Our creations could soon be showing at a screen near you

9:15am Wednesday 5th December 2007

WORCESTER students with an eye for the unusual are hoping their artistic creations will be picked up by renowned director Tim Burton.

Inspired by Burton - the man behind Edward Scissorhands, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice and Batman - 10 students studying theatrical make-up and costume at Worcester College of Technology have set about creating their own quirky characters.

On Thursday, December 13, their work will be showcased at Worcester's Guildhall and, thanks to their teacher Iain Burton-Legge, it will be a lavish affair, attended by press, public, industry professionals and, depending on filming schedules, members of Tim Burton's own production team. On the night, one of the creatures will be chosen to be used in a forthcoming Tim Burton feature.

On top of that, the artist will get work experience at Shepperton Studios in Middlesex.

"It's an amazing opportunity for us," said Simone Macdonald, aged 21, whose Greek Fury character will walk on all fours. The class, who all aim to work in theatre, film or television, said creating the character has been a long process; from writing background essays on Tim Burton and doing initial sketches to clay casting and making the actual latex mask.

"We are definitely nervous about the showcase," said Elise Baker, aged 23.

"We are completely selling ourselves. When we first started we said we'd never step on our friends for work. But I think we are going to be fighting each other for this."

Mr Burton-Legge has been working in the industry for more than 20 years and hopes to continue to use his contacts to help his students.

"I am hoping they will be getting more chances like this, chances that other students, even those studying in London, wouldn't necessarily get.

"I'm very proud of what they have already achieved. They deserve to do well."

The showcase glitz and glamour will be provided by the college's performing arts and music technology departments, while the red carpet will be provided by Kidderminster Carpets.

TIM BURTON - THE FACT FILE

THE Academy Award-nominated director Tim Burton is known for his quirky, gothic style and famed for films such as Batman and, more recently, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

He started his career in animation and worked for Disney before concentrating on his own films.

His first big project was Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985). Made on a budget of $7 million it grossed more than $40 million at the box office and led to him making Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Planet of the Apes (2001) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and many more cult movies.

Last year, Burton directed the music video for Bones by The Killers and January 2008 sees the release of his latest film, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which stars Johnny Depp.

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