A Gryphon Film Production

A feature film in the making. Students of The Gryphon School, a Dorset Comprehensive, have brought to life Thomas Hardy's novel, 'Far From The Madding Crowd', with a full length feature film shot entirely on location in Thomas Hardy's Wessex. It also features a totally original soundtrack.

All the cast are students of The Gryphon School, with ages ranging from 11 - 18 years.

Filming started last August, which took students and crew to locations right the way throughout Hardy's Wessex, giving them all great insight into the beautiful landscapes and stories which surround their school in Sherborne, Dorset.

About the tale, Far From The Madding Crowd

Far From The Madding Crowd is a tale of Love, Romance and Tragedy where Bathsheba Everdene is loved by three different men, the patient Gabriel Oak, the obsessed William Boldwood and the shameless Sergeant Francis Troy. The drama unfolds against a backdrop of rural life in the mid 19th century. Click here to read more

Why are we doing this?

Drama is a very successful and popular subject at The Gryphon School, with thriving examination classes and regular live productions.

In 2008 Rosita Clarke, Head of Drama, experimented with a multi-media production of Sweeney Todd which included projected film footage of several scenes set against live theatre on stage. So excited with the fantastic audience response and the visual effects created by the use of film, she became passionate about undertaking probably the first full length feature film using only young people.

The enormity of the task was the challenge. With a love for film and a passion for drama, Rosita Clarke, Director and Producer, is giving Gryphon students a chance to be a part of a film which may set the precedent for other schools across the South of England. This is a film which The Gryphon school is very excited about and enormously proud of. For more info, visit the video interview with the Director

 

Far From The Madding Crowd is proudly supported by our film sponsors