Forches: The Film premieres in Barnstaple

By [lchurchill]

THE history of a "shining" Barnstaple housing estate has been documented in a new film produced by local teenagers.

Budding film-makers from the Forches estate spent more than a year exploring what life was like on their streets over the past few decades.

Their film premiered last week. And in a tongue in cheek echo of the razzmatazz of glitzy Hollywood premiere showings, the film-makers arrived in a stretch limousine at Forches Community Centre, where the audience had donned dinner jackets and posh dresses.

Forches: The Film investigates the music and fashion which has influenced the lives of local people, as well as topics as diverse as pocket money trends and food rationing, which was still in place as late as the mid-1950s.

Forches youth worker Mike Bentley was behind the project from the start. The scheme was funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Other groups — including North Devon Homes, North Devon College, and the Forches Community Association — backed the project.

Mr Bentley said: "The film has three sections — past, present and future — which meant the young people had to go around and talk to residents of all eras and learn about Forches.

"I'm fairly new to this community, but the friendliness and hospitality it has shown to these children is incredible.

"People talk about Forches' reputation, but this project has shown it not to be true; this is a shining community.

"The young people have so much ambition and talent and I am really proud of the film and how it has brought together the young and old in Forches."

Jason Legg's 13-year-old son, Ryan, was one of the 12 children involved with the project. He said: "Ryan has been filming in the community and interviewing people. He has been a member of the youth club here since it opened and it keeps him off the streets, but doing things he enjoys.

"The project has been tremendous and really helped his confidence and he has been excited all week about the premiere. All I've heard all week is that he is going in a limousine."

Adrian Brayley, 17, who is studying for a BTEC in media at North Devon College volunteered to help the young people make the film, helping them carry out interviews, shoot footage and edit the "rushes".

He said: "This has been a great experience for both me and the children. It is my first film-length piece I have edited. I have really enjoyed working with the kids. They are so funny, and most have shown so much enthusiasm for the project."

● You can buy a copy of the Forches the Film, priced at £4, at the Forches Community Centre.