Upper 6 Pupil, was Awarded at the YFA 2024 Awards at the British Film Institute. To celebrate her achievement, we asked Anoushka about her experience of the Young Film Academy.

What does being a Norwich School Drama Scholar entail?

"The Scholar program offers a bunch of performing opportunities and extensions, like funded theatre visits, workshops from professional companies and practicing artists and lectures where the Arts are more academically discussed. There is also an expectation of participation in the school’s wider drama programme- either onstage or behind the scenes.

In addition to these opportunities - Scholars can use their allocated fund to further support their creative aspirations.
The fund is used at the Scholar’s and School's discretion but could be used for Drama school auditions, singing lessons, filming equipment or (in my case) my YFA application."

What is the Young Film Academy Summer Camp and why did you want to take part in it?
"The Young Film Academy Summer Camp is a two-week residential in Culford. Luckily, I live in Suffolk - as many of my course mates came from further afield (Athens, LA, Toronto, Peru, Barcelona, and North Walsham to name a few). The camp teaches actors and filmmakers how to make a film in two weeks or less- including how to use professional editing/filming equipment and seminars on performance technique. I wanted to do the YFA camp to broaden my acting experience- having mainly done stage-based performances before the camp."

What was the process like in being selected for the YFA Camp?
"The course is selective - it is oversubscribed so highly competitive, and my four-minute audition video talking about Andrew Scott made the cut!"

Tell us a little about your experience of the camp? Was it what you expected?
"The first few days mainly consisted of character work figuring out how to identify with your character and different sight lines in film and how not to look at the camera when it's two inches away from your face. I was completely blown away by the level of professionalism in the seminars and workshops for the actors and how supportive the staff and students were. It was difficult at first understanding what needed to be different in order to not look scary whilst acting on screen or just gaining my confidence with working with the camera in front of my face- but honestly, I was not expecting the level of really key knowledge that I picked up. We were only on set for one day so we filmed continuously for 7 hours which was rather challenging."

Anything you would have done differently?
"I would have liked to have worked on the two week acting course which is where you are in the same team for the entire camp and the film is not only a bit longer but from an acting perspective having several days on set is far more realistic than just the one. I was a bit unsure about how much I would like it and how much I would enjoy the residential or even be any good set and now I would definitely want to do the two week course if I could do it again."

What would you say to anybody who is interested in applying?
"I would say if you are interested in film, in 2D or anything that involves either a camera or acting I would highly recommend a very very fun and educational experience. I learnt the Active mode is a lot more open and malleable than school teaches us so just go for it and don't be shy to send in your applications early and not late because then you don't have to stress and you can actually choose which course you want to do if you are undecided on whether you want to acting or crew camps or you can do a mixture of both and you swap midway through the camp."

What was the best part of the camp?
"Meeting 150 other theatre kids and the different camp activities. They split us into houses of famous directors, I was in house Miyazaki (as in Hayao Miyazaki who directed Totoro)"

We've heard that you were a finalist for a couple of awards? Can you tell us a little bit about this?
"The YFA runs courses through the year and after summer camps end, they review films, crew and performances. Our film, Doubles with the Devil was nominated for best one week film 2024 and I was nominated for Best Performance 15-17 2024.

I attended the YFA 2024 Awards at the British Film Institute in London and we won the Best Film category and I won Best Performance so I have my first 2 statuettes! I was even competing against someone from my film and I was shocked and delighted to win. It has definitely helped my confidence in terms of letting me know that professionals recognise I am good at acting, and having really positive feedback and encouragement."

Did you come across any challenges?

"Honestly the biggest challenge was understanding the terminology - and I was sort of catching up with people who were far younger than me who knew a lot more than me, so being fluent in the language of film. And sunburn because it was over 30 degrees the entire time in sunny Suffolk."

What are your future hopes/aspirations?
"I want to become an actor- that is the only thing I know for certain. Post A-levels I’m hoping to study English at Manchester and then perhaps apply to a Drama School or Conservatoire post-grad."