AN AMATEUR movie maker is to fly to Berlin this week to take part in a unique film project using mobile phones.

Michael Short, 34, of Brow Head Road, Burnley, is taking part in a pioneering exchange programme for film makers where he will spend three days in Germany, learning new techniques and creating clips and short films.

Michael, who has been involved in screen writing as a hobby for several years, will be able to try his hand at directing, editing and producing short films using only a mobile phone to shoot the films.

Over three days from August 24, the mobile group will learn how to work together, and alone, to make mobile films.

There will also be the opportunity to hear from Berlin's home-grown mobile talent.

Participants will learn the basics of capturing, transferring and editing footage so they can make their own films.

Michael heard about the trip organised by NorthWest Vision and Media from the organisers of a short film he had produced last year.

He said: "I'm really excited about having the opportunity to go to Berlin and learn all these new skills which will hopefully help me take up film production professionally.

"Mobile phones are becoming increasingly sophisticated and mobile phone film making seems to be an relatively untapped area of media which appears to be more and more popular.

"Film companies are starting to look towards distributing films on mobile phones as well as at the cinema when the technology is advanced enough.

"This will hopefully put the North West on the map in terms of media production and will make it more open the way for local people and make film production more accessible for them."

Lynne McCadden, managing director of Northwest Vision and Media, said:"This is the first time we've embarked on such a unique project, which will give media producers the chance to practice and develop new skills, using equipment which they wouldn't usually have access to.

"The Berlin Mobile Exchange will partner six Vision and Media trainees with six of their counterparts in Germany. Together, they'll develop skills and techniques for producing mobile phone content."