Mobile Media's fantastic work among young people has netted many accolades and awards. Browse this page for more about their successes.

Press Releases

September 2009

"Perfect 10": Create's award-winning Mobile Media celebrates 10 years of success

This month saw the culmination of 10 years of award-winning media projects delivered to the young people of Swindon by Mobile Media based at Create Studios.

Mobile Media, the Lottery funded outreach wing of Swindon's Create Studios marked 10 years of film, animation, photography and sound work taking the latest technology to 15,000 young people in schools, youth groups and community centres across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Funders, partners, and the professional digital artists who tutor productions, joined with participants past and present to celebrate the achievements of the Mobile Media team at a special screening at Create Studios' home in the Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday.

Mobile Media was launched in 1999 in a bid to make Create's fantastic media arts facilities accessible to more young people than ever in their own locations and communities. The revolution in media and IT equipment at that time meant that it was possible to take full filming and editing kits out on location quickly and easily: an impossible feat just a few years before.

Now almost at the end of its 4^th programme of work and 10 years and £500,000 of funding from Lottery, Trusts and Foundations secured for the area, Mobile Media looks forward to a place at the heart of Create's new phase of business planning. From Autumn 2010, education and digital media training for all Swindon's young people and communities will be a priority for Create - as a new logo for Create incorporating Mobile Media's familiar green identity showed when it was unveiled at the Perfect 10 screening event.

10 years of Mobile Media has seen young people bring back to Swindon 3 National First Light Awards, gaining media skills whilst working alongside professionals and the state of the art equipment and software Create and Mobile Media are able to offer. Ranging from documentaries telling the story of the opening of the new Isambard Community School, through to ghost stories with special effects and the latest CGI animations, Mobile Media productions have been a creative inspiration for audiences of all ages.

Shahina Johnson, Artistic Director of Mobile Media said, "Seeing young people gain confidence, and develop new skills through making engaging and exciting media productions has been a very rewarding experience. To serve Swindon over 10 years at Mobile Media has allowed our team to see students achieve elusive Film Production University places, leadership roles or even simply regain an enthusiasm for learning. We look forward to the next 10 years of creative productions from young people in Swindon - encouraging them to make something inspirational with all the new technologies available to them."

Marilyn Fitzgerald, Mobile Media Production Manager said, "I joined just after the initial launch event in 1999 and Mobile Media has been a major part of my life ever since. I love working with young people and it's been like the perfect job for me!"

March 2008

Swindon students scoop film award

At a star-studded oscars-style ceremony in Leicester Square on the 4 March, pupils from Isambard Community School were overjoyed to win the First Light film award for Best Documentary.

The film, entitled The Child and Me, was made by children from five Swindon schools with Mobile Media last year. They beat over a hundred other films to clinch the award for Best Documentary at the presitigious national First Light Movie Awards. There was an amazing profile of judges - Orlando Bloom, Kevin Spacey, Nira Park, Stephen Fry and Sam Mendes.

The young filmmakers were joined by the Mobile Media team to meet a range of celebrities and receive their award, and had to address a hall of 200 hopefuls to make their acceptance speech!

Thrilled

Shahina Johnson, Director of Mobile Media, says, “We are so thrilled to have received this prestigious award – and it is a real testament to the dedication of our filmmaking team at Create who want young people to produce work that is truly professional and tackles moving and gripping topics.”

Rachael Mattey, Headteacher of Isambard School said, “I am very proud of the children and the film! It has been a wonderful experience for them both making the film and now going to the awards ceremony in London to find that they are winners! We look forward to watching their filmmaking go from strength to strength.”

Incredible

Ryan Jones, from Isambard Community School, who gave the acceptance speech at the ceremony said, “It was incredible to be up there and receive our award. It was great making the film, and I can’t wait to plan our next project now that we have had this incredible award!”

January 2008

Isambard children nominated for another film award!

The film The Child and Me, made by children from five Swindon schools with Mobile Media, has been nominated for Best Documentary at the presitigious national First Light Movie Awards.

