Lewis Raine aged 19 from Shildon is helping Bishop Auckland Town Teams bid by producing a short film.  The Bishop Auckland College Art & Design Student is using his skills as a film maker to capture on film both the positives and the negatives of Bishop Auckland market place and shopping town centre.  Uploaded today, Friday 30th March on YouTube the film forms part of the Town Teams bid for £100,000 from the Mary Portas Review Pilot Scheme which looks into the future of the high streets throughout the country.

A leading retail expert and advisor to the Government, Ms Portas set out 28 recommendations in her December review commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron which warned that high streets could "disappear forever" without urgent action.

Lewis' short film, which he directed and produced includes interview pieces with local Town's people and members of Bishop Auckland's business community including: The Bishop of Durham, Kim Fryer - Commercial Manager of Bishop Auckland Football Club, Bob McManners - Chair of the Bishop Auckland Civic Society and Barbara Shepherd owner of Chittocks traditional grocers store established in the town in 1952.

As part of getting the short film made, Lewis needed to work closely with external content providers, stakeholders and members of the college staff giving him real work experience under difficult time pressures.

Lewis said:  “This has been a great opportunity to work on a real project.  It has been hard work but I have learnt a lot from this experience and thoroughly enjoyed it”.

For further details contact Kevin Burns Head of Marketing & School Liaison Bishop Auckland College

01388 443028
07889 726636
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