A De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) academic with a team including DMU students, are turning their eyes towards Hollywood, as a short film they were involved with is ‘under consideration’ for an Oscar.
Since 2022, Professor Jason Lee, a screenwriter and author, has employed students on British Academy-funded movies run by Evolution Film, a production company Professor Lee set up with Jones Bamber Productions.
Picture credit: DMU
Terry Bamber, production manager on six James Bond films, launched the Leicester Media School at DMU with Professor Lee back in 2015.
Their British Academy funded project was set up to advance the position of those often marginalised in the film industry, including people with disabilities and mental unwellness.
Work with previous Oscar winners Slick Films resulted in Ryan Can’t Read – directed by Rhys Chapman and written by him with the film’s star Lewis Ian Bray, which tells the heartfelt story of a young man’s battle with illiteracy and his fight to reclaim his dignity.
The film was a hit on the festival circuit, earned praise from legendary British film maker Ken Loach, and after its international premiere in Japan, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Edmonton International Film Festival.
That win means Ryan Can’t Read has now officially qualified for consideration for the 97th Academy Awards. Members of the Academy are now able to see the film and vote on whether it should be nominated for the world’s most prestigious film award.
Professor Lee said: “This is fabulous news for all the people involved.
“All in all, over 120 cast and crew members have been employed, professionally, on Evolution Film’s productions so far.
“It offered a superb opportunity to learn about all aspects of filmmaking and provided students with an experience that I imagine is going to be hard to match at this stage in their careers.
“These films are a testament to the power of teamwork and the magic of cinema.
“As an academic and a writer, it has been brilliant to advance the position of people in the film industry; we have witnessed the tangible employment benefits for DMU students.”
Nik Lountzis, a postgraduate student at DMU in film and product placement, shot behind the scenes during the filming.
He said: “Working behind the scenes on ‘Ryan Can’t Read’ was an incredible experience for me as a DMU student.
“The producer was exceptionally supportive, making my role as the ‘behind the scenes’ cinematographer and camera person, much easier, and the entire team—from cast to crew—displayed a high level of professionalism.
“I was so impressed by the cinematic quality of the equipment, which added depth to the storytelling, and the actors’ performances were captivating.
“Interviewing the cast and crew, allowed me to gain valuable insights, plus connecting with so many talented creatives truly enriched my experience, and is exceptionally good for my future filmmaking career.”
Another DMU grad, Filip Rau, worked on the Evolution Film production Up and Down (Richard Elson, 2023)while studying.
He said: “Support and encouragement from the team boosted my confidence and self-esteem…the atmosphere remained positive and supportive.
“I was chosen as a stand-by which I took as a huge honour. This experience on Up and Down was invaluable. I learned so much, met incredible people, and gained a newfound respect for the hard work that goes into film production.”
