From the Echo

A WEARSIDE film-maker has scooped an international award with a music video inspired by his singer-songwriter brother.

Chris Lavelle’s Turn of the Screw video beat 5,000 entries from more than 70 countries, to reach the final of the Adobe Design Achievement Awards 2012. The Sunderland dad landed the Live Action Award category, announced at a ceremony in Toronto, Ontario. Chris’s music video is a visual narrative interpretation of his older brother Steve’s song. It revolves around a woman, played by actress Stacie James, not being able to come to terms with the loss of love. Throughout the story the viewer sees inside her world, slowly dismantling the machinery of her mind.

The HD motion video took five months to produce, and was part of Chris’s final-year project on what is now the BA Interactive Media and Motion Graphics degree at Sunderland University. He also lectures there part-time in 3D Animation and Modelling. Chris, 41, a graphic designer at Durham University, said: “Basically the award is a humbling experience. “However, I am now fully motivated to complete my next three projects: a new music video, an animated short film and a screenplay for a movie. “Without the facilities and the help from the University of Sunderland this would be a lot more difficult.” He added: “I’m incredibly proud of what I have produced, but more importantly so is Steve. “He’s been a huge inspiration to me all my life. He’s very creative. “I just loved the pace of the song he wrote, but didn’t just want this to be a music video. There’s no performance in it, and it’s a visual story that works well with the music and lyrics.”

Gurpreet Singh, Sunderland University’s Associate Head of Design, said: “We are enormously proud of Chris’s achievements so far, but I think there is even greater work to come from Chris Lavelle, so watch out for this name.” Twitter: @EchoEastDurham

Read more at: http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/film-producer-wins-top-award-1-5138648