YOUNG Ipswich filmmaker Jack Hawkins has received recognition for his talents by being shortlisted for a national award.Jack's entry into the Electoral Commission's Votes Are Power design competition is in the final 40 entries and one of only two movies to make the shortlist.

YOUNG Ipswich filmmaker Jack Hawkins has received recognition for his talents by being shortlisted for a national award.

Jack's entry into the Electoral Commission's Votes Are Power design competition is in the final 40 entries and one of only two movies to make the shortlist.

The film shows several young people travelling on London's tube, their eyes and mouths covered in tape. With words flashing up in between shots, it shows a figure in a black suit and sunglasses board the train and remove the tape.

It has a modern, urban feel and is reminiscent of trailers for films such as The Matrix. It carries the message that today's youth should not remain silent but use the power they have to vote.

"My first idea was to show that they had the inability to speak and look into the future so they have tape over their mouths and eyes," Jack said of the characters in the film.

"It was originally just going to be that but I wanted to add something to it and give it more power so I introduced the guy in the black suit.

"I wanted to make it like a film trailer with black and white text and fast moving shots so when people, especially young people, watch it they're not sure what it is. It's aimed at them to get them to vote.

"It's got a modern look and a modern feel, something that will appeal to people. Hopefully by doing that the message comes across."

Jack is one of the youngest entrants in the competition, which came with the brief 'Votes Are Power', and is the youngest English finalist.

His work is currently being shown alongside the other shortlisted entries in an exhibition touring the UK. The tour will culminate in an MP's viewing in Westminster before the winner and two runners up are announced at an awards ceremony at the Royal Society for the Arts in London on April 1.

All finalists will receive a state of the art MP3 player and the overall winning entry will be included in an Electoral Commission national advertising campaign.

"I'm happy to get as far I have," said Jack, who entered after seeing a poster advertising the competition at Ipswich School where he is a student. "I've not done this to win, I've done it to prove I can do something like this under pressure.

"I don't do any arts subjects at school and I don't get any training for this. It's all done off my own back."

However, he added: "To be shortlisted is fantastic and if I get any further it will be amazing."

n You can see and vote for Jack's film and the other shortlisted entries at www.votesarepower.com or when the exhibition tour is at City Hall in London from March 24 to 26.

Weblink: www.votesarepower.com

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