Creativity in the Classroom workshops for 2012

I'm really pleased to announce an exciting series of training courses I'm running with Kudlian Software, makers of I Can Animate, around the country next year, when I'll be taking my popular teacher training day on the road. In this hand hands on learning day, teachers be trained through the whole process of animation filmmaking, from concept to animation and post production, creating a short piece of animation to take back to school. Dates so far are 24th January in Bradford, a special iPad day on 22nd Feburary in Linconshire, 28th February Hull and 2nd March in Leeds.

To register visit

www.kudlian.net/getcreative.html

or for more information call 01926 842544 or email

info@kudlian.net

Q&A at the BFI

Fresh from success at BAF, "I wish I went to Ecuador" is screening at London's BFI as part of We the Peoples Film Festival! The film has become a favourite on Your World View and I've been invited to travel down to London for a Q&A. The film is really making waves - today Victoria meets Lord Prescott to talk about One Hull of a Rainforest and I'm looking forward to sharing the outcome of the meeting to the BFI audience. The film, which was made for the big screen is screening in full HD cinema resolution and 5.1 surround so check it out at the BFI if you can make it.

BAF Best Film by Young Animators

Hot off the heals of the award success at Kids for Kids UK, "I wish I went to Ecuador" (Bricknell Primary School) was awarded the coveted BAF award for Best Film by Young Animators on Saturday. BAF received more entries this year than ever before for this award and the competition from around the world made this award truly special.

The jury of distinguished animators Barry Purvis, Linda McCarthy and Irina Margolina said:

We were so impressed by the epic cinematic quality of this film, not only with its glorious colours, but with its inventive technique. On top of this was a very powerful and moving message presented with such charm and infectious energy.

Kudlian Software supported the award and generously presented Victoria from Bricknell School with copies of I Can Animate 2, Pro Animate and a HD webcam. It's the perfect gift as Kudlian supported production of the film and customised Pro Animate, achieving a technical milestone - the first film made by children to be filmed in HD CinemaScope and mastered in DCP.

From left: Festival director Deb Singleton, myself, Victoria Jones, Kudlian Software MD James Betts

The awards on 12th November coincided with the groundbreaking BBC documentary project, Britain in a Day and we filmed the whole day from Victoria's perspective. The rushes are available for viewing along with thousands of others on YouTube.

Jury at Leeds International Film Festival

I am really honoured to have been invited on the Jury at this years Leeds International Film Festival. 5 full days of films coming up! I’m too thirds through judging the international animation competition and boy are there some extraordinary film in the category. I feel inspired and privileged just to have seen them. For those in the area, it's an amazing festival - well worth checking out.

Tenacity and Talent

I've been invited by Animated Yorkshire to join this industry panel of animators the Bradford Animation Festival, showing short clips of recent work and sharing experiences of the highs and lows of the animation business. Joining me will be Tim Searle (Baby Cow Animation), Rob Millington (The Neighbourhood), Linda McCarthy (Tiny Elephants), Mole Hill (Animator/Director/Designer) and Matt Howarth (Puppetman Productions). I feel quite intimidated just reading the list! Take a look at the Animated Yorkshire website for more information about the panel members. Friday 11th November, 12-2.30pm. You can book tickets here.

New film debuts at arts festival

Good write up about the premiere of Betty and Dorothy in todays Ripon Gazette

Grand Prize for I wish I went to Ecuador

“I wish I went to Ecuador”, Bricknell Primary School's conservation film mentored by myself, was awarded the Grand Prize for Outstanding Film - twice! - at the Kids for Kids UK Film Festival this weekend in the 6-12 category, by both the professional and youth jury. Kids for Kids UK is set-up to help promote young film and media makers throughout the UK. KFK UK is the national partner of the international Kids for Kids Film Festival Movement which comes under the umbrella of CIFEJ (International Centre of Film for Children and Young Adults). The next nomination will be at the Bradford Animation Festival on Saturday 12 November! Congratuations to everyone. The film is inspired by one primary teacher's life changing visit to the Andes, the Cloud Forest and the Rain Forest. You can see the film online on Your World View.

Making The Astronomers Sun

If you are interested in knowing more about the production of "The Astronomers Sun", then this vodcast should be of interest. Writer/Directors Simon Cartright and Jessica Cope discuss the making of the film with me. It sounds like we recoreded it in a toilet, but it's worth a listen.

