presents
Paignton Picture House
-Digital Stories-
-Digital Stories-
presented by Digital Media Students of
presents
Paignton Picture House
-Digital Stories-
-Digital Stories-
presented by Digital Media Students of
What will our futures look like living in Torbay? | Where do we sit in society? | What is around us?
How do our students see themselves as members of our local community and how can they influence positive change?
South Devon College is embracing this concept through the production of digital stories that explore how students see themselves and where they sit within our local community, and how they imagine their futures in Torbay will look. By utilising digital media, students are capturing the essence of Torbay’s unique identity while envisioning its future, fostering a deeper connection between residents and their surroundings, and encouraging community engagement in the transformation of their local environment.
by FDA FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS 23/24
“A Day in the Life is a creative short film crafted by students on the FDA Film and Photography course, showcasing their talents in writing, composing, acting, filming, editing and directing. The film explores the endless possibilities for the Paignton Picture House once it reopens, imagining it as a vibrant hub for film, performance, music, and community events. Through a blend of storytelling and visual artistry, the students bring to life a future where the historic venue is once again filled with creativity and cultural energy, paying tribute to its past while envisioning an exciting new chapter.”
by ALEX & BEN
2nd year level 3 film 23/24
“Childhood Memories is a nostalgic short film created by Level 3 Film students, showcasing their skills in writing, acting, and directing. Through heartfelt storytelling, the film takes a reflective journey through growing up in Torbay, capturing the students’ favourite places and cherished memories. With a mix of personal anecdotes and evocative visuals, Childhood Memories beautifully portrays the deep connection between people and the landscapes of their youth, celebrating the innocence, joy, and sense of belonging that define their formative years.”
“Childhood Memories is a nostalgic short film created by Level 3 Film students, showcasing their skills in writing, acting, and directing. Through heartfelt storytelling, the film takes a reflective journey through growing up in Torbay, capturing the students’ favourite places and cherished memories. With a mix of personal anecdotes and evocative visuals, Childhood Memories beautifully portrays the deep connection between people and the landscapes of their youth, celebrating the innocence, joy, and sense of belonging that define their formative years.”
“Warm Waters is a deeply personal short film created by Level 3 Film students, showcasing their talents in writing, acting, and directing. Centered on one student’s reflections, the film explores the special connection she has with Torbay—Goodrington in particular—through memories tied to the sea. From childhood adventures to moments of solace by the shore, Warm Waters beautifully captures the emotional depth and sense of belonging that the ocean brings. Through poetic visuals and heartfelt narration, the film celebrates the power of place, memory, and the ever-present pull of the sea.”
by Essential Photography for adults
by Level 2 Digital Media Students
This work presents the imaginative outcomes of Level 2 Media students at South Devon College, who were set the creative brief of reimagining the Paignton Picture House 200 years into the future. Working across a range of abilities and skillsets, students produced original magazines exploring how the historic building could evolve through modernisation while still preserving its unique heritage. Blending creativity with design, their work showcases forward-thinking ideas, combining visual storytelling and editorial techniques to envision bold yet respectful futures for this iconic local landmark.
The three pieces presented below were developed by young people working with Sound Communities, focusing on the experience of young people living in Torbay. Sound Communities is a local community organisation that uses music as a tool to improve wellbeing, build confidence, and strengthen social connection. Working with people of all ages and backgrounds, it provides inclusive, supportive spaces where participants can engage in music-making, creative expression, and shared learning. Through workshops, group sessions, and community projects, Sound Communities helps reduce isolation, support mental health, and empower individuals by giving them a voice and a sense of belonging within the Paignton and wider Torbay community.
Sound Communities
Time of the Past offers a nostalgic yet critical reflection on Torbay’s past, recalling the height of its tourism boom in the 1960s and 70s, when the bay was vibrant, crowded, and full of life. Through evocative imagery of packed beaches, busy guest houses, and thriving seaside culture, it contrasts fondly remembered memories with the present‑day reality. The narrative questions what has been lost over time – community, culture, and opportunity – and invites viewers to reflect on collective responsibility for that decline. Ultimately, the piece explores how places can become frozen in memory, preserved only through film, while the lived experience of working and living there fades into the past.
Sound Communities
What is Torbay missing is a candid youth‑led critique of life in Torbay, expressing a sense of frustration with limited opportunities, unfulfilled promises, and an overreliance on past identity rather than real change. It contrasts the area’s celebrated heritage with the lived experience of young people who feel unheard, blamed, and excluded from decision‑making. The piece challenges local narratives of progress, highlighting a recurring pattern where calls for change are acknowledged but not acted upon, and questions whether Torbay is truly willing to evolve or remains determined to stay the same.
Sound Communities
Broken Homes is a raw, autobiographical reflection on growing up in a seaside town marked by contradiction – natural beauty alongside poverty, crime, and limited opportunity. Through personal experience, the artist explores grief, homelessness, exploitation, and the pressures facing young people, challenging stereotypes that romanticise place while ignoring lived reality. The lyrics balance critique with resilience, positioning music as a positive alternative to crime and a tool for change. Ultimately, the piece is a call for honesty, empathy, and action – urging recognition of the struggles young people face and advocating for support, opportunity, and hope rather than blame.