes, experimenting on the spot and self-critiquing. In the end, it actually ended up being quite fun!
In fact, I would happily act again.
Step seven: celebrate the victories
This step is an important one. Anyone taking on a big project is likely a busy person overall, so taking the time to breathe is just as important as finding the time to be productive.
After filming Time Line, everyone had a Christmas off before reconvening back for the post-production stage. That included myself, which was perfect, as it gave me the time to get prepared to study abroad.
Now I am writing from Brisbane, Australia. Being involved in post-production from halfway around the planet is a funny thing. Thankfully, I managed to sit with the editor, Finlay Dodd, before leaving. However, there is still plenty to do before Time Line can make its film festival debut.
There is a lot of discussion to be had over the value of cryptocurrencies in the modern world. It is a notoriously volatile market, and like any gamble, it can give as much as it can take away.
Yet, if you are someone with influence, you can create your own odds. This is what individuals like the American president-to-be or Elon Musk have done in the last few weeks.
These “crypto influencers” have generated interest in certain currencies. A recent example is the meme-inspired cryptocurrency, $Trump, unsurprisingly owned by Donald Trump.
If someone invests in something in which they are directly involved, they can foresee its value. They have the capacity to increase its value by promoting it on their own platforms. This influence can make them a billionaire overnight.
Politicians and figures of power have always been able to influence the markets. Their platform is bigger and louder than most. But what happens if they are using that platform for their own financial gain?
As many of Trump’s supporters might say, this makes him a good businessman. But does it make him a good world leader?
The value of gold often fluctuates whenever Trump says something radical. But so does fear and uncertainty.
Global economic and political uncertainty tends to create an appeal for gold, which is an internationally recognised, physical and finite currency.
The value of gold also increases during times of war.
At the moment, it is the highest it has ever been.
So, I do wonder how much of “Trump’s Talk” is led with a financial agenda, and how much he and Elon Musk are benefiting from the frenzy they are contributing to in the world of finances.
In the stock market, a single statement (true or not, acted upon or not) has the potential to make a big difference in the value of something.
I am not a political nor a financial expert, but Trump and Musk’s trend of behaviour, alongside the value of gold and the crypto they are involved in, does suggest that a current priority for them is in increasing their capital.
Which begs the question, will that still be the case after tomorrow’s inauguration?
There is a lot of discussion to be had over what happens next in America. It is a notoriously volatile subject, and like any gamble, nobody truly knows what will follow.
It is Christmas Day, and the roads connecting Louth and Alford are largely abandoned. Most people are spending the morning with their families. But some, like these rural roads, are lonely.
Sarah Devereux was one of them. The Conservative, Alford-based councillor now runs a yearly Christmas gathering dedicated to people who have no one else to spend their Christmas with.
“It’s one of those things that once you start it, you can’t stop.
The 53-year-old tells me about the starting point for her idea: “I spent most of my time as a single mum. There are a lot of people out there that Christmas is difficult for, so I gave that some thought.
“I went home and chatted to the kids. I had this idea, but I needed a location. And this is the perfect location, isn’t it?”
For the last ten years – minus one during lockdown when it was cancelled – the gathering has been hosted in the Alford Cornhill Exchange.
The 1850s building is a cheerful yellow on the outside with two white doors. In the first hour of the gathering, over 15 people enter through those doors to gather around tables.
Me and Sarah talk at one of the tables. I ask what she thinks about Christmas, a subject she feels very strongly about.
She says: “It can be a really hard time for people. It’s not all what you see on the TV. You see all these wonderful films and adverts. That’s not the reality for a lot of people.
“Maybe they’re young and on their own. Maybe they have a difficult relationship with family. Maybe they’re a single person or maybe they’re in a coercive and controlling relationship. I just think that we are a society blind to so many different levels of loneliness.”
According to Sarah, it can be a difficult subject for some people to speak about, as loneliness can be seen as a difficult and embarrassing thing to admit.
The town of Alford is small, with a 2021 census reporting a population of 3,830. Over 50s make 45% of the Alford population.
Among them is a local man who sits at the table with me and Sarah. He has chosen not to be identified, for that reason I will call him Robert.
Robert, who lives alone, says: “Social media has ruined Christmas it means you lose out on the one-to-one. The thing here really is, it’s seeing people, you know, getting together and chatting and stuff, obviously it’s worthwhile, isn’t it?”
Another gentleman joins us. He is a quiet presence and sits on the opposite end of the table. He has been attending the Christmas meeting for around five years. I ask him why the gathering is important to him.
He says: “Well, people are living on their own, aren’t they? It’s about community, isn’t it? I come here every Friday for coffee mornings, too. I’ve just been to the service in church, and I’ve come here. The service was very good.”
He eats a chocolate cake, one of the many snacks on the table purchased by Sarah.
Me and him continue talking. I ask: “If you weren’t here right now, where do you think you would be?”
He says: “Doing the crossword and watching the tetly, I suppose.”
“Do you have any family with you this year?”
“No.” He says bluntly, “I’m all on my own.”
Sarah jumps in: “You’re never alone. Not when you’ve got us rabble around you.”
The councillor is joined by Alford Town Councillor Alan Whitcombe, who commends Sarah for establishing the gathering: “It’s really good. She is really good, isn’t she?”
Sarah says: “Whether we get one person or a dozen people attending and you’re making a difference to one person, it’s worthwhile, isn’t it?”
Later, Sarah calls me to talk about someone else who came to the Christmas gathering a low years ago.
“He was at breaking point. Ready to take his own life.
“Thankfully, he saw the lights through the door and came in and spent a long time with us I sign-posted him to the right people.
“He will say to this day, obviously privately, if we hadn’t been open that day he really genuinely believes he would have made that decision that he could never come back from.”
I ask Sarah why Christmas means so much to people and why loneliness might play a part in that.
“It is very interesting how media influences people when their Christmas doesn’t turn out like miracle on 34th Street, the media are setting them up for disappointment.
“It is Christmas Day people want that connection; they want to feel part of something bigger than themselves.”
Call for action (UK): if you are feeling isolated depressed or suicidal call the Samaritans helpline on 116123.
A lights display and carnival will illuminate the Lincoln Castle grounds this December, welcoming people into the festive season.
The event will take place from the 29th of November to the 23rd of December, with more than 38,000 individual lights on display. Thousands of people will be expected to attend this year, with last year’s turnout at 24,500 visitors.
There is something for adults and children alike. Stallholders will offer 400 litres of hot mead and more than 800 kilograms of sweets to visitors attending the 25-day exhibition. The castle grounds are open to visitors for £3 a head, but a ticket to walk along the castle wall will cost more.
Among those visiting were foster carers, 55-year-old Anthony and 52-year-old Lucy Gent. It was their first time attending the event.
Lucy said: “It certainly feels like the beginning of Christmas now with the lights on.”
Anthony added: “I think it’s that time of year, were all getting excited towards Christmas, there’s nothing better than getting into that festive mood. Even if we are a little early, who cares? Let’s all feel good!
“Christmas is about family, spending time with loved ones – eating nice things, drinking nice things, and having a lovely time.”
With additional features such as a snow machine and light-up candy canes, the Lincoln Castle Illuminated experience is a colourful way to begin the festive season
Elly Sample, Kara Joubert, Victoria Simmonds, Ana Cosconel, Jonathan Linsley, Cathy Manso, Sarah Huntley & Alex Lewczuk with approx 90 mins of audio entertainment to wrap up 2025 AD
Kara Joubert: Writer, Journalist & Filmmaker 