Bus Stop Films Vice Regal Patron


Bus Stop Films Vice Regal Patron

Celebrating His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd)

Bus Stop Films, a charitable organisation dedicated to providing people from marginalised communities the opportunity to be part of film making, is today launching a short film to celebrate His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd), Governor of New South Wales, becoming Vice Regal Patron of Bus Stop Films.

 

The short film is directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Bus Stop Films. The film has been created to celebrate the announcement, and stars His Excellency himself, along with Tropfest Film Festival's Best Male Actor (2009), Bus Stop Films student and ambassador, Gerard O'Dwyer.

 

In this six and a half minute, light hearted, comedic short film, Gerard interviews the Governor, discussing everything from their favourite dessert to why the Governor decided to become Bus Stop Films' Vice Regal Patron.

 

Genevieve Clay-Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Bus Stop Films, said: 'His Excellency's acceptance of the role of Patron of Bus Stop Films is both exciting and a great honour for Bus Stop Films. This accomplishment showcases to Australia that what we are doing here is important, and it further validates our work."

 

'This short film is a way for us to celebrate the Governor becoming Vice Regal Patron. We wanted to show Gerard and the Governor's wonderful rapport, and highlight what this role means for all of us."

 

The Governor first became a supporter of Bus Stop Films in 2015, and since then has been a strong advocate for the organisation. In discussing the new role, His Excellency noted: 'Bus Stop Films is creating a more inclusive world in a unique and powerful way – through film. They have an exceptional track record in film-making and in the development of their students' English skills, life skills, communication and work ready skills. I am looking forward to being a part of their journey as Vice Regal Patron."

 

The film will be premiered today at the Bus Stop Films student celebration ceremony, where 38 students from the class of 2017 will celebrate a full year of workshops with Bus Stop Films at the premises of the Australian Film Television and Radio School. The film will then be able to be viewed via these channels:

 

Bus Stop Films Facebook

Bus Stop Films YouTube

 

Since its founding year in 2009, Bus Stop Films has gone from mentoring one class in a year (12 students for 12 months), to nearly tripling that.

Over the last eight years, Bus Stop Films has given filmmaker travel grants to dozens of students, providing them the opportunity to attend film festivals nationally and internationally. As part of this activity, students are able to meet film directors, producers, and actors from all over the world, as well as take part in the festivals on a peer to peer level with other filmmakers.

 

This year Bus Stop Films made a short documentary film called I Am Black and Beautiful with 13 students with intellectual abilities, whilst also supporting Hawanatu Bangura, an emerging Afro-Australian director. The film is about the impact of Western media on the black female identity. Through Bus Stop Films, these 13 students have been taken through cultural studies and documentary film studies to release this project on the film festival circuit.

 

In addition to this, Bus Stop Films has won six awards this year for their films, at various film festivals around the world including Rhode Island International Film Festival, South Dakota Film Festival, the Scottish Mental Health and Arts Film Festival, the Extraordinary Film Festival, Fargo Film Festival, Hollyshorts and more. 

 

Bus Stop Films is currently running three filmmaking courses for people with an intellectual disability at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). In total there are 40 students enrolled in the classes. This year's enrollment number is the most amount of students the organisation has ever taught.

 

The AFTRS has supported the development of Bus Stop Films accessible film studies curriculum and given the organisation in-kind resources for it. The curriculum was written by Genevieve Clay-Smith and developed by AFTRS education specialist staff. It is design for the purpose of capacity building people from marginalised backgrounds who are at risk of isolation with low English skills, work ready skills and confidence through film studies.

Buy it Now

Movies, Music, TV Shows - Shop Online For Great Sales and Fast Delivery.

MORE