A FILMMAKER from Musselburgh is preparing to shoot a new piece of work which reflects his own time being bullied as a teenager and discovering his love of the arts.

Simon Fox, who grew up in the town, has cast budding Scottish dancers in his short film ‘Aria,’‘Aria,’ including Paige McKinlay, 15, from Port Seton, and Elise Gillies, 12, of Musselburgh, who both attend the Morag Alexander School of Dance in Musselburgh.

Simon said: “I used to be a part of the Brunton Youth Theatre in Musselburgh when I was a teenager, which is what inspired my love of the creative arts. I performed in a few shows with them and took part in workshops.

“A few years later, when filmmaking became far more accessible thanks to the advent of DSLR filmmaking and the ease of sharing work online, I started creating short films and realised I preferred being behind the camera, creating stories.”

Over the last three years, Simon has worked on several short films, including ‘The Cruelty of Beauty’‘The Cruelty of Beauty’ – a short drama about how society idolises and objectifies models; and ‘Splinter,’‘Splinter,’ which was a short psychological horror film about a girl trying to find her brother, while her reality begins to fracture apart.

Simon added: “AriaAria is a reflection of my own time at school, being bullied throughout my teenage years and feeling awkward, out of place and not knowing where I belonged, then finding my love for the creative arts and how that helped me to overcome the negativeness in my life.

“It wasn’t until I joined the Brunton Youth Theatre that I became more confident in myself and made friends that I still keep in contact with to this day.

“It certainly wasn’t a hard life, and I’d say it helped develop my sense of wanting to look out for those who are bullied or discriminated against.”

He added: “I had liked the idea of doing a short film without any dialogue, letting the visuals and music carry the story. This formed the thought of a ballet as a film, and so working with my regular collaborative composer Owen Devlin – who has created music for the National Trust for Scotland, Dalmore Whisky and REISS Clothing – we began to put the idea into play.”

He added: “The story is about a ballerina who is talented but insecure, brought down by the local bully and her group.

“Through her love of dance and her infatuation with an older dancer, she brings herself up and overcomes the bullies to metaphorically come into the light – in this case a spotlight.

“The lead character to whom the film is named after, Aria Aria, is named after the piece of music in an opera/ballet which is used to further the story. She will be played by Kizzi Pink-Simpson from Elgin.

“As her inspiration, Paige McKinlay from Port Seton will be playing Venus, named after the Roman goddess of love. And playing our protagonist is Abbie Crawford of Glenrothes, whose character Eris is the Greek goddess of strife and discord.”

South African-born Robyn Lee Tustin is working with the dancers on their choreography.

It is hoped to shoot the 15-minute film over a few days throughout March, April and possibly May. The finished work will be taken around film festivals, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, as well as being submitted for awards before being released to the public.

Paige, who also plays rugby for the county, is one of Preston Lodge High School’s Young Ambassadors for Sport.

She said: “Ever since I was young, I had always wanted to be a dancer. I take ballet, jazz and musical theatre classes at Morag Alexander School of Dance in Musselburgh. Last year I was lucky enough to win its musical theatre scholarship. I’m currently sitting the written and choreography side of my SQA higher ballet and gold jazz after passing my practical with a high distinction; also I’m just about to sit my RAD intermediate ballet exam.”

Paige has performed in shows such as the musicals ‘Grease’‘Grease’ at the Edinburgh Playhouse, when she was the youngest cast member at the age of 10, and ‘Footloose,’‘Footloose’ the following year. She has also been involved in the pantomime at The Brunton in Musselburgh over the past four years. She will star at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh this summer after successfully auditioning for Beyond Broadway’s ‘Fame‘Fame.

She said: “The story of Aria talks to us all. We’ve all been there with no self confidence, feeling intimidated trying to be the best, to do the best we can, whether it be school, dancing or just friendship groups. All we want is to be liked and the film will portray it so beautifully, and it’s totally through music and dance.”

Elise, who has attended the Morag Alexander School of Dance since she was three, is also looking forward to filming as a background dancer in ‘Aria‘Aria.

With a strong repertoire in ballet, hip hop, jazz/modern and tap dance, she has starred in the ‘King and I’‘King and I’ at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, and will be in the cast of ‘Joseph’‘Joseph’ at the Edinburgh Playhouse next month.