WRITING, shooting and editing a film in nine days before pitching the finished product to a panel of industry experts is the daunting task facing 20 college media students, writes Guy Montague-Jones who has been on work experience with the Packet.

When the National Diploma in Media Moving Image students at Cornwall College, Camborne, arrived for class last Monday they hadn't even developed a film idea.

With the help of professionals, Denzil Monk, from Penzance, and John Crooks, from Redruth, the students chose an idea, wrote a script and finished filming all in time for lunch on Friday.

The film, called Simon Says, features a dim-witted teenager who buys a pair of boxer shorts which, unknown to him, have the power to make whatever he says happen.

The Cornwall Film Festival will be showing the film at the Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, in November.

The film will also be pitched on Thursday, April 26, to a panel of well connected industry professionals, including the former editor of the Big Breakfast on Channel 4, Mike Cunliffe, who will judge the film and advise the students on taking the next step towards a career in film.

Scott Haley, 17, from Redruth, who is the lead actor, said: "This is the first time I've been involved in something like this.

"The film making process is a bit stop and start but it's good fun."

The students have been given the opportunity to use state of the art film making equipment rarely found outside of London, including a Jimmy Jib crane worth £4,000.

Freelance photography director, John Crooks, who lent the crane to the students, said that it had allowed them to take an impressive sweeping shot for the opening scene of the film.

He said: "We are a long way from the heart of the film industry here in Cornwall so it's a great opportunity for these students to get involved in film making and use top quality equipment."

The project is funded jointly by Cornwall College and HI8US, as part of the Inclusion Through Media partnership.

The development director of HI8US, Denzil Monk, who helped the students create the film, said: "The project creates a situation comparable to life in the industry.

"They are working to a real deadline and will gain valuable experience working with professionals."