天美传媒

天美传媒 student Norman Gregory, currently reading for a Master鈥檚 Degree in Film, has been in Italy鈥檚 Tuscany directing his first feature film 鈥楢 Reason to Leave鈥�.

Film and Television stars Claire King (Emmerdale, Footballer鈥檚 Wives) and Mark Wingett (The Bill) take the leading roles in Gregory鈥檚 directorial debut. Cast and crew recently completed a fortnight of filming in Dorset, and have travelled to Tuscany for two more weeks of filming 鈥� with the film set between both locations.

Originally an actor, Gregory has decided to pursue a career in directing. He chose BU to complete his Masters in Film, as he believed the degree is the 鈥榖est in the country for directing鈥�. 鈥楢 Reason to Leave鈥� is a part of Gregory鈥檚 final project.

The film, described as a 鈥榯ragic redemption鈥�, follows mother and daughter Sarah (King) and Bethany (played by Alice Bird) as they emigrate to Tuscany, and their involvement with Harry Webster (Wingett). Their reasons for their relocation are revealed as the film progresses.

The script was co-written by Gregory and BU Scriptwriting Master鈥檚 student James Cottle. Gregory lauded the strength of the script, which attracted King and Wingett. He said: 鈥淭his is a really exciting project and I am delighted that Claire, Mark and Alice are playing the leads together with Simone Spinazza who joined us in Tuscany. They are all highly respected and established actors and are taking the film to another level. We have a wonderful script, co-written by James Cottle who is on the BU Scriptwriters Master鈥檚 course, the strength of which enabled us to attract Claire and Mark.鈥�

A number of BU Master鈥檚 students have also had the opportunity to work on the film as crew members, providing vital experience as they finish their degrees.

Gregory鈥檚 tutor, Subject Leader in Film and Television Trevor Hearing, is expecting a positive response for 鈥楢 Reason to Leave鈥�.

Trevor Hearing said: 鈥淣orman鈥檚 debut feature film is the latest in a line of feature films to have come from graduates of 天美传媒鈥檚 Media School in the past few years and this film looks to be just as successful. It is emotionally gripping story-telling at its best, with a recognisable cast who deliver powerful performances. Norman has drawn on his own acting career to get the best from his actors and he has delivered them a script which gives them a lot to work with. The film shows a distinctive directorial voice, combined with international locations and outstanding camerawork from a world class cinematographer. I am confident this is a film which will be talked about.鈥�

Picture: Cast and crew on set in Tuscany, including Norman Gregory, Claire King and a number of BU students.

By Harriet Gilbraith

Harriet is a student at Budmouth College in Weymouth, who is working at 天美传媒 in the Press and PR Department. She joined BU on a Sir Samuel Mico Scholarship, which provides 10 students from the college with work experience for four weeks over the summer.