TALENTED artist Lauren Griffins had her poster for Disney’s Maleficent used to publicise the film at Preston’s Vue Cinema and earned a VIP trip.
The Year 9 student at Haslingden High School used her creative talents to paint a picture in acrylics and watercolours to promote the film.
Trade Marketing Exec at Walt Disney Studios Chris Laws selected her entry as the best and Vue Cinema manager Matthew Rawcliffe arranged for it to be enlarged and used to promote the film.
Matthew, a former student at Haslingden High School’s Sixth Form, said: “At the cinema we selected the top five entries and then Chris came along from Disney to pick the winner.
“I believe that the marketing for this film was wrong. It was very dark and sinister and I don’t think reflected the film’s content and so decided to hold a competition.
“Where better to run it than at my old school Haslingden High School. I was delighted with the quality of entries.”
Students got to see the Disney posters and view trailers before painting their own posters.
Lauren said: “I spent the first lesson just looking at the pictures coming up with ideas. I then finished the poster off at home and it took me two days to complete.
“When I found out I had won I was delighted and my dad was very proud when he saw my poster on display in the cinema advertising the film.”
As part of her prize Lauren, her brother Adam, 9, and parents Ian and Hilary were invited VIPs at the cinema to see Maleficent.
Lauren said: “I thought the film was good and not what I had expected, especially when it explored the childhood of Maleficent.
“Art is something I have always loved and I am taking it for GCSE. I will probably take art for A level but I am not sure what I want to do yet.”
Matthew, who has just completed a bio-medical science degree at Lancaster University, is hoping to get other Vue Cinemas around Lancashire to use Lauren’s poster.
He is also planning another marketing exercise for the next Disney release.