Lights, camera, action for Ulidia students

A group of 20 pupils from Year 13 and 14 travelled to Belfast to be extras on the set of Mark Cousins’ new feature film, I Am Belfast.

Cousins, originally from Northern Ireland, is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, presenter and commentator.

He is best known for his 15-part series on Channel 4, The Story of Film: An Odyssey.

Written and directed by Cousins, I Am Belfast is a unique film about a 10,000 year old woman who is the city.

The film is scored is by David Holmes (Oceans 11, ’71), with the music written in tandem with filming.

Praising the energy and enthusiasm of the young actors was producer Chris Martin. “The students were absolutely fantastic, even after seven hours of standing in the cold,” he said.

The production afforded a special opportunity for student Bethany Masters-Armstrong after she was selected to take the role of a lead mourner during a burial scene, getting a starring position directly behind the coffin.

The film is destined for screening in various festivals world wide, including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin and our own Belfast Film Festival.