York feature film in top ten film list of 2014

Posted on 9 January 2015

A feature film produced as a result of a unique academic-industry partnership involving the University of York has been hailed a top ten film of the year by The Huffington Post.

The Knife That Killed Me, which was made entirely using green screen technology, is described as ‘a wonderfully inventive hard-hitting British drama. Kes meets Sin City.’ by The Huffington Post.

The film, backed and distributed by Universal Pictures UK, is part of a ground-breaking partnership between the University and commercial film producers GSP Studios, specialists in computer generated imagery (CGI).

Shot entirely at GSP studios near York, post-production work took place at Heslington Studios, the commercial arm of the University of York’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television.

The partnership involved recent York graduates working alongside well-established industry professionals, with all of the visual effects created by recent graduates of an MA in Postproduction with Visual Effects. Audio postproduction was overseen by Gavin Kearney, Lecturer in Sound Design, who served as the Supervising Sound Editor, working with recent graduates of the department’s MSc in Postproduction with Sound Design.

This unique collaboration was arranged by John Mateer, Senior Lecturer in York’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television, Programme Director of the Visual Effects Masters course and one of the Executive Producers of the film. He said: "We are absolutely thrilled that The Knife That Killed Me has been listed in The Huffington Post’s top ten films of 2014. It is a truly unique film that has been made in a truly unique way through a strong academic-industry collaboration between our department and GSP Studios.

“I could not be more proud of the visual effects team, who only completed their degrees with us just before production began. This recognition also speaks volumes as to the cutting-edge work we can undertake and the talent we have within TFTV."

The Knife That Killed Me is a journey through the memories of teenager Paul Varderman, played by Jack McMullen, (Waterloo Road, Brookside, Seamonsters) as he reflects on events leading to the fatal moment his life is cut short. The film has a distinctive visual style to illustrate the story, using green screen and Visual Effect (VFX) filmmaking technology in an unconventional manner.

The film is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Anthony McGowan, adapted and directed by Marcus Romer and Kit Monkman.