Into Film Clubs
Find out everything you need to know about starting an Into Film Club.
Our Into Film Club of the Month winner for October 2022 is from the brilliant St Mungo's High School in Falkirk, Scotland!
Below, club leader and Film & Media teacher Fraser Johnston discusses creating separate clubs for filmmaking and film watching, extending the idea of the Into Film Ambassador scheme to young people, creating a podcast, his club's favourite films on Into Film+, and much more.
High school can be a difficult time in someone's life and being able to give them a space to share their love of film with so many like-minded people truly makes me happy.
Club leader and Film & Media teacher, Fraser Johnston
Tell us a bit about your Into Film Club
We have both Film Clubs and Film Societies at our school. Our Film Clubs are split by upper and lower year groups, and are for pupils to get together and help each other make films (both for course projects and for fun). Our Film Societies allow pupils to come together, watch films and share their love and appreciation for cinema.
What inspired you to start your Into Film Club and what do you enjoy most about running it?
I wanted to create an environment for pupils who have a passion for film to meet and work together. I always think back to own time at high school and this is exactly what I would have loved. It brings me so much joy to see the smiles on our attendees faces and to know that comes from a shared passion for film. I love to see our older pupils taking on leadership roles, sharing their appreciation for film and even helping their peers become interested in filmmaking.
What positive changes have you seen in your pupils since joining the club?
I've noticed a great sense of pride and responsibility within my pupils, especially the ones who help run the Film Clubs and Film Societies. As for our pupils who just attend them, I've noticed a true sense of belonging. High school can be a difficult time in someone's life and being able to give them a space to share their love of film with so many like-minded people truly makes me happy.
How does your club engage with Into Film+ and which are their favourite films on the platform?
Films that have gone down well so far have been Black Panther, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Which other parts of the Into Film programme does your club enjoy?
I have been inspired by Into Film and extended their Education Ambassador programme to the pupils. Giving students the opportunity to be ambassadors not only provides a sense of responsibility but it also helps create a culture of film throughout the school as they help other departments with film-related projects. Every Film Ambassador has or is currently studying Film & Media, and they use what they have learned to help with these projects.
They also help run the Film Clubs and Film Societies, giving up their own time to help spread the joy of cinema. The older Film Society have even created the St Mungo's Film Society Podcast as a creative method to review the films they watch. The podcast is now available to download via the Apple Podcast Store.
What are your future plans for your club?
I want to provide our ambassadors with more work experience opportunities within the film industry and it would be fantastic to have industry guests speak to them and our clubs, both in in-person and as guests on our podcast.
What's your advice to anyone thinking of starting their own Into Film Club?
Do. Not. Hesitate. Not even for a second. Even if you only gain a few members at the beginning, to that group of kids the film club means the world. It's a fantastic way to bring people together and you can be a part of that.