California hero

Maybe it's a reference to the heroic children who made it, it's heroic success, or simply because the hero is the price of heroic icons, a lion, but “The Lion At Home" is a finalist in the 2011 MY HERO International Film Festival. They celebrate stories of heroism via their festival, multi-media events, and through our parent organization The MY HERO Project, a media-arts non-profit based in Laguna Beach, CA! You can watch it now on the Kids for Kids new film website. Bowing October 21st, KIDS FIRST!’s top rated shorts for children will be available for viewing at http://shorts.kidsfirstmedia.com. The portfolio of indie shorts includes animation, live action, student and independent shorts and features the KIDS FIRST! Best of Fest Winners.

Betty and Dorothy premieres at Masham Arts Festival Tuesday 25 Oct

I'm looking forward to the red carpet photo call for young and old stars of Masham animated film World Premiere, which sheds light on a true WW2 romance - 25^th October, 7.30pm at Masham Town Hall.Commissioned by Masham Arts Festival, ittells the uplifting story of two of Mashams oldest surviving residents.

Betty and Dorothy is animated by pupils at Kell Bank C.E. Primary School in Healy, North Yorkshire where I've spent the last few weeks working with the pupils. Back in 2009 i worked with Kell Bank to make the critically acclaimed “Leeds Pals” which commemorates the 750 people who died from the Leeds regiment on July 1st, 1916. The film won nominations and awards worldwide, from Hollywood to Bollywood and it's been a joy to be back at this very special school.

In the new film, “Betty and Dorothy”, Betty Thorbutt and Dorothy Kibbat reveal an extraordinary period of change in country life, through war and peace, and a friendship that remained constant through it all. At 9 minutes it's been the longest film I've every created with a school, though it's apt for this story which spans a lifetime. It reveals an astonishing period of change in British country life through war and peace and a friendship that remained constant through it all. brings to life an incredible World War 2 romance between a teenage farmer’s daughter and a German Prisoner of War, Willi Kibbat, shedding rare insight on an important part of British history.

Dorothy’s daughter, Christel, who accompanied her mother to a private screening of an early version of the film at Kell Bank School on Tuesday said, “It was a very special experience to meet the wonderful children and teachers of Kell Bank School and see the stories and paintings of our farm and village life made into a film. They told so well of our friendships across the years and how even our enemies can become friends if we all work together, as the POW’s did on our farms after the war. I’m very glad that Willi’s unique story is remembered in this way.”

Evoking the watercolour artwork of Nidderdale, the film was lovingly handcrafted with local artist Simon Palmer, winner of the Royal Academy Turner Watercolour Award and Masham based artist Ian Scott Massie teaching the pupils how to paint with watercolour. Dave Aston from the Digital Audio Company, who is known for Sound Design on ITV classic dramas ‘A Touch of Frost’and ‘Wire in the Blood’and Channel 4’s multi-award winning “The Astronomers Sun”, worked with children in Hull to bring to life the sounds of countryside and the drama of World War 2 in Digital stereo.

Dorothy, who celebrated her 82^nd birthday this year, will be joining the young animators and the crew on the red carpet for the premiere and a Q&A. We will also be screening Leeds Pals and "The Astronomers Sun". 25^th October, 7.30pm at Masham Town Hall.

Monday, 24 October 2011BEST ANIMATION at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival

A huge thank you to the audience and jury at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, USA who presented "The Astronomers Sun" with it's 16th award for BEST ANIMATION last weekend. This is the 3rd award in a row from New Mexico and it's humbling to see the NM audience take the film to their hearts.

