Halesowen News
From Halesowen to New York for acting talent Jaspal
2:40pm Monday 6th February 2012
AN ASPIRING actor from Halesowen is living the dream across the pond after his first film project won two awards.
Former Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society member Jaspal Binning appeared in the short musical ‘It is What It Is’ in his final year studing musical theatre at the New York Film Academy.
The film has won two awards so far - including Best Musical Short at The New York Independent Film Festival as well as an award for Best Actors in a Film Festival at the Big Apple Film Festival.
Jaspal, aged 21, left his Halesowen home in 2009 after studying A levels at Haybridge High in Hagley, to pursue his dream of becoming a actor.
The former St Kenelms Primary pupil clinched a place on a two year conservatory musical theatre programme at the New York Film Academy with the final project the chance to create a musical movie.
The film, in which Jaspal plays a British grad student, explores the lives of seven young New Yorkers, during a twenty-four hour period of near misses, tattered relationships and crumbling dreams.
Mum Livvy Binning who lives in Romsley said: “We are really proud of him.
“He’s loving it out in New York and seems to be finding work so it’s really good.
“He doesn’t forget where he is from though and loves coming back to visit family and friends.”
Jaspal, who finished his course at the film academy in June 2011, and whose latest role was in a stage show of A midsummer Night’s Dream in Upper State New York, appeared in productions while a pupil at Haybridge High. He was also a member of Hagley Theatre Group and Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society, performing in Oliver and The Pirates of Penzance.
A trailer of the film can be seen on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUD_IK3ly_ and there is a a Facebook page at t http://www.facebook.com/pages.com/pages/It-Is-What-It-Is/194054433984787.