The director of the Harry Potter films has returned to Swindon for a showcase of locally made films he helped to fund.

David Yates visited Create Studios on Friday to watch the work of three young directors who had received his backing through the Create Studios Short Film Fund.

Mr Yates directed the final four Harry Potter films: Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Parts One and Two, as well as the three films of its prequel series, Fantastic Beasts.

He made his first film When I Was A Girl in Swindon in 1988 with the help of Create Studios in its prior form as Media Arts, and previously lived in Gorse Hill.

Mr Yates said: “I really enjoy giving back to the organisations that gave me a lift up.

(Image: Create Studios)

“When you start in this business there are a lot of hurdles to navigate so if there’s anything I can share to help I will. It’s almost like I’m talking to my younger self when I’m advising people what to try and what to avoid, which is something I find very rewarding.”

Mr Yates reminisced on how he was able to get his own film-making career off the ground in the same place he was now helping the next generation to follow in his footsteps.

Create Studios is a community-focused production company and informal cinema in the Carriage Works on London Road.

“There wasn’t another filmmaker of my experience now in the Create ecosystem back then to act as a mentor, but there were always people you could talk to about what you were doing.

“My first film in Swindon probably cost me around £3000 to make which was not insignificant, but I was incredibly driven.”

The studio’s partnership with Mr Yates has given three young directors – Daniel Granville, George Green and Louis Hickford – access to mentoring and funding. This included free kit hire worth up to £10,000 and a £1,000 budget each.

After delivering a masterclass on filmmaking, Mr Yates then joined his audience to watch the local filmmakers’ work for the first time.

Daniel, who wrote and directed the horror film Ghost Story said: “When I found out I’d been selected I was very excited, then I realised I actually had to make and deliver my own film over the summer.

“The only way to learn how to make a film is by making a film, and the process of writing it to realising it has helped us grow as writer-directors.”

The three winners of the Create Studios Short Film Fund - Louis Hickford, Daniel Granville and George Green.The three winners of the Create Studios Short Film Fund - Louis Hickford, Daniel Granville and George Green. (Image: Create Studios)

Louis, who wrote and directed Kevin at Work and found out about the opportunity through the Create Futures scheme, said: “Filming only took a few days but the whole process took months and a lot of time and effort.

“I’d hung on to a script I’d written at university a few years ago that I’d always wanted to make, so this was a great chance to do so.”

George, who wrote and directed Heaven Spot, said: “A big part of the project was learning how to do special effects which was

On his mentoring role, Mr Yates said: "Often people are just finding their voice and their feet at this early stage so it's not my role to be too critical.

“I am always happy to be surprised and see what stories people are choosing to tell."

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