"23 Pieces"
This film was funded by The Wellcome Trust and First Light. The scriptwriting process was an exploration of DNA and identity. Out of this research came the ideas for the story of Gerald, a boy trying to establish his own identity by looking for his biological father.
In 2007 “23 Pieces” was shortlisted for a National Lottery Award. This award is an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery funded projects and to celebrate and recognise the difference that projects have made to people, places and communities across the UK. “23 Pieces” was competing against nine other projects for the title of Best Education Project. Competition was very tough and we did not make it through to the final round. However Kirsty Macleod of the National Lottery Awards Unit said “I hope you will feel proud of your achievement in making it to the semi-finals. This year was a particularly tough competition and you did fantastically well to make it this far.”
Best Screenplay - Rebecca O'Brien, Jessica Tallant, Mike Kelley, Joe Sohawon, Tim Mallon, Charlotte Coombes and Noel Clarke
In February 2007 the “23 Pieces” team celebrated after winning the First Light Movies Award for Best Screenplay at a star-studded awards ceremony in The Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square.
PVA MediaLab Studio HDV resources supported the film making which was facilitated by filmmaker/director Peter Snelling. The studio successfully obtained funding from the Wellcome Trust and First Light to work with pupils at The Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester to devise a script around the subject of DNA and identity called '23 pieces'.
One of the awards’ judges, Anthony Horowitz, said
“This film impressed me because of its wide and varied use of all the language of cinema: close shots, flashbacks, voice-over, humour, and above all silence (as well as dialogue). I was hooked by the story as it slowly unravelled and I really liked the ending, great title too.”
As well as rubbing shoulders with celebrities such as Alex Zane, Imelda Staunton and Sanjeev Bhaskar, Peter Snelling and two of the young filmmakers, Charlotte Coombes and Mike Kelley were also invited to attend a Downing Street reception. Here they were introduced to Gordon Brown and chatted to him about their project.
Speaking after the event, Peter Snelling of PVA MediaLab said, “This has been a brilliant occasion for all the young people. They worked incredibly hard on this project and really deserve their success. I’m sure this will inspire them to continue their interest in and enthusiasm with filmmaking.”
