Lauren's Story

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Synopsis

Laura’s film is about her partially sighted school friend Lauren. Lauren has been bullied since primary school because of her condition and the film follows her campaign at school to develop greater understanding of her life and problems. Her family life is one of support and teamwork and she hopes that having a Blind For A Day event at her school will encourage her fellow pupils to learn how this works bring it into their life at school.

A word from the filmmaker:

I want to make films because I love the concept of creative reality. Everyone has an inner storyteller with something interesting to share, and everybody explores things in their fantasies which are only possible on film. I think making this film has helped me to realise where my strengths and my weaknesses are, which is really helpful to know when I’ve just started a Film and TV Degree. I’m very privileged and thankful for the experience.

Laura Hyde, biography

Laura is the youngest and least experienced of the mentees and this is her first film. She has always loved film and often spent her time downloading classic films and TV plays from the internet and re-editing them to music on her computer. She is 18 years old and at the start of the project was in her final year at Ralph Thoresby High School in Leeds. She is a wheelchair user, and the school caters for a number of pupils with disabilities, one of whom, Lauren, is the subject of her film. Laura had to combine the steep learning curve of making her first film and studying for her A-Levels to gain the grades needed for her to take up a place offered to her on a Film and Television degree at York University. She did get her grades and started at York in September 2009.

A word from mentor, Marilyn Gaunt:

"At only 17 Laura was already an enthusiastic, passionate and playful explorer of the art of editing and this scheme has given her the first opportunity to make a complete film from scratch. Although she has had support from fellow pupils at her school in Leeds in crewing her film, she has not let her physical disabilities stop her from self shooting when circumstances necessitated it. She is a highly intelligent and motivated young woman with a raw talent, and has used the steep learning curve of this experience to great effect. She began her degree in film at York University in September and I am sure will emerge from that as a filmmaker with enormous potential."