Celebrating student success at York Culture Awards

The web series entitled We Are Only Human, was directed by Catherine as part of a final year film project alongside fellow students Chloe Britland, Luke Billings, Sophie Jackson, Joe Green and Nyle Hunt as part of the Black Curtain Media production team at York St John University. The 3 short films were aimed at the online market, exploring the different ways in which movement helps people to ‘escape’ their possibly mundane lives and recreate themselves.

Through the use of coloured powder paint during their performances, Catherine wanted to show expressionism and freedom. Aikido presents power, breaking through barriers and overcoming problems. There is a feeling of personal defence and protection. Alternatively, Ballet offers the scope for transformation into a different character or personality leaving behind oneself and escaping into a different world. It also shows the discipline and beauty of the art form. Finally, the Hip-Hop dancer presents the feeling of freedom and fun, letting loose from stress and feeling the music in your body to guide your movements.

York Culture Awards, launched for the first time in 2016 by Make It York, celebrates excellence in the arts and culture sector and rewards outstanding innovation, creativity and quality. The awards ceremony was an opportunity to showcase city-wide cultural achievements and future plans, as well as to inspire and motivate organisations, businesses and educational institutions to make York’s cultural offer stronger.

York St John University also sponsored one of the eleven categories at the awards, awarding Best Writer to Carole Bromley for The Stonegate Devil.

Catherine, who now works as PR and Communications officer for GrainCo Limited, said: “I am extremely proud of We Are Only Human and everyone who was involved, it was a pleasure to make and an honour to be awarded Best Film at the York Culture Awards. I hope that this creative work helps to inspire others to break the mould of traditional ideas of artistic filmmaking.”

Speaking about her time at York St John, she added: “I have learnt a great deal, not just about the media industry but about people as well. York St John allows for creative freedom to be explored and [they] don’t hesitate to provide support in any way. This support has allowed me to grow as a person and to have the confidence to venture out into different activities”.