Backwell boy wins film contest

A BUDDING film-maker from Backwell has won a competition with his video footage of a North Somerset cycle path.

Louis Clark, aged 14, filmed his friend Erik Ashton riding along the cycle route which runs through Backwell, adding details about the route, its history and what it means to him and his friends.

He entered his film in the competition run by Sustrans, which challenged people to make a short film showing the national cycle network and what it meant to them.

The films were judged by professionals from the film and television industry and Louis’ film came first in the 11-17 age group, winning four tickets to the Relentless NASS Sports and Music Festival.

Louis said: “Me and my friend Erik made the film to try to get other people cycling and make it look cool and fun - because it is.

“We go cycling because we know that we need to keep active and fit but we use the network as we know it’s a safe place to cycle, no cars passing by and we love the beautiful scenery that we pass.

“It only took us a day to film it, although the editing was longer, but it was good fun.”

Louis, of Dark Lane, has a passion for film-making and has been making his own movies since the age of seven. He also takes acting lessons at the Bristol Old Vic Youth Theatre, but his real passion is behind the scenes and over the past couple of years he has also learnt to edit his films.