Forth Valley College's new Film Club was launched and celebrated by students and staff at a gala event in the Kildean Suite at the Stirling Campus last month – with help from a well-known Scottish actor.
The event was organised by second year students on the HND Media and Communication course as part of their Events Applications unit.
Andy McColl, lecturer in Media, introduced the event by outlining the ethos of the club and previewing the upcoming films. This was followed by an interview with the special guest for the evening - Robert Buchanan, star of Gregory’s Girl, Comfort & Joy and That Sinking Feeling – which will be one of the first films screened by the club.
Robert answered questions on his experiences in film-making as well as raising a laugh or two with the audience as he recounted some very funny anecdotes from his time in front of the camera. Robert has also very kindly agreed to attend the screening of That Sinking Feeling on 25 May where he will take part in a Q&A with club members before the film.
Guests also enjoyed a range of food and refreshments provided by the College’s Hospitality students and staff, before taking part in a film quiz. The team who took first prize included FVC degree students Ronnie Brodie, Kris Cummins and Samantha Fleming. Their prize, donated by local film maker Simon Jake Gillespie of Haggis Western Films, included 2 VIP tickets to the premiere of The Last Love Letter’(Haggis Western’s latest release) as well as two days’ work experience on the set of their latest project which is currently in production.
Andy McColl, who is also inaugural president of FVC Film Club, was happy both with the event and the levels of interest shown in the project:
“I hope that the club will provide a forum for those students who are passionate about film and want to develop their critical and journalistic skills. Hopefully, the Facebook page will encourage members to discuss each screening as well as allowing them to submit reviews of individual films. We have a number of talented film-makers on our courses and hopefully, the club can also provide a showcase for some of their work.”
27 April – ‘Meantime’ 1983 Dir. Mike Leigh
11 May – ‘Clerks’ (1994 Dir. Kevin Smith)
25 May – ‘That Sinking Feeling’ (1980 Dir. Bill Forsyth)