Last updated at 13:05, Friday, 01 March 2013

A group of Workington students will hit the big screen on Sunday at the premiere of their own film.

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MOVIE-MAKERS: Students from Southfield School and Workington Sixth Form who have produced a film about West Cumbria's coal mining history

Twenty youngsters from Southfield Technology College and Workington Sixth Form Centre worked on the Heritage Lottery-funded project to produce Black Gold, a documentary about West Cumbria’s coal mining heritage.

Presented by Southfield pupil Mark Atkinson and sixth former Pippa Words-worth, the film gives an overview of West Cumbria’s story from early coal mining to becoming Britain’s Energy Coast.

It features dramatised scenes about historic events, including the Well-ington Pit disaster, and interviews with an ex-miner, archivist and others.

The £15,000 project was supported by Cumbria County Council and was part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Young Roots project, which aims to engage young people with local history.

Andy Booth, of Penrith production company Quondam Arts, developed a script based on a brief from the students.

They then had camera training from Tony Wilkinson, of Red Onion Video in Kendal, and gave up a week of their summer holiday to shoot the film, taking on roles from acting and filming to supplying costumes and props.

Plaza Cinemas at Dunmail Park will host a free premiere at 11am on Sunday, attended by the students, staff and governors from the school and sixth form centre, people involved in the film, funders, friends and family.

The public are welcome and doors open at 10.30am.

A DVD of the film will be distributed to primary schools across West Cumbria.

Alison Williamson, drama teacher at Southfield, said: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students.”

First published at 12:46, Friday, 01 March 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk