MetFilm School Film lecturer’s YouTube success

Tutor’s YouTube series gets over 7m views in first week.

MetFilm School lecturer, Justin Trefgarne has developed and written a brand new series for the YouTube streaming platform. 

Sherwood is a 10-episode series aimed at 9-11 year olds it was launched on March 6.   

The show draws on the legend of Robin Hood for its inspiration but with the added dimensions that Robin is a girl, and it’s set in the 23rd Century. 

The trailer had over 5m views, and the first episode has surpassed that, currently on 7.5m views in its first week.  

Justin Said: “I am absolutely delighted. When it was launched last week, I tried to ignore it, put my head in the sand, but when I had a look on Monday, I couldn’t believe it – over 6m views then. I’m really overwhelmed by this, to know so many people have seen it.  

“A lot of hard work has gone into this series, some of it’s mine, but also the animators and producers – it’s the best possible outcome.”

Justin, 46, is course leader on MetFilm School’s MA Film & TV Production, he’s been working with the Ealing film school since 2009.

Justin added: “I take the role at MetFilm School very seriously, it’s hugely rewarding and as the industry is changing so quickly I find each new cohort brings with them new information about how these tech-savvy young people are consuming film and what the future might look like for film.

“The Internet has democratised filmmaking, and I want to de-mystify the filmmaking process – the only way to learn how to make films, any kind of film, is to actually start making them.

“The new streaming platforms, such as YouTube have opened up lots of new employment opportunities and it’s both very rewarding and challenging for me to work with these young people, it’s hugely enriching.” 

Justin fell in love with film after watching Superman 2 (Christopher Reeve) at Woking’s only cinema, the strapline of the film was. “You’ll believe a man can fly” – and that ignited his desire to make films.

Justin studied at LAMDA, (London Academy of Music, Drama and Art) and started out as an actor, he then got into theatre directing, and his first ever role working on a film was as a runner at Shepperton Studios – he worked on The End of an Affair starring Juliet Moore and Ralph Fiennes

In the mid 2000s he worked as Development Director at ‘Working Title’ films and worked on films such as Atonement, Hot Fuzz, Pride and Prejudice and more.

Justin wrote and directed his first feature film, Narcopolis, released in 2016 starring Jonathan Price and is currently working on his second feature film called  – Shake Loose the Border, a Western-style film about 17th century Scotland/England and the union of the English and Scottish crowns.

Justin is originally from Woking (Surrey) and now lives in Wandsworth. He has two sons aged 11 and 16. 

More info on Justin – https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/profiles/justin-trefgarne/

About the YouTube Series

Voice talent includes – Justin Fiennes (Handmaid’s Tale)

All her life, teen-hacker Robin of Sherwood thought she was an orphan. But when a mysterious Gauntlet unlocks a secret that turns her world upside down, Robin joins forces with a group of renegades who teach her the true value of love, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Through the flooded storm-lashed streets of 23rd century London, to the towering citadel of the floating Upper City, Robin and her new friends battle the elements and the odds to defeat the mad Sheriff of Nottingham. 

Nadine Zylstra, head of learning, Youtube Originals, said:

“In this modern telling of Robin Hood, Robin is a girl and she uses technology and code to battle the sheriff of Sherwood. Sherwood is new series set to inspire young women and girls on their role in technology of the future.”