BOURNEMOUTH FILM STUDIES/NAKED GLORY

The Full Monty continues to work its magic at Bournemouth's celebrated Arts institute, alma mater of Monty scriptwriter Simon Beaufoy.

Oliver Irving graduated from AIB in 2003 and has just had his debut feature film How To Be screened at January’s Slamdance Film Festival in Utah, USA.

Oliver was no doubt helped by his cast: he snapped up Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) as his lead named Art with American star Rebecca Pidgeon, (Heist, Shopgirl) to play Art’s mother.

Of course, they would not have been interested if Oliver had not written a cracking script: How To Be is the story of a chap, Art, who hits a mid life crisis at 25 and resorts to a self-help guru for a solution.

Guru’s first advice: move back home, a tip taken to the extreme by Art (pictures, above).

Oliver’s success follows quickly in the footsteps of two other AIB film talents.

Harriet Fleuriot, a graduate from the BA (Hons) Film Production programme won the South West Screen Audience Award – and £1,000 - at the Bristol Encounters International Short Film Festival.

Her film, ‘A Short Collection of Hilary Flamingo’s Dream Vocations, also earned her time with an industry mentor.

The film has also been voted into the final 10 British Short Films for the Eurostar London Coming Film Festival 2007.

Finally, Film Production student Rob Brown’s film Shit Happens has been short listed for the BBC Three New Film Makers Award and will be aired on the BBC this year.

Obviously the AIB is doing something right, if only teaching everyone how to come up with catchy film titles!

In terms of training, the Arts Institute works with Bournemouth’s University Media School to form one of the UK’s half dozen film Academy’s funded by Skillset.

Filed January 22, 2008.