FILM students at Wiltshire College & University Centre have received praise from Hollywood horror legend Jeffrey Reddick after tackling their most gruesome filmmaking challenge yet.
Inspired by the release of Final Destination: Bloodlines, the seventh film in the cult horror franchise, Higher Education Film Production and Cinematography students at the College’s Salisbury campus were tasked with creating their own death scene, complete with suspense, tension and a fatal twist.
Lecturer in Film, Kieron Evans, devised the project to encourage students to sharpen their cinematic storytelling skills by studying the intricately choreographed ‘accident’ sequences made famous by the Final Destination series.
“Final Destination deaths are a masterclass in cinematic tension,” said Kieron. “They rely on foreshadowing, timing and visual storytelling – areas that can transform student filmmakers from good to great.”
The students were stunned to receive a personal video message from Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick, who watched the entries.
“It’s a pretty cool assignment,” Jeffrey told the students. “I really enjoyed watching all the videos. It was great to see so much originality and thought going into each one, and I loved seeing how everybody approached the assignment in different ways.”
Films were judged by Crimson Screen Horror Film Fest – South Carolina’s premier horror festival – with themed trophies awarded in four categories: Most Original Setup, Best Death Sequence, Best Use of Cinematic Language, and Audience Favourite.
The winning films, with comments from Crimson Screen Horror Film Fest judges were:
Most Original Setup:
“I have never seen a bear trap as a movie kill, so it’s a great idea!”
Final Jog
Best Death Sequence:
“The film provided a great set up of all the possibilities of kills coming. The group made the workshop look like a crazy dangerous place to work!”
Killing Cole Maddox
Best Use of Cinematic Language:
“Great cinematography and really effective use of sound on this one. Great job! Actor delivered a top-notch performance as well.”
The Final Hike
Audience Favourite: Killing Cole Maddox
“At times, this felt like a genuine Final Destination setup and truly demonstrated the cinematic and storytelling potential of a great location.”
Killing Cole Maddox
The project highlighted the creative talent emerging from Salisbury, with students showcasing professional-level filmmaking techniques in a fun and challenging assignment.
The College offers a range of creative courses including BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography, giving students access to industry-standard equipment and expert tuition.
For more information about our BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography click here.
