A FILM maker is hoping to inspire audiences with her latest production.

Kate Laver, of Drawing Energy Pictures, has produced a documentary film on Prudhoe archer Allison Wright.

Champion archer Allison was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a rare type of cancer in her lung – in the summer of 2020. It followed a breast cancer diagnosis aged 29.

Hexham Courant:

The film, which is to be shown at festivals, follows terminally ill Allison’s archery career, which at its height, saw her represent Great Britain, and began when she was 50 years old.

“She’s amazing”, said Kate, who met Allison at an archery competition. “It hasn’t been difficult making a film about her.

“Allison is a sports person but she’s also an older woman as well. She started her journey at 50 and was absolutely incredible at it. We want older women to watch it and feel inspired as well.”

READ MORE: https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/20659015.film-made-prudhoe-archer-allison-wright/

Kate explained that she first drew a picture of Allison before conducting Zoom interviews during lockdown.

“When I’m making films, I tend to do a lot of drawings, storyboards and visual mind maps”, she said. “For me, the visual language is as important as anything else.

“Drawing is a really helpful communication tool. It can be very difficult to express an idea but you can sum it up in a drawing.

“The whole documentary with Allison started off with a drawing I did of her. If I ever lose momentum, I tend to look at that drawing, and it gives me energy again.”

The film, which has taken over two years to produce, has, so far, been well received and contains interview footage as well as live action and pictures.

A composer has also added to the film, which Kate, who studied at the Cambridge School of Art, said has given it a sense of “atmosphere and really added to the emotion.”

Kate, who has previously worked on the Silent Partner – a film about men’s depression -added: “People are struck by her story, her attitude.

“The film finished and there was this wonderful quiet over everybody and then an eruption of applause. Everybody absolutely loves her.”