Meet the Film Team
Katja Stiller,
Film Development Worker
Katja is originally from Germany she came to Cardiff to improve her
English
that was 17 years ago. Since then she has made Wales her home. Katja
has
been working for Valley 
and
Vale for the past 10 years. She studied Film and
Television at Newport University. After a short stint in the industry
she
went to India and produced two documentaries one about a slum school
in
Bhopal and one about the lives of the Dalits. After this experience she
wanted to learn how to use film as a tool for development and completed
an
MA course in Southampton part of the course was a two months stay in
a
refugee camp in Ghana where they used film as a tool for conflict
resolution.
Katja recognises the power of the medium and doesn't want to make films about people but with them. She believes given the chance to represent themselves people start to reflect on their lives this gives them an opportunity to make conscious decisions affecting their lives.
Katja mainly works with people who are socially excluded. Many of them have experienced trauma in their lives. It is very important for her to offer individuals a safe environment where they can explore their lives. She is currently working towards a counselling diploma, which gives her space for reflection and the support she needs in order to go there with others.
Over the past two years Rhys Hughes, Nick Clements and Katja have been developing Person Centred Creativity, which combines interpersonal skills with community arts (please read more about it under PCC). They are hoping to offer courses in the future.
Katja believes that being able to creatively express yourself is very important for people's mental and physical health and that the opportunity to creatively express feelings and emotions can improve and change people's lives.
Nick Clements
Founded The Pioneers, a Community Arts organisation based
in South Wales, in 1981. 
From that time through to 2002 he worked with
over 60,000 people to create more than 500 projects - from painted
murals, through mosaics into stained glass and ceramics; from Infants
Schools to Comprehensive, to residents groups and large corporations.
The work was mainly based in South Wales, but also went as far as England,
Germany, America, India and New Zealand. Has taught and trained those
interested in the arts on large scale Community Arts training programmes,
for Art Colleges and with Care and Community workers from all over
Europe.
Present work:
Part of the Art of Change development project at Valley and Vale. The work for this project has included:- the completion of two documentary films which detail the relationship between fathers and their children within the South Wales Valleys. How this has changed over the last 50 years, and the positive benefits 'committed fathers' bring to their children, their relationships and the wider community.
The creation and delivery of an extensive training course for the artistic staff at Valley and Vale. The course included counselling, training and the development of individual practice, as well as undertaking a 10 day Summer Playscheme for children in Bettws, and a residential weekend at the Stackpole Centre.
Published two books in 2004:
'The Pioneers - Murals, Mosaics, Madness and Myths' - this book has the pictures, the anecdotes and the myths. It will inspire people to use their creativity in the community and to share their skills with others.
'Creative Collaboration' - is, at long last, a theory of Community Art practice, discussing why such work is of value, and how to use it wisely in order to bring about change in society.
Luke Jacobs
After graduating from The International Film School of Wales in 2002, Luke
Jacobs has been working as both a Director and Freelance Camera Operator
on
a variety of commissioned short films, community films, music films,
animations and documentaries some of them having taken him to Italy,
France and Africa. His work has been screened on TV and in numerous
festivals, winning an award for Cinematography at Ffresh Film Festival and
the Best International Short at the Fantastic Film Festival. He has also
been teaching filmmaking to teenagers and students.
"What I enjoy the most about my job is the variety of projects
I am involved in, each one is important in a different way. It feels great
to
make a film with a professional crew that gets shown on TV but to work
on a Community projects with a groups of disadvantaged teenagers to make
a film they can be proud of and give them a voice is just as important
to me and often more fulfilling!"
Luke has been involved with Valley and Vale for over 3 years now. "Valley and Vale gave me my first freelance work after leaving Film School. An opportunity I am very grateful for as 3 years on I am doing what I set out to do and loving it! As a Valley and Vale Worker I have got to do some brilliant projects for Child-line, Princes Trust and in Park Prison. Its wonderful to work with people who are as passionate about their projects as Valley and Vale and care about the results! I hope to continue to working for them in the future."
Tracy Pallant,
Film Worker
Moved to Wales from South London in 1980. Worked in Community radio with Cardiff Broadcasting (CBC) for 5 years as a fieldworker and then went to Birmingham in 1985-87 to study for the diploma in Youth and Community Work.
Tracy became interested in community film work, particularly editing at the time. She came back to Cardiff and worked at the BBC on a freelance basis, initially as a trainee film editor, then dubbing editor and editor. During this time Tracy also helped to set up and run after school film clubs and community film projects. In 1997 she started work for CSV Training Wales as a video teacher, working with young people to develop communication and confidence skills. Tracy applied for lottery funding in 2000 and set up and helped to run the Pillgwenlly Video Project (PVP) in Newport. She had also run lots of film projects with young people on Alternative Curriculum.
Since 2003 Tracy has worked with school groups and community groups on First Light projects and had the opportunity to take a group of young filmmakers from Wales to work with young people in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to make a film together about issues that affect teenagers. Tracy has worked in Ethiopia as a volunteer with Gem TV a community video production company on different projects for the last 5 years. She is committed to expanding this project. Tracy is now a freelance community film worker with Valley and Vale Community Arts and is passionate about working with young people to help them learn new skills in film production and to work with them to develop their self confidence, creative expression and communication skills.
Amy Peckham,
Film Worker
Amy graduated from Staffordshire University in 1999 in Literature and
Film studies. She began working as a Community Film Maker in South Wales
in 2000, where she worked as a Film Maker for the Pillgwenlly Film Project
in Newport, doing a range of film projects within the local community
until 2004.
Amy has been involved in film projects with young people of different
ages; most recently working with groups aged 14-16 on an Alternative
Curriculum Programme. She has also worked with a variety of groups including
young offenders and people with learning and physical disabilities.
Since December 2004 Amy has been working on a Community Film project
with young people from Wales and Ethiopia. Together both groups made
a film about issues affecting teenagers.
Amy is currently studying on a Counselling Diploma course and working
as a volunteer counsellor for a college agency. Amy has also taken part
in the Valley and Vale 'Person Centred Creativity' Group
exploring links between Community Arts and Counselling skills.
When relaxing Amy likes to go swimming or practice Yoga.
