Adventure Filmmaking student collaborates with Western Beacons Mountain Rescue to produce a documentary

28 June 2023

A BA Adventure Filmmaking student from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has collaborated with Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team to showcase their work.

Scott Beckett from Seven Sisters in the Dulais Valley decided to follow the Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team’s day to day work for a short documentary as part of his coursework.

Mountain Rescue has always been an organisation that Scott has greatly admired. When he discovered that he had some time to dedicate to a film project, he decided to produce a video that would not only support his coursework but also an organisation that it could mutually benefit.

He said:

“Mountain Rescue to me are synonymous with any kind of work in the outdoors, as if something were to go wrong, they are going to be the ones to help you. The fact that they are entirely volunteers shows a level of dedication I wanted to try and capture on film and share with as wide an audience as possible.”

The 6-minute documentary consists of interviews with team members sharing their story. He adds:

“The subject of the film was ideal as part of the Adventure Filmmaking course covers ‘incidents in the outdoors’ particularly the parameters that a Mountain Rescue team would operate in, so I could witness and even utilise some of the skills that I had learned throughout the course whilst working on this project.

“Collaborating with the team was extremely insightful and they created a welcoming environment in which they facilitated the development of my creative vision.”

Mountain rescue volunteers guiding a stretcher on a hoist up a cliff.

Scott decided to study BA Adventure Filmmaking at UWTSD as the University offered a unique course taught by industry experts. He said:

“Coming out of the course I feel more competent as a filmmaker and an outdoor practitioner. If it weren’t for the course: the skills I had acquired, the contacts I had gained and the confidence it gave me, the film would never have been made.”

The Mountain Rescue team are pleased with his work and will be displaying it on their Facebook page to promote their work in order to attract donations and more volunteers.

Nick McAllister, Secretary for the Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team said:

“It has been a real pleasure working with Scott on this project and we are very pleased with the finished project. He has managed to convey our story in a realistic way, showing how our members enjoy what they do for no financial reward. Our diverse range of capabilities and the commitment it requires to be in Mountain Rescue. We hope that this video will enlighten the communities that we serve in South, Mid and West Wales.”

Senior Lecturer Dr Brett Aggersberg said:

“Scott Beckett is a student graduating with BA (Hons) in Adventure Filmmaking which has only been running for five years. It has already produced exciting filmmaking professionals that have contributed to this new aspect of the film and outdoor industries. Students like Scott are given the opportunity to develop their creative and professional interests and do this through their supervised studies and engagement with industry.”

You can watch Scott’s documentary on YouTube