Alumnus shortlisted to win £30,000 film fund and a trip to Hollywood

Ravensbourne BA (Hons) Digital Film Production graduate, Daniel Maslen, has been shortlisted to win a £30,000 film fund, after creating an adaptation of the David and Goliath Bible story. If successful, Daniel with be flown to Hollywood to pitch live to a panel of industry professionals including X-Men producer Ralph Winter.

Daniel is currently on a shortlist of filmmakers selected by ‘The Pitch’ as possible prize winners. ‘The Pitch’ is a film organisation that sets an annual adaptation challenge for short-filmmakers. Entrants are challenged to draw inspiration from the Bible and create a short film based on biblical themes and characters. The top ten candidates are then invited to pitch to a panel of industry experts at the National Film and Television School in January 2020, before the winner is selected.

Daniel’s short film is an exploration of masculinity through the biblical story of David and Goliath. The title, Clach Cuid Fir, translates as manhood stones, alluding to an ancient celtic rite of passage involving a demonstration of strength. Daniel’s reimagining of the iconic story is woven with celtic myths and folklore, and is set on the eve of a viking invasion.

The pitch winner will be flown to Los Angeles in the autumn of 2020, where they will pitch live to top industry professionals, such as Tim Williams, Composer for The Book Thief and Guardians of the Galaxy and Ralph Winter, Producer of X-Men, Fantastic Four and Wolverine. The panel will give an in-depth critique of the film and suggestions on how to progress the projects. The winner will receive a £30,000 cash fund to make their film, along with technical and production support worth £40,000. ‘The Pitch’ aim to produce and shoot the winner’s film to premiere at the finals of The Pitch – in January 2021.

Josh Fortune, the former BA (Hons) Digital Film Production course leader said, “Daniel is a student that I doubt I'll ever forget. Bursting with warmth and quiet determination, he joined us in the second year and made an immediate impact on his peers. Well-liked by staff and students, the entire BA (Hons) Digital Film Production course wishes Daniel the best with this fantastic competition.”

Kolton Lee, Programme Director for Media Works at Ravensbourne, commented: “This is fantastic news. We at Ravensbourne pride ourselves on producing industry-ready graduates by the time our students are ready to leave; to see Daniel making a mark so early in his career is hugely gratifying.”

We wish Daniel the best of luck in the competition, with the winner due to be announced on Monday 20 January 2020.

You can find out more about ‘The Pitch’, and watch all the entrants' trailers at Enter the Pitch.