Big ovation for city film

There was standing room only at a special preview screening of a film about Preston.

The Preston Motion Picture Project, which has seen scores of volunteers spend time filming popular city locations and events, was showcased to the people that made it happen earlier this week.

Supporters and volunteers piled into The Continental pub, in South Meadow Lane, to watch the 30 minute video.

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Voluntary arts organisation Triptych Community Arts has spent the best part of a year shooting, editing and producing the film which aims to showcase the best of Preston.

Triptych Community Arts was formed by Matt Stanton especially for this project.

The project includes the many aspects of Preston that make people proud including the landscapes, traditions, public events and the people.

At the screening Matt said: “This is your city and you have got a stake in it somehow, I just hope watching this film makes you feel good about that - and if it achieves that then it has been a success.”

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Speaking after the screening – which received a rapturous round of applause – he said: “I had the idea back in 2009. I had seen a film called Man with a Movie Camera from the 20s. It was Russian film maker who goes walking around with his camera shooting the things he is interested in.

“There has been various remakes over the years and I just thought it would be great to do that set in Preston. As we went on it became more about civic pride and celebration.”

The film shows clips from various events that have taken place in the Guild year from the processions which wound through the streets of the city to the events that transformed Avenham Park.

Matt said the project exists because of the Guild, adding: “We thought if there is any time to do it then it is in the Guild year.”

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The film also includes footage from last weekend’s remembrance parade, skaters in the city and a day at Preston market.

Matt added: “Almost everything you see has been shot this year. Some has been done on expensive cameras and some on mobile phones.”

He added: “I am very proud of it and that we managed to get over a lot obstacles.”

Set to an orchestral work by acclaimed composer, Michael Nyman, the film, made up of a collection of cinematically captured images from across Preston will be shown at tomorrow’s Christmas lights switch on at 3pm on a big screen at the Flag Market.

To find out more about the project visit www.prestonmotionpicture.org.

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