Kudlian Animation teacher training at Robin Hood Primary

Yesterday, after months of talking about it, we finally piloted a CPD animation teacher training class with Kudlian Software at Robin Hood Primary School in Leeds with teacher Allison Darroch. The one day training course mixed professional insight and analysis of award winning films made by children combined with hands on animation experience. The origins for the course came from one of my most popular training courses at the National Media Museum. After DCMS funding for Anim8ed ended earlier this year, I asked Kudlian Software if they would consider supporting the training day. After all, I Can Animate is my number one choice when working with schools. Kudlian's commitment to education and training has made for a wonderful collaboration and together with Robin Hood Primary School we put together a day for teachers across Yorkshire. It was terrific to work with Allison and Sophie from Robin Hood and see how they are using animation in their school. And a pleasure to work with a wonderful group of teachers keen to discover new ways to use animation within their lessons.
Our group split into three teams to make a film in under 90 minutes. Ssupervised by Allison, Sohie and myself each team used a different technique - model, cut-out and drawn, capturing the animation on I Can Animate 2 with Agent v5 web cams. As well as animating, the groups experimented with the new audio tools in I Can Animate to record a multi track soundtrack before assembling the groups scenes together in Windows Movie Maker. The success of the day means the course should now be rolled out in the near future. Watch this space!

The Astronomers Sun screens in MASTERS OF PUPPETS, Romania

We are honored to be screening The Astronomers Sun in the MASTERS OF PUPPETS retrospective of the 6thANIMEST international animation film festival, which will take place in October 7^th to 16^th 2011 in Bucharest, Romania. It will also be screened on the Creepy animation night of this year edition of the festival.

I wish I went to Ecuador lauches in festivals this Autumn

Well blimey, it's been busy! So many things to talk about, but none more exciting than the growing momentum of Bricknell Primary School's conservation animated documentary for One Hull of Rainforest, "I wish I went to Ecuador".. This is the forth film I've been involved with at Bricknell Primary, and it's always an incredible environment to work in. When Bricknell createanimation, they really mean business and they realise the huge learning outcomes  animation achieves with their learners. The teachers at Bricknell are skilled in animation now, and so this time, I and they wanted me to push animation to a new level at the school. So we worked with all the pupils at the school, over 600 pupils to make a film so huge it only feels big enough on a cinema screen!.

This week’s exciting news is it has been selected for viewing online on Your World View.

YourWorldView connects the Voices, shares the Views, and showcases the Visions of students and young people globally through film and discussion. Films featured on the site create an interactive environment to explore and discuss issues of international interest. YourWorldView supports users to engage directly with new and emerging filmmakers around the world.


While the film has been designed for the big cinema screen and surround sound, it's still worth a view online. And it would be great to hear everyone reactions on the comment and voting page. Already, we have had some incredible feedback from people. John Lemmon, American director in Charlotte, USA sent me a personal email to congratulate the children:

“I think it's very well done. The children and teacher voices are quite charming and the animation is inventive. I love all the moving camera shots and the detailed sets. The film is a strong call to environmental action.”

 
I'm pleased to announce festivals where you can see the film in it's big screen glory.

First up is the 3rd Kids for Kids UK Film Festival, Saturday 29th October at the Empire Cinema in Consett where it's nominated in the 6-12 years screening in the Animation Category.

The film is also nominated at the Bradford Animation Festival in the Films for Young Animators Category – which Bricknell won in 2008 with Up Up and Away. Screening at 12pm Thursday 9th November the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Outside the UK, the film receives its South Asia premiere at the Chinh India Kids Film Festival in New Delhi, India on November 9-15, 2011, where it's nominated in the Kids for Kids category.

Goole Premiere for Goole Straight 8

The Goole premiere of our Goole Straught 8 films. Terrific to see so many people turn out for one heck of a celebration.

 Sam Burrows, Hannah Griffin and Harvey Griffin

Director, Hannah Turner

 Producer David Bunting and Supervising Director Madeliene Thorne

 David Bunting, crew supervisor Adam Kirk and Madeliene Thorne

"Going Up" stars, Francesca Jackson and Mathew Oldreive

The Astronomers Sun East Asia Premiere

The Astronomers Sun is playing in competition at the Kavalan International Short Film Festival 2011 in Taiwan.

London Straight 8 premiere

It was a one amazing premiere in London. Young directors Hannah Turner and Harvey Griffin joined Nicola Dixon and myself for the Straight 8 premiere at Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival. The mix and quality of films was breathtaking. Ahead of todays Goole premire, here's some pictures for the big day!

Hannah and Harvey waiting to see their films for the first time with an audience!

 Nicola Dixon, who's bold vision inspired all of our journeys.

 The technical challenge of producing any straight 8 film is immense. One brainy filmmaker wowed us all with his 3D super 8 film technique.

 Harvey's Dad, Harvey, David, Hannah and Hannah's mum.

