Joseph Healy

I have known Joe for two years in the capacity of being his A Level Film Studies teacher. During the course of his studies he was punctual, hardworking and showed that he was a dedicated student who had a great passion for the subject. He has a great depth of subject knowledge and is able to write thoughtful, evaluative essays about film theory including topics such as the auteur policy and the degree to which ideology is a useful theoretical approach by which to deepen our understanding of film. He is also able to research topics well and evaluate his findings in an objective and balanced way. Where Joe really shines is in the area of production. He understands the processes of pre-production, production and post and created a schedule, storyboards and locations in preparation for a short film. He went on to create a very professional film, which was highlighted as being an example of good filmmaking by the exam moderator in his final A level. He honed his editing skills during his course of study and this resulted in a fantastic final product which told a narrative clearly and was structured in a way that evidenced a high level of cineliteracy. Joe went above and beyond to create the appropriate aesthetic; from finding an actor with an appropriate tone and register, to scouting meaningful locations and shooting late into the night, resulting in a dark and brooding end product. His camerawork was slick and the shot selection and cinematography meant that he achieved the highest mark in the cohort. Joe made additional moving image products in his own time and his first attempt at making an advert showed real potential. This was an early indication of his interest, not only in production, but also popular culture. I had the opportunity to be in the audience for a presentation Joe did for his Extended Project Qualification, for a product he researched and designed. Joe communicated his ideas concisely, with a maturity and confidence that was beyond his years. Indeed, one of Joe’s strengths is his ability to communicate well with a variety of audiences. He is pleasant, polite and is able to relate to peers and staff members alike - he was a valued member of our Sixth Form. I have no reservations about recommending Joe for the traineeship and I am confident that he has many of the skills and qualities required to make him an asset to the trainee scheme and to your organisation. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information. Andrea Dryden Head of Film Studies Elthorne Park High School [email protected]