More than 200 guests gathered at Cineworld in Newport for the premiere screening of the Wight Brand film ‘The Island’, followed by a charity auction, last Thursday (2nd October).
The film marks the climax of 2 years of intensive filming for the Wight Brand – a project run by Steve Edmonds of Island TV production company TVMI, supported by businesses and organisations across the Isle of Wight.
Invited guests included Isle of Wight dignitaries, local businesses and partners of the project.
The evening, hosted by the Wight Brand’s stakeholders, began with drinks and canapés served by Island catering company All About Catering. Guests then moved into Screen 1 for the evening’s movie experience, beginning with a short introductory film, followed by the main feature ‘The Island’.
The film is an entertaining 1-hour documentary about life on the Isle of Wight, told through the lens of 10 different businesses and organisations including The National Trust, WightFibre, Red Funnel, Spence Willard, Yokogawa Marex, The Construction Collective, Bembridge Harbour, HTP Apprenticeships, Isle of Wight Distribution and Vestas Wind Blades.
The Wight Brand project follows in the footsteps of The Wight Book, which documented what makes the Isle of Wight special through photography and text. This new film continues that legacy using video, aiming to share the Island’s story with a global audience via its dedicated YouTube channel and other social media platforms.
Following the screening, a charity auction took place with all proceeds going to WightAID. After an address by Geoff Underwood, chair of the charity, Christopher Scott and Malcolm Randall took to the stage as auctioneers. Among the 15 donated items were 2 VIP tickets to the Isle of Wight Festival and a wheelbarrow of Mermaid drinks.
The event raised more than £6,000 for WightAID’s charitable causes across the Isle of Wight.
Steve Edmonds, TVMI Managing Director and Wight Brand Creator, has said:
“The turnout this evening is absolutely fantastic. My heartfelt thanks go to the Wight Brand stakeholders who have not only put on this amazing evening but have supported the project over the last 2 years. There is so much passion and love for the Island and I feel privileged to be a part of it.”
Cringingly awful listening to Red Funnel Fran Collins. Turned it off.
How embassing!
Mottistone Manor – volunteer gardeners?
No – they sacked them!
How embarrassing!
Mottistone Manor – volunteer gardeners?
They sacked them all!
How embarrassing!
Mottistone Manor “sacked” all the gardening volunteers highly praised in the film.
I could not possibly put into words my comment on what Fran Collins of Red Funnel had to say.