Cartooning in York

Animation artist artist Ralph Shephard and myself were in York on Wednesday, running a comic themed animation workshop run as part of the Event for York Youth services.

Ralph is an amazing artist who taught me way back when I was at Harrogate College and has worked for Cosgrove Hall and Aardman amongst others. He was granted honorary membership of the British Society of Painters in 2004. I last worked with Ralph at Splash so it was great to team up with him again. York Library brought along a mobile library so young people could find some cool comic references before designing their own character. Ralph showed how animation and comic characters are designed and I then helped them bring their characters to life.

Here's a glimpse at some of the magical flip books they created!


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I hope to work with Ralph much more over the next few years. Check out his web link to London Art in my animation friends links.

Animating on Goole Silent Movie

A big thank you to all our animators who worked tirelessly to finish animation on "The Lost Princess." After a big push, the drawn animation is complete and the cells have been painted! Debbie and myself are finishing off the last few remaining title cards and I now have a big stack of artwork to film at the close of the week. Check out the behind the scenes video when I somehow got roped into tracing lots of drawings on the last Saturday of animation!

Aboive: Sam animating the final sequence in the Lost Princess.

Animating Lost Princess

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1000 years of Oxfordsahire.

Well, it's the summer holidays and I'm having a ball working around the country on some really fun projects. We've just wrapped filming on Goole Silent Movie, and from that I went stright onto The Animation Station at Banbury.

It's a big birthday party in Oxfoidshire - 1000 years and the Animation Station came up with the brilliant idea of capturing 1000 years in 1000 frames. 1 week and 2 films later, I've got a bundle of brilliant animation from the children waiting for post production. Work in progress versions of the two films have already been shown at the Summer Screen Festival for young people in Oxforshire. There's even a video blog featuring the making of one of the films. We are on the end of the film dated Fri 3rd Aug. They seem to have mistaken me for the eduction officer, (sorry Clinton) even though I was flicking though animation at the time! Guys, I'm just the animator!

Tommorow I'm taking Wild Wonders at the National Media Museum in Bradford for two days. Over and out!

Wild Wonders visits National Media Museum!

Wild Wonders is coming to the National Media Museum in Bradford for two days over the summer on 8th an 9th August! Visit the museum website for details.

Dreams on Radio 4

This Friday morning at 11.00 on Radio 4, two girls who worked with Nina Perry at Clarendon Rd as part of verd de gris "Dreams" project will be 'appearing' in Nina's new broadcast piece for radio 'Mirror Mirror'. Have a listen!

On Monday at St Andrews Primary there was a 'coming together' of the 3 schools involved in the project. Representatives of the local Yemeni community, Yusuf and Mohammed from the Yemeni Community Assoc. also came and were so impressed by what the children had achieved and how respectful they were to them as visitors, to the school and during the poetry reading in particular.

I've just completed the edit for the animation. News on the Dreams exhibition soon.

Festival 07

It's festival time again!



After a hugely popular animation flipbook tent last year, I am pleased to be back for a bigger than ever Festival ‘07. Thursday 5th July is aimed at secondary school children, Friday 6th is aimed at primary school children and Saturday 7th is Youth Arts Festival day. I'll be in my tent for the full three days. Saturday is open to everyone - you can find me from 5-10pm.

There is also an opportunity to see some of the films I've produced over the last year with children and young people in the film tent between 12-6pm.

The films being shown are:

"Flipbooks 06" (The best flipbooks from Festival 06)

"Jack and the Beanstalk", Stepney School & Creative Partnerships Hull

"How Wilberforce Stopped the Slave Trade", Stepney School & Creative Partnerships Hull

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar", Bricknell School, BBC Hull

"Around the World in 80 Days", Animation Station

Last year, the festival attracted 900 Secondary Students, 1000 Primary Children and 2500 Young People!

Hope to see you there!

Half-term Cartoon heaven!

Check out this new project which finally swung into action over half-term. Biomation is a pioneering science and youth arts project in York, UK. It involves artists and clinicians working with children and young people at York Hospital NHS trust to explore relevant health issues. We're using animation, digital media, sound and creative writing to produce short films, animation, stories and music. The project is unique within the UK. I spent the half term in the children's ward of York Hospital making flipbooks. Brilliant stuff! Can't wait to see this project take off.

Busy busy busy

Well it's so manic that it's hard to find time to blog right now. I had a fantastic time at Clifton Nursery School in Hull, as part of the Think Smart programme for Creative Partnerships and the Beverley Road Network Learning community last week. We made an animated film with the 3 and 4 years olds based on the story they are reading, Michael Rosen's brilliant "We're going on bear Hunt." The animation 3 and 4 year olds can do has to be seen to be believed. Amazing stuff.

