FINAL SESSION FUN We tried out a variety of fun film-related games and activities for our last session. First we played 'Guess the film title' with specially provided cards. This is a tricky game as you have to describe a film without using the film name or the five key words written on the cards. This game requires some careful thinking and good descriptive wording. Then we tried the 'Sticky Notes' game where the guessing person has to try ton find out the name of a film written on a piece of paper stuck to their head. We wrote the film title in big letters behind the person instead but it worked exactly the same. Lastly, we needed some cool shots to use as publicity photos so we struck up some great poses and let the camera click away ... The screening of the final film will be announced soon ... can't wait!
WHAT ELSE? The group reflected on everything that we had produced for the film so far and then tried to come up with a few extra things that would add the finishing touch. We decided on a shot of the group walking into the school [which we might then put into slow motion], some shots of people in action/doing things, some music creation and some more animation. After doing the group shot walking into school, we split into groups and individuals to get on with our chosen tasks. BEHIND THE SCENES MINI FILMS Two of the group wanted to make mini behind the scenes films and so, armed with iPads, they set about documenting the activities that were going on around them. These included some stop motion animation, music creation on a computer, video editing plus some other school activities in the building. The music created is intended to be used in the final film. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK
Two of the group found a quiet space and then interviewed each other, talking about the school, their feelings and their favourite things. One great tip when interviewing is to use the question 'WHY?' to follow up each answer ... this makes the interviewee think more deeply about the reasons for their answer and may give you a greater insight into what they think. JAMIE - YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE! It wasn't the Empire, but something was striking back today and it meant that our Rebel Alliance had only one hero to save the [Film] Universe. We bravely defied the odds, and Jamie got the the bottom of life at St Martins by talking to a few of the Jedi Masters who told us about some of the great stuff that goes on at St Martins every day, week and galactic year ... THE WAYS OF THE FORCE Jedi trainees were in evidence, being tutored in the ways of the St Martins force [for good] and showing off some tremendous creative skills from clay modelling through character art all the way to fantastic art in the style of former Jedi Jackson Pollock. FEDERATION OUTPOSTS Journeying to the far reaches of the universe, we discovered some rare treats, including graffiti signs, busy kitchens and a construction bay with some marvellous looking inventions that look like they are on the verge of improving interstellar travel. A NEW HOPE
A great days work has given our film project new hope and life. A special thank you this week to our young Jedi Master Jamie for his brilliant onscreen presence, his honest and forthright interview and his majestic communication and personable skills whilst tackling some of the sharpest minds this side of Tattooine ...
A NEW ANIMATION SCENE After the success of the last animated scene, the team decided to create another. This time we would use the outside of the school as the backdrop, and so that we could see exactly what it looked like, we went out front to take a picture. Then we decided who was going to make what and got to work. On our list of things to make for the background were blue sky, clouds, a sun and the school. We each did something and then when we were done we attached the new scene to our Animation Station. WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED FOR OUR SCENE? We already had our four characters from our last scene that we could use, and so we thought about what else might appear in a scene when people come into school. The answers was TAXIS. So we built taxis using paper, coloured pencils, scissors and glue, remembering the important things like a sign on the vehicle that would say Taxi, licence plates, wheels, lights. The majority of Taxis made were yellow although somehow a pink one slipped through the colour filter net. Once everything was built, it was all assembled on the animation set ready for next time. As all of this was happening, one of the team was capturing some great behind the scenes footage ... A GRAND TOUR
The group gathered briefly to reflect on all of the work we had done so far and to pick out favourite bits, before deciding on doing a filmed tour to end the session. We started at the entrance and then walked all around the building, being introduced to the various areas as we went. The tour finished with a flourish when it was announced at the final destination 'And this is everything!' MAKING ANIMATION CHARACTERS With the first of our animation sets created last week, the only thing we needed for our scene now were characters. We discussed some different methods of creating characters, and decided on using paper as it is a material that is always on hand. We drew out a template for a basic character with a pencil and ruler and then added features like a face, body, legs, arms, hair etc with coloured pencils. The last job was cutting out the shape, folding it in the right places and then gluing it together. BRINGING THE CHARACTERS TO LIFE The tripod and mount were set up, and the iPad attached. The software was launched and the record button was waiting expectantly. What would the characters do? As two walked towards each other and passed, one of them thought 'I think I'll follow him' and turned around and went back the same way. Then all four of them ran quickly across near the camera before returning to the screen again and running around in circles. Just like in real life! The animating done, we sat back and viewed the fantastic result. Another team filmed a real life scene that will end up in the same place as the picture our animation set is based on, so that the two bits can magically join together. Some great work all round, from the building of the characters, their decoration through to the scene being animated bringing everything to life. The question for the end of the session was 'What scene shall we create next'. We talked about different possibilities and thought that a scene outside of the school building would be good, so we can set about creating that scene next time ...
MAKING USE OF OUR NEW ANIMATION STATION With our new Animation Station in place, it would be a shame to let it just sit there and so we chose a scene from last session's recce photos and set about recreating that scene for an animated scene. After checking the photo on the blog, we identified key elements of the photo to recreate and then used coloured paper, pencils, scissors and sellotape to assemble it ... We decided that the Animation Station needed a sign so that people know what it was. In addition, we needed another sign so that anybody else coming into our office knew that our newly created scene should not be touched. As we are becoming experts in the filed of animation, a discussion went round about possibly creating another sign that was a kind of 'How To Animate' for anyone else who might like to use the Animation Station. The kind of things that we thought might go on there would be to do with coming up with your idea first, some advice on creating a set and characters and then something about how to animate using an iPad. We will develop this 'How to' further as we go along ...
MOVING FORWARDS Nicely settled into the new office, the team thought about what jobs they would like to do and then just got on with it ...
Then the camera was set up and the animation began. For a new activity the team found it 'quite easy to do' which was great news and meant that we could plan some animation into our film. The highlight of the animated action was when one of the alien characters knocked over the sign and then got run over by a car. It was a successful animation test all round. "We feel happy about doing animation" TEAM TWO
The second team disappeared out on location to making a film about bullying. They discussed ideas and that was their best one. Then they acted it out as a practice first and then using the camera. Filming was outside and it went well - and it was exciting! At the end - CUT! We then talked about what we had done. We then showed the rest of the group. We then edited it and added sound effects like people clapping and loads of other things.
THE GRAND TOUR If you were giving a tour of the school to a visitor, what six things would you show them. This was the brief for today, and we started by each developing six things we would show/tell people and why. It should be something that you like, or that you think is important. We had a range of answers including tailored curriculum, a sensory room, good break times, off-site education, spectacular furniture, good fresh food, superior art, great trips, good P.E. facilities and really interesting lessons. With our lists ready, we split into teams to film each other visiting and talking about their favourite tour things.
After interviewing some very helpful volunteers, we edited the footage in iMovie and sat back and watch our 'New School Rules' film ...
We started the session with a memory game - say your name and then something you like, then take it in turns to go round the circle trying to remember all of those that had come before you. No mean feat! After that we went straight into making a short horror film using only three different shots and an editing trick. The group split off into the different roles of actors, director and camera operator. First, a strange noise to the right, then a face at the window to the left, and finally, was that a scary face at my shoulder? I'm so scared, I might just ... ... ... disappear! After filming was completed we used iMovie on the iPad to edit the short trailer together. Our next brief would be to come up with some new school rules. What would be your new rule if you could invent one and why? Among the many suggestions were more trips, help for mums, free bananas, no right or wrong, a room where it is impossible to run out of stuff and access to youtube but NO rudetube ...!
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