A FILM tribute to her late grandmother could put a former Tavistock College pupil on the road to a media career.

Jo Batten from Bishopsmead made the film as part of her studies for a diploma in media production at Plymouth College of Art and Design.

She is also hoping the short tribute will prove a winner at film festivals at home and abroad this summer.

Jo, 21, said: 'I have previously done documentaries but I decided to do a film as it's my last ever chance to do something I wanted to do.

'I quite enjoy animation and when my Gran died a year ago, whom I had a close relationship with, I thought it would be nice to do something in her memory.'

As Jo had no actual film footage of her grandmother, Joyce, she put photos onto film and shot some of the piece using Super 8 footage and animation.

The film, which will run for under five minutes, starts with a journey into the village of Yeolmbridge near Launceston where Jo's grandmother was born.

Called 'Peppermint Dreams', it features childhood games like snakes and ladders, her grandmother's cat and footage of a little girl splashing in the river — the final poignant image is the last photo of Jo and her grandmother taken shortly before she died.

Jo is entering her film for the BBC short film festival and another festival in Szolnok in Hungary this October.

She said the project had involved 'a lot of hard work and dedication' but she hoped it would help her work ambitions after she graduates this summer.

'I hope to go into TV production, hopefully as a researcher or PA first, eventually as a director,' said Jo, who has already notched up work experience with 2-4 Productions and Denham Productions.

Jo commissioned Simon Downing of Tavistock butchers J and S Downing to tackle some of the film's graphic work.

He has recently completed a course in desk-top publishing and enjoys doing graphics as a hobby.

Simon said: 'Basically, I did the titles, some of the actual graphics for the animation and I will be doing the video cover.

'It's not been edited yet, but the bits I've seen of the film are very good.'