I spent the weekend in Goole for the Goole Silent Movie Project, which is really getting exciting. Check out the blog (it's taking up all my blogging time right now!). "The Lost Princess" has entered pre-production with screenwriter Paul Arrowsmith and actor Paul Vates joining us this week. We are also pleased to welcome The National Media Museum as project supporters. They are staging the premiere for us in the Autumn.

Dreams

I'm lucky to be working with a truly inspirational couple of artists, Sharon Marsden and Jeff Turner at verd de gris on their arts project "Dreams". Dreams is a cross-generational arts initiative that works with younger and older people to explore aspects of identity, aspiration, ambition and fantasy - through discussion, reminiscence and participation in a series of creative workshops. The aim of the project is to try and broadened our knowledge and understanding of our culture and how we live today.

Jeff and Sharon asked me to lead workshops with year 6 students in three schools in West Yorkshire: Salford, Rochdale and Liverpool. With each child we are capturing their dreams for the future in animation. It is such a special privilege to help children express their hopes in animation, and I've been nothing but awed by what they have produced.

You can read about more about dreams on the Verd de gris website.

I am looking forward to working in Liverpool in May. News on the Dreams exhibition which taking place in June soon.

Stepney School Animations are live!

Production Still: "How Willberforce Stopped the Slave Trade" KS2


Great news! The first series of animated films made as part of my 30 day residency through Creative Partnerships Hull and Arts Council England. are now on the Stepney school webiste! You can see animation made from 3 year olds in foundation, fables in key stage 1 and the just completed film made by year 3+4 about William Willberforce - which is already generating a good deal of excitment.

My 30 day residency at Stepney School is fast beoming one of the most extraordinary, enjoyable and inspiring adventures of my life. Animation is the art form of our age and remains virtually untapped as a teaching tool. In education, just like film, animation can be mistaken as a gimmick or a poor second cousin to live-action. What I’ve learnt is that the reverse is true. Few art forms have the power to captivate young people and facilitate creative expression like animation. To be able to connect with children through cartoons is awesome. My year 6 teacher saw the potential years ago when he invited me to make a cartoon about what I was learning in class. It’s not rocket science. But I'll let these films speak for themselves. Enjoy!
"Jack and the Beanstalk", KS1

3 films in a day!

Last Sunday was sunny and gorgeous in Goole - perfect for making a series of films based on everything we've been looking at so far - old Goole stories, acting, film-making and special effects. Under the supervision of Duchy Parade Films Peter M Kershaw, our groups got their first experience using actual film cameras with black and white film thanks to our sponsors at Kodak! We discovered how to use a range of Super 8 cameras, set up a tripod and direct a shot on location. Our groups storyboarded, made props and special effects set pieces, rehearsed, acted, directed. In short they made their very own silent movies in a day.

EVERYBODY came away from the day with a ton of learning which will provide invaluable in preparing for the shoot proper over Spring Bank. The films are going away for developing and will have their first screening when we visit the National Media Museum at Bradford on Sunday 29th April!

This Sunday, 1st April is our last session before Easter. Peter Kershaw is taking a writing workshop at 2pm and helping our group prepare for their next challenge. Pitching a film concept to our group - our Goole Silent Movie project!

Comic Relief

Er yes, I went to school in my pyjamas and all in aid of comic relief! And we raised a lot of money in the process!! Well what can I say? Some of my favourite times since the New Year have been working with Stepney School in Hull. The 'Animated Solutions' learning programme has been developed and supported in conjunction with Creative Partnerships Hull, an Arts Council England initiative. I feel incredibly lucky to have spent time in this inspiring school who have earned an outstanding OFSTED report. The school in Beverley Road has also become the sixth city school to be awarded Beacon School status by the Government, Beacon designed to spread good practice, helping to raise standards and achievement within schools.

When I have more time, I'll write down some of the extraordinary discoveries and we've in using animation to aid the curriculum with links to some of the inspiring animation which has been developed through the programme. You can see in the background some of the work I did with year 2.

To add to the surreal experience, I was interviewed by Viking FM (in my pyjamas) about a project years 3 and 4 have spent the last two weeks working on - an animated film about William Wilberforce to mark 200 years since the ‘Abolition of the Slave Trade’ Act. Next week Creative Partnerships are bringing in percussionist Garry Hammond of The Beautiful South fame to work with the children on the sound track. I can't wait! Much more news on this project soon.

Congratulations to Giles & Sylvia!

I travelled to the small town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch on 3rd Feb for the wedding of Giles, my good friend from Uni, to the lovely Sylvia. Nobody seems to know that Ashby-de-la-Zouche exists or, if they've read Adrian Mole, that it's a real place! It is in fact a wonderful English market town and I saw it on a perfectly sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. Giles is somewhat bashful about having his picture taken, so I hope he didn't mind me excitedly snapping away!