The walk of fame. The Straight 8 directors on stage at the ICA.

Driving Inspiration celebration

Really looking forward to tomorrow's Driving Inspiration celebration in Aylesbury.
I've been working on a really partnership over the last few months with extraordinary company Sign Dance Theatre International and Buckingham Primary School on Buckinghamshire's main Cultural Olympiad project. Working with five schools, Driving Inspiration partners disabled artists with paralympians, to share their inspiring success stories.

It all began last year with paralympian James Morgan sharing his inspiring story with pupils at Buckingham Primary School. (Somehow I seem to have been too in awe I forgot to take a picture of that one). I then told the pupils about my battle with dyslexia... something I never thought that ever give me the chance to work with such a remarkable company as Sign Dance Collective on a multi media piece combining theatre and animation. The results of all of this are celebrated tomorrow in a live performance. Fingers crossed the technical rehearsals go well tomorrow when we finally see the animation, made by year 6 pupils, come together fully with the dance in its final form.  The permance is being filmed to create a cinematic experience we can share beyond the live performance. 

Working with five schools, Driving Inspiration partners disabled artists with paralympians, to share their inspiring success. Driving Inspiration is a project led by Creative Bucks a partnership between the District and County councils of Buckinghamshire. This project has been funded by Art Council England, and the South East's Legacy Trust project, Accentuate, to encourage young people to explore the inspiration behind the achievements of Paralympics Athletes.

We did it! Goole Straight 8 films in London premiere!

Great news from Straight8 that we have got 2 films in the London Screenings!! Woo hoo!!

Roll out the red carpet!!

And the films are . . .
Going Up - Director Harvey Griffin

Man From the Moon - Director Hannah Turner

Comisserations to the Remember to Smile team - we will be screening your film in Goole (more details on that soon)  The London Screenings will take place on 25 +26 July at the Rushes Soho Shorts film festival at ICA, The Mall, London! Hannah and Harvey will be attending to represent each film.

Straight 8, has become one of Rushes Soho Shorts’ most popular events, puts filmmakers into the unique position of seeing their own rushes at exactly the same time as the audience.


The brief is to shoot a film on one three-minute cartridge of super 8mm cine film. No editing is allowed, and the cartridge containing the film must be handed over exposed but undeveloped, along with a separate original soundtrack. Because there is no creative brief the resulting selection of films is always wildly diverse and the quality of the best films is astounding.


Straight8 Festival organiser Will Cummock said


‘Straight 8 is a tough challenge for any filmmaker, so it's fantastic to see young people taking it on so successfully. 2011 has been one of our most competitive years to date so the standard of selected films is particularly high.’

More info on the other films on the Straight8 website http://www.straight8.net/
Have a sneaky peak at the ICA http://www.ica.org.uk/
Goole Straight8 was made possible by a grant from Screen Yorkshire and UK film Council through the Regional Investment Fund for England. Jay Arnold, Head of Cultural Sector Development at Screen Yorkshire says '

Screen Yorkshire is delighted to congratulate Hannah and Harvey on their success and very proud to have been able to support Goole Straight8. To get through to this stage in an international filmmaking competition is a fantastic achievement and testament to the team at Junction who work incredibly hard to ensure that young people in Goole have access to such life shaping opportunities.'

Nicola Dixon Youth and Community Arts Co-ordinator at Junction said ‘We are immensely proud of what these young people have achieved; they really put so much hard work into the planning and creativity in these films.  I’m so pleased that they have been chosen to premiere in London, a great opportunity for 2 teenagers from Goole to showcase the fantastic talents the youth of Goole has to offer.’ 


Speaking personally, I’m so pleased for the young people, this is a hard film competition – there is no young people’s category, no special favours because they are young people – their films have been chosen on merit alone.  Well done to all involved’ !!

Premiere buzz

Tickets are selling well for tomorrow. Close Up Film have written a great news story about tomorrow's premiere. Molly and Jayden, stars of Bricknell Primary Schools "I wish I went to Ecuador" will be on BBC Radio Humberside tomorrow morning before traveling to the premiere at the National Media Museum in Bradford. It all started 3 months ago when we took a group to see "This is Cinerama", which the film plays alongside tomorrow. You can see a cool making of film made by the school here.