Illustration graduate to debut film at UCA
University for the Creative Arts (UCA) Illustration graduate Russell Owen will be returning to UCA Maidstone this month for the debut screening of his feature film, 'Welcome to the Majority'.
The film is a psychological thriller dealing with life after death. It was filmed on location in North Wales and London in the association with the National Trust and The Cinema Museum, London.
Russell said: "It feels great to be going back to UCA to screen my first feature length film, but also a little nerve racking as it's not been shown to many people yet. I'll be very interested in the reaction of students."
Russell graduated from UCA Maidstone in 2004. Whilst on the course he took a film elective which helped develop his enthusiasm for filmmaking, and refined his storytelling capabilities.
After graduation, Russell secured a job with a film company and spent the next six months filming 'An American Haunting', a multi-million pound Hollywood film, in Transylvania and Romania. Roles with Nickelodeon and ITV followed, which saw Russell doing the art work, props and paintings on a range of shows including 'The Paul O'Grady Show', 'This Morning', and 'Britain's Got Talent'.
However, his passion for film remained and in 2008 he sold his car and used the proceeds to set up his own film production company, Castle Valley Films Ltd. Several short films were followed by 'Welcome to the Majority' - his first feature film.
Russell said: "It's been extremely difficult, particularly in this recent economy, to get this film financed and off the ground. But we eventually pulled it off and I'm very pleased with the end result."
Several UCA Illustration students go on to work in film and TV after graduation. Two other examples include Julianna Kasza who worked on the film 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', and Sally King who works on EastEnders.
For more information contact:
David Reilly, Press Officer, UCA
T: 01252 892939
E: dreilly@ucreative.ac.uk
