October 1st 2019
Congratulations Louis Johnson, the winner of the £200 Prize in our ‘YOOF International Video Award′!
As Louis says:
This is a short documentary I worked on with ‘The Allotment Project’, a school allotment at Reepham High in Norfolk. The aim of this film was to give a short look at the people, ideas and impact of this project. It will hopefully inspire others to think about doing the same wherever they are. I worked closely with the project and it’s leader, Matt Willer, through my time as a pupil at Reepham. Last year I entered Matt for a gardening award from the RHS with a video entry, which he went on to win. I subsequently made this film shortly afterwards. I finished my A Levels three years ago and have been on a three year break from education since then; spending sometime exploring my options and uncovering what I may go and do in the future. I got back into filmmaking around the time I made this film. I really loved spreading the message of this project and creating something meaningful for them, I hope to go on and be part of creating other meaningful film in the future. Since entering the film for the award I managed to get a place studying Film at Falmouth University starting in September 2019. Needless to say this award has really given me a boost after arriving last weekend to start my new 3 year course.
As The Allotment Project Coordinator, Matt Willer, said:
I am so over the moon with this award. It really is amazing! Above all, I am most delighted and proud for Louis himself. This has really given him an real boost at a key time in his life! Without him, The Allotment Project and indeed my new project: The Papillon Project would not have got as far is it has without Louis. In my new enterprise The Papillon Project (www.thepapillonproject.com) my team and I are working to help secondary schools across Norfolk to create and develop their own school allotment using the same model as the Reepham Allotment Project. Louis is now making another sequence of short films called No Straight Lines about school allotments to help The Papillon Project.
Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this award a success!