Lost Roots

 

'Lost Roots' began in January 2007 with a grant from First Light Movies and was created through a collaboration with MED Theatre and Coombeshead College. The film was written, filmed and edited by the group of 13-17 year olds under the guidance of professional film mentors. It won an award in the Young Motion Plymouth Film Festival in October 2007.

 

FILMING

Although filming for 'Lost Roots' started in April, the majority of the filming took place on location in Yarner Wood at the end of May. The young people devoted many early mornings and late evenings during the week to filming at several locations throughout the Natural England site. The group was prepared for any weather, equipped with a large tent, camping stove and an ample supply of chocolate bars. Whilst the rough story was being edited together, filming continued and the final shots for the film were completed only a week before the film launch, on 25th June at Coombeshead College.

THE STORY

The story for 'Lost Roots' centres around a Bosnian refugee and her friends who go camping on Dartmoor. The young people learn that because they are not native on Dartmoor Beech trees are being uprooted because they are seen as an 'alien' species, outcompeting the native oak trees.

The film compares this attitude towards the Beech trees with the struggle of refugees and outsiders to be accepted by society. The film leaves us to consider the costs of trying to maintain ecological purity on Dartmoor.

Med Theatre

Wild Nights Young Company Current

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Lost Roots was made by MED Theatre's Wild Nights Young Company, in collaboration with Coombeshead College, and with the support of First Light Movies. Thank you to Natural England for allowing the project to use Yarner Wood as a location.

 

'It was a fantastic experience being able to work as a team to produce a film, I have learnt so much. Filming in different locations was very exciting, especially with the varing weather. I loved being outside on Dartmoor, it was a beautiful place to make a film.'

                               

                                  -Nicola Oakey

 

'The film making process was alot more complicated than we all first envisaged. There were great comedy moments, dealing with the set, props, costumes and the fact that we chose to film underneath a flight path.'

                                 -Daisy Martinez