Inside the World of Filmmaking with Mark Kempner

As part of the Cheltenham Education Partnership and the Cheltenham Film Festival, we were delighted to host a filmmaking workshop for our A Level Media and Film pupils, Film Club members and Drama Scholars.

Actor and filmmaker Mark Kempner, known for his work in EastEnders and Ted Lasso, shared a selection of his short films and spoke openly about the filmmaking process, offering valuable insight drawn from his wide ranging career in the industry.

During the session, Mark provided practical advice on constructing effective video showreels and explained how he creates scripts and short films to support actors who are beginning their professional journeys. His key message to aspiring filmmakers was clear and memorable. “Don’t wing it. Be organised. And don’t just rely on the actors to bring the scene to life.”

Pupils found the workshop both inspiring and informative, gaining fresh ideas to support their own creative projects and develop their technical skills in film production.

Looking ahead, the next workshop in the series will take place in March and will focus on sound in film. Student films will later be screened as part of a Cheltenham Film Festival satellite event, giving pupils the exciting opportunity to showcase their work to a wider audience.