Young filmmaker’s work unveiled at Imperial War Museum

Raising awareness of a little known role by Army soldiers has led young filmmaker Paige Howard to show her documentary at the Imperial War Museum.

Paige, who graduates this year from Teesside University with a BA (Hons) Television and Film Production, was inspired by her dad Mick to make a documentary highlighting the vital role some soldiers have in capturing footage and photography in warzones.

'My dad Mick was a soldier cameraman and photographer, filming and taking photographs often under demanding combat conditions,' said Paige, 21, of Catterick, North Yorkshire.

'Many people aren’t even aware that some soldiers have this role, which was my main motivation for making the film, to raise awareness of this vital job which soldiers do.

'My dad had a lot of archive footage from Afghanistan and Northern Ireland and I also interviewed two other soldiers doing the job along with an Army veteran, who provided me with additional archive footage,' added Paige.

While working on her documentary, Paige visited the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, where she spotted a leaflet about a IWM film project.

She said: 'I decided to submit my film and I was really shocked when IWM tweeted to say they’d received some great entries and included me in the tweet.'

Paige’s film will be just one of 35 to be screened later this month, after over 100 entries were submitted.

Currently working in the production office of Emmerdale in the ITV studios in Leeds, Paige added: 'My current role involves providing print and admin support to the production team ensure the cast and crew have their scripts, call sheets, filming schedules and checking all of the necessary paperwork is distributed.

'I completed work experience with ITV during my degree and went back during the summer on placement, as I’d kept in touch with them. I’d definitely recommend work experience while studying as it really helped me get where I am today.'

Paige, who studied at a boarding college in Winchester, moved with her family to Belgium in her late teens due to her dad’s Army role.

She said: 'I travelled from Belgium to have a look around Teesside University. I decided on Teesside because of the degree course. As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew it was where I wanted to study.

'The degree was brilliant, as it provides a taste of everything involved in working in the media, from planning scripts, to the financial aspects of a production, to the actual filming.

'It’s vital to experience every single process and aspect of making a film or television production.'

Paige’s film Eye to the Viewfinder will be screened during a festival in London at the end of October, followed by an awards ceremony in December, when her film has been shortlisted in the documentary category.

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