WLYT has recently relaunched its secondUNIT project as Boxstar where participants have the opportunity to take part in film and video workshops, produce films, and create documentaries.   The aim of this project is also to make fresh, creative and professional films for companies locally and nationally.   Any profit made by the company will be used to develop film and drama activites for young people. 

'Boxstar' is West Lothian Youth Theatre's video, new media production and training facility. secondUNIT aims to provide members with an understanding of the media, as well as an introduction to, and advanced training in video production, such as:

• camera techniques
• lighting
• video editing
• short film making
• documentary techniques
• film education.

Recent projects include:

5 timed and Spaghetti

During the summer of 2006, participants with learning disabilities worked with the Producer and Assistant Producer to create two short films, one of which will be submitted to the Discovery Film Festival in Dundee.

Livi 2005

In the summer of 2005 Boxstar got together with fifteen skaters at Livingston skate park  and helped them produce this fast cut, live action short film. Over the summer, the group shot all the footage and edited it to create this high paced energetic film which promotes skateboarding and the Livingston skate park.

WESLO

Boxstar was recently commissioned by Weslo Housing Management to produce a DVD promoting its services in West Lothian.  Weslo operates all over West Lothian and Falkirk Districts and owns and manages 2,200 homes throughout these areas.   The main brief of the DVD was to show an overall picture of Weslo and their services, including the support staff they have in place.

Createspace

Youthlink, the national youth agency for Scotland, commissioned Boxstar to document their Createspace conference held at the new National Youth Theatre of Scotland building in Glasgow.  The conference was to promote creative learning.   Workshops were delivered by companies from Finland, Netherlands, Manchester, Cambridge and Scotland.  Performing at the conference was Ydance, West Lothian Youth Theatre and Contact Theatre (Manchester).

Aside from youth theatre workshops, WLYT provides Continuous Professional Development (CPD), in digital video and editing courses, targeted at teachers at primary and secondary level with a need to pursue video techniques, either as a teaching aid or in documenting students' work.  

'Into The Fade' was Boxstar's first venture into multimedia theatre. The dark tale of love, loss and the smoking gun was supported by slick graphic animation and video projections.

Boxstar members have since worked on 'The Tempest', as well as taking part in a two week summer film school. Short films such as 'Raeburn Manor', 'Eye for an Eye', 'Ignorance', and 'Celery' have also been produced.

For further information regarding Boxstar please contact Len: len@wlyt.org.