They will all attend a star-studded awards ceremony at the Odeon, Leicester Square on Tuesday 4 March!

Mobile Media brought together children from five Swindon Primary schools to work with industry professionals, learning scripting, creative writing, filming and acting skills.   They were teamed with local Film Director, Gurchetan Singh, and Musician and Screencomposer Barry Andrews.

The children made a sensitive documentary, following the story of their transition between primary school to the new Isambard Community School where they now attend: from girls and boys to young women and men, from different backgrounds and homes, to fellow pupils forging the identity of a new community. 

The Child and Me beat over a hundred other films from around the country to secure the nomination for Best Documentary in this national award. 

Create Studios’ Mobile Media ran the project with financial support from  Artpoint, the Public Art Agency for the South East and funding from First Light Movies, who seek to develop the best British filmmakers of the future.

Fantastic endorsement

Shahina Johnson, Director of Mobile Media says, “This is The Child and Me’s second nomination for an award. It is a fantastic endorsement of  the quality of young filmmaking coming out of Create Studios.  The young people brought so much enthusiasm to the film, and made a moving piece that lots of children can relate to.”

Rachael Mattey, Headteacher of Isambard School, added, “I am very proud of the children and the film!  It has been a wonderful experience for them and since being nominated for it’s second award, is just going from strength to strength”

The First Light Movie Awards is a prestigious event held each year in London featuring various celebrities.  This year First Light are delighted to announce that the judges are none other than:

• Orlando Bloom
• Kevin Spacey
• Nira Park
• Stephen Fry
• and Sam Mendes.

The children are looking forward to going along to Leicester Square to meet the celebs along with the staff and artists from Mobile Media and their Headteacher, Rachael Mattey.

November 2007

Mobile Media film nominated for film award!

The film The Child and Me, made by children from five Swindon schools with Create Studios’ outreach wing Mobile Media, has been nominated for Best Cinematography at Electric December at the Watershed.

Children from Haydonleigh, Peatmoor, Abbey Meads, Haydon Wick and Catherine Wayte Primary schools came together to work with industry professionals, learning scripting, creative writing, filming and acting skills.   The young people worked with Gurchetan Singh, Director and Sara-Jane Arbury, Creative Writer and were also supported by Phil Ball, Cameraman and Musician, Barry Andrews.

The children made a documentary, following the story of their transition between primary school to the new Isambard Community School: from girls and boys to young women and men, from different backgrounds and homes, to fellow pupils forging the identity of a new community. 

The project was delivered by Mobile Media in collaboration with Artpoint, the Public Art Agency for the South East and was made possible by funding from First Light Movies.

Shahina Johnson, Director of Mobile Media says The Child and Me was a great project and we are delighted that it has been chosen for this well-deserved nomination."

July 2007

Mobile Media Film Premiere at Empire Cinemas

The Premiere of two films made by young people with Mobile Media was held at Empire Cinemas, Greenbridge, Swindon on Sunday 15 July.

The event was a massive success with a full house and much popcorn was had by all! Junior Saunders, the tv celebrity MC and the voice of crash test munkii, was a huge hit with everyone. He talked to the children about his own childhood and his media career so far.  Each filmmaker went home with a goody bag which included a dvd of their own film.

The first film Step into the Dark was made by children from Red Oaks and Orchid Vale Primary Schools and is a drama they wrote with direction from David Collier, of My Parents are Aliens and more recently Basil Brush fame! It is a story about brothers, sisters and new friends .. with a twist!

The second film The Child and Me was made by a group of young people from Haydonleigh, Peatsmoor, Abbeymeads, Haydonwick and Catherine Wayte Primary Schools, who came together to work with Gurchetan Singh, Director and Sara-Jane Arbury, Creative Writer to make a documentary film following the story of their transition between primary school to Isambard Community School which opens next week. The film captures a unique moment in time for one group of young people in Swindon.

This project was supported by First Light and Artpoint.