Mid Norfolk teen takes steps for film uni dream
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Melia is working towards his first short film, set at Letton Hall, in the hope that it will launch his career in film and television.
Dylan Melia, a seventeen-year-old worship leader at
Fountain of Life Church in Ashill, is creating a short film as a standout portfolio piece to help him gain entry to a film university course.
The piece, titled The Cost of Man will be filmed at Letton Hall next month. Dylan has been raising money and talent to help him do it and do it right.
Dylan said: “I felt that creating a proper, well-made fictional film would be a real challenge as it was something I hadn’t attempted before but felt excited about. The aim with it would be to help me get into a film university as well as creating something that I could show people and be like, hey I helped make that.”
Dylan learned video editing with Adam Jackson from Christ Community Church in Attleborough. Adam is a videographer working with local churches and charities and is working as a producer on this project.
Adam wrote the original story in 2019, and the pair have spend the last few months adapting it into a screenplay.
Adam said: “The film follows two ageing academics as they grapple with how to save the world from peril, and what lengths are truly required to do so. The story challenges the boundary between ethics and morality, exploring themes of sacrifice and survival.
“Shooting is due to begin in mid-March at Letton Hall Christian Conference Centre near Shipdham. The team thought that it was a long shot at first, but it turns out Letton Hall are really flexible, supportive and have been facilitating for projects other than weekend stays for churches.”
Dylan has gathered a team of people from all walks of life. Some bring solid cinema experience, but also some young people from church and college who are keen to begin their journey into film and video.
“The right people have all been brought into it and that has been such a blessing,” said Dylan.
There are still several roles available, particularly for those interested or experienced in lighting and sound design but the team are also looking for drivers and people to help with set building. Dylan is especially keen to involve young people who want hands-on experience working alongside established industry professionals.
The production is also seeking an antagonist: an actor aged between 60 and 79, to play a Dr. Marcus Langford at the tail end of his career.
If you’d like to help Dylan on set, email dylan@mediabymelia.com
You can support the project via gofundme.com/the-cost-of-man and you could even get your name in the credits.