OUR PATRON - NICK PARK

Nick Park was born in Preston (!), Lancashire in 1958. He became interested in animation whilst still at school and started making films in his parent's attic at the age of 13. One of his earliest works entitled "Archie's Concrete Nightmare" was shown on BBC Television in 1975. Nick completed a BA degree in Communication Arts at Sheffield Art School in 1980 and in the same year went on to study animation at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield. While at the film school Nick began work on "A Grand Day Out". In February 1985 Nick joined Aardman Animations and it was here that he completed "A Grand Day Out" in 1989. The film won the BAFTA award for Best Short Animated Film in 1990 and was nominated for an Academy Award in the same year. While employed at Aardman Animations, Nick has worked as Director and Animator on numerous projects, including pop promos, title sequences and inserts for children's television. In 1989 Aardman Animations produced the "Lip Synch" series for Channel Four Television. Nick's contribution to the series was the film "Creature Comforts" which has received much critical acclaim at many major film festivals through out the world, as well as picking up an Oscar for the Best Short Animated Film of 1990. "Creature Comforts" has been the inspiration for various commercials, including the ever popular electricity adverts.

Nick's film "The Wrong Trousers" was screened on BBC2 (26.12.93) and was the highest rated programme on BBC 2 over the two day Christmas period. "The Wrong Trousers" features the continuing adventures of Wallace and Gromit, the stars of "A Grand Day Out" and won an Oscar for Best Short Animated Film from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in March 1994.

Nick won his third Oscar with "A Close Shave" in 1996.

In 2002 NIck came to Preston on our invitation to host and judge Mersey 10 competition. It was a great success.

Here on the photo is Jim Whalley presenting little souvenir from PMM to NIck himself.



Preston Movie Makers is 57 years old - Read more about club's history here.

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