A new short film from Film Construction and Media Design School is offering a glimpse into what the next generation of filmmaking might look like.
Flock, directed by Film Construction director Harriett Maire, has been selected for the Beverly Hills Film Festival and will screen at the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard this April.
Blending live action with complex visual effects created by students, Flock tells a restrained and emotionally resonant story.
A young woman arrives in a small coastal New Zealand town while, overhead, a bar-tailed godwit completes one of the longest migratory journeys on earth.
Both are searching for connection. Both are navigating unfamiliar territory.
The film was shot on location in Miranda on the Thames Estuary.
Precision and sensitivity
The film was conceived as a full-scale production environment for senior students at Media Design School, who were responsible for designing and executing all animation and visual effects.
From bird anatomy and flight dynamics to storm systems and ocean environments, the work demanded both technical precision and narrative sensitivity.
Producer and MDS tutor Peter McCully says the intent was to collapse the gap between training and industry.
“Students often work in isolation from real production pressures. Here, they were part of a live project with a director, a deadline and an expectation that the work would hold up internationally. That shift in context changes the quality of thinking.”
Finding your place
For director Harriett Maire, the hybrid nature of the project opened up new creative ground.
“I’m drawn to stories about people finding their place. The godwit’s journey is extraordinary, but it’s also instinctive. There’s something very human in that. We wanted the emotional truth of the performance to sit comfortably alongside the scale of the animation.”
The collaboration reflects a broader shift in filmmaking, where traditional boundaries between departments are dissolving and emerging creatives are expected to think across disciplines.
Technical craft alone is no longer enough; storytelling, collaboration and adaptability are now central skills.
Preparing for reality
Film Construction founding partner Perry Bradley says projects like Flock are about preparing filmmakers for that reality.
“The industry doesn’t need graduates who can just operate software. It needs people who can think, collaborate and contribute to the story. This was about creating an environment where those skills are tested under real conditions.”
Flock will screen on Wednesday, April 15, at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood as part of the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