It was also good to meet my flatmate from Bournemouth Dr Henry Bush who now teaches the BA Animation Students at the University with his girlfriend Helen. Emma Vane, at the bottom is a wonderful actress who's performance in "The Tolstoy Tales" with The Humble Theatre Company has just been acclaimed by The Stage.

If anyone would like to have a look at my wedding photographs from the happy day, you can do so here.

Goole Silent Movie Launch

After months of planning we held the very first workshop on Sunday 25th Feb for The Goole Silent Movie Project - the day of the Oscars. A superb group of young people joined us for the first day of what is going to be a really exciting filmmaking journey. The Sunday Film Club has also started and it is the first time I've had a chance to see a lot of silent films on the big screen. Seeing them in a room full of people laughing and enjoying them together was awesome! I've set up Film Club links on the blog so you can find out more about the films, directors and actors featured. Producer/director Peter M Kershaw and myself went to London yesterday for the First Light Movie Awards to see some of the very best of films made by young people - a real inspiration - before visiting various film processing studios for the project.

For anyone interested in joining, the good news is it's not to late. We are still looking for young talented actors, filmmakers, writers and artists. Check out the blog, come along to The Gate Theatre on Sunday for 2pm to register and have a go.

Want to be a star?

OK, well following on nicely from the last post, we start the long awaited Goole Silent Movie Project STARTS THIS SUNDAY 25 FEB!

We are still looking forActors, Film-makers, Writers, Animators, Prop set and Costume Designers, Researchers and Musicians aged 13 -20 to join this exciting project. We have an team of film-makers to work with you to help develop your skills and ideas in the form of myself, Writer/Director Peter M Kershaw of Duchy Parade Films, Theatre director and actor Madeleine Frost. We sat around last night, cunningly planning the day, and endulging ourselves with a night of classic Silent Films.

The project is FREE and will involve regular weekly sessions Join us from 2pm at The Gate Theatre. So if you are interested and would like to find out more, come and join us this Goole this Sunday. or check out the blog.

He a star! (...well he was a day ago)

I love surprises.

Well I'm looking forward to working with Dave Flemming and the guys and gals at York Hospitals and Arts Action York on an exciting project soon but what I never realised is Dave has a double life and is secretly an indie rock star! To quote Dave, "At Last! I did it! I have a number 1!" His Band, 'The Erratics' have gone crashing in at number 1 in Channel 4s 'Unsigned' Charts. Well, they had. I've just got round to checking it out. At the time of writing they have vanished, such is the fickle and fast changing world of the unsigned charts. However I rather feel Dave 'Lennie Lazerbeam' Flemming has been around long enough not let stardom, however fleeting, get to him! So check them out and vote them back to no1!

Dave says "Keep and old rocker smiling in his old muso days... Still Got it.... well got something... actually I think it might be arthritis..." Nice one Dave.

Half term fun!

Well, I'm off this morning to one of my favourite places - the brilliant Animation Station in Barbary, with two workshops for 8-13 year olds, "Wild Wonders" and "Destination Imagination". I went to the Animation Station for the first time last Summer and it's great to be going back. I'm touring with these workshop this year and if anyone wants further details, just drop me a line. Then I'm sprinting over to Goole on Friday for the Goole Silent Movie open day. Sounds like a packed half term!

I'm back!

Sorry for the long silence. I've had some problems getting into my blog since moving over to the new blogger. But I'm in now! Way to much to update on a sinlgle posting, so I'll do that over the next few days.

Lots of exciting things around the corner - but none more exciting that The Goole Silent Movie Project. I've teamed up with Goole Town Council, Producer/Director Peter M Kershaw of Duchy Parade Films and theatre practitioner Madeliene Frost to offer young people aged 13-20 in Yorkshire the change to make a silent film based in Goole.

Goole Silent Movie will empower young people with researching, writing, acting, directing, animation, filming and editing skills to create a silent movie. We are running a drop in day over Feb half term on Friday 17th Feb at Goole Museum. We launch the project at the Gate Theatre on 25th Feburary. For more information check out the Goole Silent Movie blog.

Wishing you an animated Christmas!

Christmas came early this year for as I was busy helping year 10 and 11 pupils at Sydney Smith School in Hull create animated backdrops for the school pantomime. As fas as I know, this is the first time a school has used large scale back projection for animation as part of a theatre production. Here are some stills from behind the scenes. The set design is by the student director. Merry Christmas!

Perfect for your Christmas stocking!

Just what you've always wanted! Yes, the photo-graphic novel "The Last Coiner" is avaibale on line and in specialist stores, and my fine features grace the pages as the nortorious John the Informant!

See Duchy Parade Films for more details.