FILM Production and Cinematography graduate Todd Greengrass has been nominated for a second major award for a film he made while studying at Wiltshire College & University Centre.
‘Collapse’ has been nominated in the Best Drama category at the Royal Television Society’s Southern Awards in Southampton at the end of the month.
Todd, who graduated from the BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography course at Salisbury last year, has already earned second place at the Bill Vinten Guild of Television Camera Professionals University Awards.
“It’s fantastic to be nominated again, it’s really, really good,” he said. “A lot of work went into the film, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, so to have that recognised is really rewarding and I am so pleased.”
Collapse, which tells the story of two brothers who are involved in rock fall while caving, was filmed in freezing conditions in Portland, Dorset. “It was really challenging, said Todd, who lives in Verwood, near Bournemouth.
“We were spending days in Portland, freezing on the side of a cliff. The cold and the wind was just so piercing and on one of the days we had to cut filming short because people were just so cold and we wanted to avoid them getting ill.”
He said the support he and two friends who made the film received from lecturer Kieron Evans at the college was a factor in it being made. “We were talking to Kieron while we were writing the film and our idea for the story got his attention, so we knew we were on to something,” he said.
“The college also provided us with the kit, which was a massive help and it cut our budget down by thousands. The number of cameras and other equipment that we had access to really gave us a helping hand and we had so much guidance with the whole process.”
Kieron praised Todd’s determination and passion for cinematography. “Though large-scale film shoots can be demanding and high pressured, he approached every challenge with determination, always arriving early and fully prepared,” he said.
“Todd’s pride in this nomination is shared by the staff who have supported and nurtured his talent. Competing alongside some of the region’s largest universities for such a prestigious award reassures us that our approach is making a real impact.”
Todd hopes the exposure from such a prestigious nomination will help him get the film shown at more festivals. The GTC award has already raised its profile – and earned him a work placement at Pinewood Studios.
He is using his camera skills with drones in a property marketing business but has ambitions to become a film photographer. “The camera is my main thing and I would love to work as a director of photography in film or as a camera operator, that’s my goal,” he said.
In the meantime he has his fingers crossed for the awards ceremony on March 28. “We’ve got a good chance I think,” he said. “We’re very proud of the film and having that helping hand along the way to steer us really helped us to do something special.”
