Congratulations to SAE Film Production alumnus Ewan McPherson for winning Best Student Film at the European Union Film Awards with his documentary, My First Punk Gig.
Ewan’s film was named as winner of the award at a ceremony in Glasgow.
The documentary, focusing on queer performer Derek McLuckie’s reflections on his coming-of-age experiences in Glasgow’s punk scene in the seventies, has also been screened at ten film festivals.
Commenting, Ewan said: “I was inspired by the documentary module of my SAE film course and decided I was going to do a short film on punk experiences. It focused on a fellow gay performer from the stand up scene I’m part of where he recalled his experiences in the Glasgow punk scene in the seventies, how he avoided being beaten up for how he looked and the homophobia of the punk scene.”
“Punk has also been something that has inspired me, it’s influence has never left me in terms of the DIY approach to filmmaking and low-budget filmmaking.”
“We also captured what punk means to the protagonist Derek today – it was created and released and led to a first-class honours degree for me, then won Best Student Film at the European Union Film Awards in Glasgow. I’m still in shock but hoping that this will see people sit up and take notice of my work.”
Continuing, Ewan said: “The SAE lecturers were extremely supportive and encouraging, they really helped me hone my filmmaking abilities. I’m a mature graduate, returning to education in my late forties which was slightly intimidating.”
“Since leaving, I’ve made another documentary about my own experiences as a queer comic with a stammer. I’m hoping to develop more documentaries focusing on other people’s experiences with punk and how they were inspired by this movement.”
Ewan is now embarking on a New Talent Mentorship scheme through the Glasgow Film festival.
He has been paired up with Nicki Parrot, a music documentary producer.
Visit hugoandclayproductions.co.uk for more.
Watch the trailer to My First Punk Gig.
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