Free filmmaking course for Oldham residents

Oldham residents with dreams of making movies can now learn the craft for free thanks to a National Lottery grant awarded to Hack Oldham, a social enterprise based on Yorkshire Street. The six-month filmmaking course, which is completely free for 20 participants, aims to teach everything from camera work to editing, with the goal of helping people create their own films.

Hack director Eric Steele said the opportunity is "pretty unique" because similar courses usually cost hundreds of pounds. "We wanted to reach out to people who were struggling to get on to traditional filmmaking courses," he explained. The course will be taught by industry professionals and participants will produce two short films, with the second being submitted to international film festivals.

The social enterprise, which reopened after closing during Covid, has already produced short films and a feature-length movie called Scream Queen, which is currently in post-production. Hack offers various creative courses including acting and 3D printing, but this filmmaking program stands out for its accessibility.

To make the course as accessible as possible, Hack is providing a travel allowance to cover transport costs to their town centre venue. With only 20 spaces available, interested residents should act quickly by calling 0161 627 2539 or emailing [email protected] to secure their place on what could be the start of their filmmaking journey.