YEOVIL NEWS: Ex-college student receives top short film award in front of Cruise and Schwarzenegger

FORMER Yeovil College media student David Smith has been presented with a top award for film-makers – in front of an audience of Hollywood royalty and globally-renowned movie-producers.

David received the Empire Magazine’s internationally Done in 60 Seconds short film award during a ceremony in London attended by the likes of Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The prestigious award is presented for the best 60 second re-interpretation of a well-known film.

David’s version of ‘There Will Be Blood’ was initially selected from 800 entries in the UK heat, then joined 23 other finalists from around the world competing for the international prize.

PHOTO - TOP: David Smith with his Empire Magazine award.

An expert panel, including  DJ and presenter Alex Zane, BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Edith Bowman, Empire Magazine's editor-in-chief Mark Dinning, Film and TV director/writer Ben Wheatley and Film Director John S Baird selected the five finalists.

The winner was announced at a star studded ceremony last week at Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

David, 23, of Yeovil, said: “It’s a brilliant achievement and an amazing accolade.  I only watched ‘There Will Be Blood’ about 10 months ago, but it’s such an amazing film, it went straight into my top ten films of all time.

“The deadline for ‘Done in 60 Seconds’ was coming closer, so I decided to base my short on it.  I decided to put a twist on the original film, instead of making a film about an insane oil man, I decided to make it about a milk man.

“My parents are really happy for me, I don’t think they realised how big a competition it was at first!

“It was so strange getting up on stage to make an acceptance speech and seeing people like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman and Simon Pegg all looking at me, this made getting words out that more difficult!”

David completed a BTEC National Diploma (Level 3) Media course at Yeovil College and now works in the Faculty of Creative & Design Industries, working towards his filmmaking career in his spare time.

He is currently cinematographer on an independent film called ‘Umbrella’, directed by his twin brother Mike, who also appeared in the prize winning film, and will next direct a short film he has written about the First World War.

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