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Ben Cornish has been skateboarding for years, so it made perfect sense that his first film should be about the street sport.

Ben, 15, from Plymouth, decided to take part in the inaugural Motionplymouth Movie Competition, which is part of a new moving image festival in the city.

And he won the Changing Plymouth category, picking up the award at a ceremony on 17 November 2006.

Ben behind the camera

Using a Sony handicam, Ben filmed his friends skateboarding at their favourite spots around the city.

He also has his own 'Alfred Hitchcock' moment, with a single, brief appearance in his own movie.

The film's music, Saga of the Southern Boys, is provided by a group of Ben's friends who play in the band, Elliot Whale Boy.

The film is under three minutes long and is called At Any Time.

Ben explained: "I was on the bus filming some of the pictures when I saw the parking sign which says At Any Time. I thought that would be a good title for the film.

"The filming was done near the Civic Centre, the Theatre Royal, and Drake Circus. I also did some at the skate park at Central Park.

"I didn't set anything up. My friends just skated and I got the shots."

Ben filmed his friends for At Any Time

Ben was up until 3am some mornings, editing the film on an iMovie programme on his Apple computer.

He pushed it a bit fine to say the least, taking the finished film to the Motionplymouth office on the day of the deadline.

Ben is chuffed with the finished article: "I'm really pleased with it. My friends also think it's very good which is nice."

Ben, who lives in the Crownhill area of Plymouth, has had work experience at programme makers Denham Productions, and he wants to pursue a career in film-making.

"That's what I'd like to do after I've done my A-levels," said Ben, who goes to Devonport High School.

You can watch Ben's film using the video link on this page.

And you can also find out more about Motionplymouth by clicking onto the links.