Oscars success!

Congratulations to former pupil Ross White – professional screenwriter and director, who followed up recent success at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) by claiming the ‘Best Live Action Short Film’ Award, for his film ‘An Irish Goodbye’, at the 2023 Academy Awards.

Ross, who co-wrote and co-directed the short film, was recently victorious at the BAFTAs, held at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 19th February, with ‘An Irish Goodbye’ claiming the ‘Best British Short Film’ title. Not content with this success alone, however, Ross was celebrating once again when the film claimed the ‘Best Live Action Short Film’ Award at the Oscars, held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on Sunday 12th March.

Set against the backdrop of a working farm in rural Northern Ireland, ‘An Irish Goodbye’ is a black comedy following the reunion of estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan after the untimely death of their mother.

Ross’ latest success comes after he previously had his debut short film selected for the world-renowned Santa Barbara Film Festival, in 2020, where it was also the only film from the UK and Ireland selected to compete for ‘Best Live Action Short’.

Ross attended Grosvenor between 2006 and 2013, studying GCSE and A level Drama as well as starring in many of its famed School Productions, before heading off to train as an actor in London. With a long-held passion for storytelling, Ross’ recent successes are just reward for his dedication to his vocation.

Recently, Ross spoke about his Grosvenor experience, paying tribute to the invaluable grounding with which it provided him in advance for his award-winning career. In response to some prompt questions, Ross provided the following comments:

Could you let us know what School productions you were involved in, who directed them and, if you can, what roles you played?

I first found my love for storytelling at GGS through taking part in the annual school musical. Over the years, I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of a range of productions including ‘Joseph’, ‘Oliver’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Fame’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Guys & Dolls’. All were put together by the wonderful duo of director Miss McDowell and musical director Mr Arnold, with Stage Manager Mrs Salt keeping us all right from the wings. My typecasting tended to be comedy roles that didn't require too much singing - which I think was probably a small mercy on the audience!

Please tell us about your experience of Drama in the School, outside of the aforementioned School Productions.

Outside of the school plays, my junior school drama teacher was the wonderful Mrs Young who was (and I know continues to be) a real inspiration for many young creative pupils at Grosvenor. We studied plays including Willy Russell's ‘Blood Brothers’, J.B. Priestly's ‘An Inspector Calls’ and ‘Macbeth’, all of which Mrs Young managed to make feel urgent and exciting to a room of teenagers. 

I equally enjoyed the creative assignments involved in English Literature - having the opportunity to read and discuss Harper Lee's ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ and write, what would have been at the time, my first short stories and scripts! Even the remarkable History department, including Mr Tomkins and Mrs Peel, managed to harness my interest in stories and characters to engage me and create a lifelong curiosity around the past - something I have brought into my work in film.

What role did Grosvenor play in developing you and your career?

Grosvenor provided an open, warm environment that offered all pupils the opportunity to forge their own paths and follow their own interests. I was pushed beyond my comfort zone and encouraged to challenge myself. Though I've taken a bit of an unorthodox path to my career, Grosvenor gave me the gift of curiosity and an interest in learning for more than just the sake of knowing.

A huge congratulations to Ross on his recent, phenomenal successes - we look forward to welcoming him back to the School before long; hopefully accompanied by his BAFTA and Oscar awards!

Well done, Ross!

Ross celebrates, following his Oscars victory, alongside ‘An Irish Goodbye’s’ lead actor James Martin, and co-writer and director Tom Berkeley.