'Full Circle': New College Lanarkshire graduates return to premiere Scots rom-com film
New College Lanarkshire screened Premature at its Coatbridge Campus this week, giving students and staff a first look at the Scots rom-com before its cinema release this Friday.
But for Andrew Rodger (57), one of the film's main supporting actors, watching Premature at Coatbridge carried a weight that went beyond the professional.
He plays Andrew - the father of the film's protagonist, James. Four years ago, Andrew came to NCL after a career in retail, determined to follow a passion he'd set aside. He graduated last July.
Two months later - he was back - watching himself on screen in the very place where he'd studied. "I met Kevin through these very walls, and a lot of my friends here as well, it's nice to come back and have a full circle moment almost immediately. I kind of dreamed about that."
"I'm quite proud," Andrew said of the moment. "For myself and my fellow actors that have went through these walls to be included in this wonderful film is just incredible."
From Classroom to Screen: Andrew Rodger at the Q&A in Coatbridge Campus
He was raised just around the corner from the Showcase in Coatbridge by his father, he reflects: "I would have loved for my dad to have been there, because my dad lived at the house where the film is being shown. Even if it was just one job that I can say to my father, who always encouraged me throughout my life."
Though he is thankful for his new found friends. "It's a kind of lovely moment for me that I get to share with all the wonderful new friends in Coatbridge."
For the writer-director Kevin Walls (37) is a former NCL student turned lecturer - a path that illustrates how rooted this production truly is in New College Lanarkshire. Kevin studied sound production at NCL's Cumbernauld Campus, earning his BA Honours in what became Commercial Music before studying at acting at Coatbridge.
Now a lecturer himself, Kevin has built Premature almost entirely from NCL talent. "Most people are either staff or students from here," he says. "They're either people I've worked with or studied with, or were the year below me."
He is explicit about the film's ambition. "I hope it will portray Scotland in a better, funnier light than the gritty, Trainspotting-like cinema-goers have come accustomed to."
