Jay McCatty | Hedeel Hassan | Dan Cassen | Joseph Nicholas | Vanita Eden | David Grahamn | Afra Dojaily



Jay McCatty
Jay has been involved with Connections since 2004, when he took part in the Urban Cre8ors programme and made his first short film, Gerald Williams. This was subsequently broadcast on Connections’ Dare2Dream website and at the Portobello Film Festival.
Jay has overcome dyslexia to gain an award for outstanding achievement on a BTEC Diploma and an HND course in Media, and is now studying Contemporary Media Practice at Westminster University. With support from Connections, in 2006 Jay applied for, and was awarded, over £3,000 from the Brent Youth Opportunity Fund to write and direct another film, Broken World as well as to work towards his Youth Achievement Award.
Alongside studies and film projects, Jay has gained work experience at Cinnamon Films with producer Louise Decoteau and award-winning director Alrick Riley and been interviewed live on BBC Radio One about his film projects. Jay has also enrolled on the Channel 4 ‘We Need U’ programme for young talented black people.

“I have been helped by Connections in many ways on many different things. They are an insightful and inspirational organisation for aspiring film-makers. Mentoring and support has helped me to make two short films, gain work experience and achieve results in technical qualifications.”

Jay McCatty
Participant, Urban Cre8ors: Young Adults

Hedeel Hassan
Hedeel joined the Urban Cre8ors: Young People project at the age of 15, and is still involved with Connections as a university student.
Hedeel worked on the short film, Park Life, which was produced in collaboration with BBC Blast and has been broadcast on the urbancre8ors.tv web channel, the Community Channel, BBC 2’s Learning Zone and at the E-volve Youth Arts festival at the Barbican.
From this experience, Hedeel discovered a passion for working with teams of young people and developing skills in supporting others. She went on to gain experience with Millennium Volunteers, and has trained to assist disabled people – skills she has been able to practice as a peer mentor on another Connections film project at Hammersmith & Fulham Action on Disability (HAFAD).
Hedeel is now studying Law with Business at Kingston University, but is still practicing her film-making expertise with friends on a short film inspired by Alfred Hitchcock.

“The BBC Blast film was probably the most fun I’ve had during a summer staying in England - mostly because it was made by us and we were given our own budget, and the way the tutors worked around the teenagers’ ideas as opposed to dictating what should happen.
For me, although I love watching and making films, I wouldn't have thought of that as a career. However, if you're incredibly shy, which I was at 15, then it was pretty much the best thing I could have done. It not only made you involve yourself with the others, but it was exciting.
Connections has basically been there all the way to aid those who want to fulfil goals. They take it very seriously - I was actually amazed at the support offered and events organised to help realise these goals.”

Hedeel Hassan
Participant, Urban Cre8ors: Young People.

Dean Loxton
'I discovered Connections through Shooting People. I had joined Shooting People as an actor after going to Drama School and I felt I wanted to get in touch with up and coming film makers. Acting in a many shorts I was fascinated about the whole process and wanted to make one of my own.

I knew only what I had seen on set and saw the posting from Connections about getting to know the PD150 and followed this with Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Pro Advanced and a course on High Definition.

This was my first introduction and gave me enough knowledge to think that I could have a go at doing a short. I had an idea about a pop star fan and called it 'Mad on Her' a play on words, Madonna. I didn't literally shoot or edit this but what Connections gave me was a language and knowledge to talk with confidence to my camera operator and editor. They had a respect for my interest in their craft and so the relationship was really fruitful.

I was pleased with 'Mad on Her' as my first short; it went on to win an award at the Canary Wharf Film Festival and was Short of the week on My Space. It now sits on the Shooting People site as the icon for watch films which leads to over 500 other films.

I then had a lead in an Independent feature but again not happy with just acting I had ideas of how to approach people for sponsorship to make the film look better as they were on a tight budget. I approached fashion designers for costume and a leading airline to provide flights to film the final scene on location in New York and was successful. 'Plans of Man' has just found distribution.

After this I wanted to try a music video, a good friend had this amazing track, like an old Marvin Gaye tune, and decided to take this on and give it a strong modern visual. I used an amazing photographer to take stills and we animated him, mixing this with conventional footage.

www.ontrack.uk.net/showcases.php

I am now developing and internet drama, and also helping other film maker friends with casting, production and the occasional cameo role.

I am making my way in an industry that I thought I would never know enough to enter. By learning the basics at Connections it gave me a mental foothold. There is always more to learn but having the language and understanding has been invaluable.'

Dan Cassen
Dan has achieved a tremendous amount considering his age. When he was just 15, he had a work placement on 2nd Unit Camera department of Die Another Day. He attended a Digital Camera course at Connections in the summer of 2003 which led on to an NVQ Level 2 in Camera Assistant. Throughout the process Dan has had regular advice sessions, CV and showreel development and technical guidance sessions with tutors as well as the formalised training. Since doing the course, Dan has completed his first paid position as a Camera Assistant on a BBC drama. He also works and has trained with YCTV and is currently shooting content for their channel.