2 October 2011
Abingdon School has appointed the renowned documentary maker, Michael Grigsby, to be the new Director-in-Residence at Abingdon School's Film Unit, AFU. Michael will work with senior and former members of the AFU on an original film, with a view to helping those who have graduated from the AFU, or are nearing the end of their time in its ranks, to launch careers in the film industry. The new group, known as The Loose Limbed Collective, hopes the film will be ready for screening in the autumn of 2012. Mike, who himself went to school at Abingdon where he made his first film, is nearing the completion of his latest project, a feature-length documentary shot in Texas and aiming for cinema release in the new year.
Talking about this new venture Michael said, ‘The AFU has built up a remarkable track record in the eight years since it was founded. Indeed, it’s striking how many of those who’ve been through its ranks are now committing themselves to the art and craft of making films professionally. The Loose Limbed Collective is a natural extension of the work we have been doing since 2002, so I’m delighted to be collaborating with students who will undoubtedly have a part to play in shaping the future of our film industry.’
Jeremy Taylor who is Head of Drama at Abingdon School and also Master in Charge of the AFU is delighted with the new appointment, he says, ‘Michael Grigsby is a unique and inspirational figure whose contribution to British film is immense. His role in the development of filmmaking at Abingdon is impossible to overstate. From the beginning, his wisdom has helped young filmmakers to find their feet as they tackle their first screen projects, but now, he is offering a unique opportunity to those who have proved their aptitude and are squaring up to the difficult challenge of making films for a living. It’s a hugely exciting development.’
The AFU is one of over 90 extra-curricular activities available at Abingdon. It enables pupils between the ages of 13 and 18 to make their own documentary or animated film under the guidance of a team of industry professionals. Students are encouraged to adopt the highest standards, and to develop their ideas through a process of careful research and reflection that seeks to clarify at every stage the aims and intentions of their films.
The AFU has been very successful with two recent documentaries, made by pupils on location in Moldova and Cambodia, amongst the many projects to win awards. To date, the AFU has produced over 100 films, many of which have been screened at festivals throughout the UK and abroad.
Screenings include Raindance, the London International Documentary Festival and the British Film Festival in Dinard, France. Awards include Best Documentary and Best Animation at the Future Film Festival in London and the National Young Filmmaker’s Award at the Leeds Student Film Festival. In addition, Gravel and Stones, the documentary looking at disability in Cambodia, has achieved recognition in the form of a commercial DVD release in France.