The Locket’s Riddle film project was the second hugely successful collaboration between Chisenhale Art Place and Lawdale Junior School, funded by Help a Capital Child.
Chisenhale Art Place commissioned artist Lisa Nash to work with children and teachers from Year 5 on a series of script-writing and film workshops, which culminated in the making of a short-film, The Locket’s Riddle. The film is set in London Docklands and looks at the history of the area, relating directly back to the curriculum. With Lisa’s support, the children worked as a team to lead on all aspects of the film-making process – from story-boarding and directing to editing and costume-making.
The Locket’s Riddle was screened at the school in January 2012 to a large and enthusiastic audience of children, teachers and parents. A very special second screening took place at the Museum of London Docklands in March 2012, allowing the children to see their film on the big screen.
Many thanks to Help a Capital Child, the Museum of London Docklands, Lawdale form teachers Justine Kavanagh and Anita Vanjara, and volunteers Yasmin Kauser and Mavela Daley, for their support of and enthusiasm for the project.
Last year in the autumn term at Lawdale school, Lisa Nash, visual artist and film maker created a five minute film “The Vampire Bullies” with teacher Justine Kavanagh and Year 5 children, because of the huge success of this film project, the school starts it’s second film project this term.
In the first week, the group discussed their experience of film making before they started to brainstorm about what kind of film they would like to make. Will it be a thriller a mystery, or maybe a romance? As the children’s school year will be based on the London Docklands, they decided to somehow tie that in with their theme for the film.
Many of the children were interested in how filmatic “green screens” work, so Lisa decided to give them experience of how to use it for one of the sessions. The children had enormous fun using this technique, and were impressed with the special effects that can be created and are eager to use it for their film project.
When it came to developing the story there was much debate – but by the third session a story soon began to appear. They then had to develop the characters and agree on the final script. Then, despite having the theme, characters and the script there still was no title, so in recent sessions the group worked on possible titles. They also rehearsed parts of the script, before auditing for the main six characters before Lisa and Justine. After the final casting, in which everyone was happy with the outcomes, attention was turned to costumes.
The days have been long, but everyone agrees they don’t want to go home at the end of each day, even though their brains are frazzled…….
Shooting will start soon!
Every Friday lunchtime at Lawdale Junior School a hive of creativity buzzes. Children from all year groups join the Chisenhale Studio artist Charlotte Mew and photographer Maria Andrews for some some free form exploration. Using found objects and their environment, the children give full rein to their vivid imaginations, drawing, making and bringing characters to life. This project is funded by Lawdale Junior School.
On Friday 11th February at 10am, there was great excitement at Lawdale Junior School. All were waiting with baited breath to see the finished movie, The Revenge. The film was made by a group of intrepid Year 5′s who were helped (a little) by the artist and film maker Lisa Nash, their form teacher Justine Kavanagh and the volunteer Yasmin Kauser.
The Revenge explores, with slick humour, the depths to which the 9 year old will go to revenge the dastardly deeds of the school bullies. Driven to almost despair by the terrible trickery of the bullies, their victims rally round to exert a well planned and superbly executed superhuman revenge on those self same bullies. Happily, receiving doses of their own medicine persuades the bullies of the error of their ways and, in a manner true to all great screen dramas, everyone lives happily ever after.
The film was screened to all school pupils and teachers with a number of parents also attending. Judging by the peals of laughter from the audience, the film was a great hit. The out takes, edited entirely by the children and Ms Kavanagh were, judging by the overwhelming audience response, even better received. No Oscar nominations are in the offing as yet, but Colin Firth should be worried.
The young film makers took questions from the audience. Questions were far reaching and wide ranging and covered themes from the difficulties involved in keeping a false nose on to the tedium of the constant takes needed to achieve filmic perfection.
The Head Teacher, Ms Annette Rook, spoke about the positive impact that making the film had on the creativity, confidence and aspirations of the children involved. She also reinforced the fact that young people need to grasp and take ownership of new media. She spoke also about how Lawdale School intended to embed new media into the curriculum and use it to enhance that curriculum.
The making of The Revenge was graciously funded by Help a London Child.
Scary film, “The Revenge” is ready ! Conceived, acted, animated, filmed and edited by the children of Lawdale Junior School with a little help from artist and film maker Lisa Nash, the film receives it’s grand premier at the school on Friday 11th February. The whole school community, parents and invited guests will be present
“I had a lot of fun making a group storyboard and shooting from different angles. I learnt a lot of new words!” Hafsu
“I learned a new word today, tripod, which is a stand with three legs and holds a camera still.I have also had lots of fun when I was the camera person because I got to record lots of scenes”. Sameera
“We learned quite a lot of things and I would like to name just a few of them. We learned lots of different angles of the camera and also we learned about film directing and lots of different and important people that we need in a film.” Lamiya
“I learned how to use cameras and recorders and I also acted some shots. During the time I was being teh camera man, I was the only one who knew how to show all the videos after we recorded”. Mujahid
“We learnt about different kinds of camera shots. Furthermore about different frames. We also filmed our own storyboard ideas. When we used the camera, we got to tilt as well.” Khaled
“I have learned new words, “out take” and voice “overs”. Tayeba
“Yes, I would like to make another film!” Mujahid
“I would do it again and would do it about a person who had a dream to be a footballer” Khaladam
“I believe this film could be a hit movie!” Anjum
“I would make another movie about two twins who were long lost” Raya
“I have learned editing, acting, directing and camera shooting” Ameer
“Outtake is the funny things at the end!” Anjum
Year 5 children from Lawdale Junior School are making a short film with the artist and film maker Lisa Nash. When they first wrote the script, they named it The Vampire Bullies. However, when it came to the actual filming, the children decided to change the title to The Revenge -because it sounded ’punchier”!
This project is introducing the children to the world of film making, giving them the opportunity to make decisions about the process at every level. They work through all aspects of film making from start to finish. All the parts are acted by them, they explore every required skill from script writing to story boarding and experience every crew role, from director and camera person to clapper board.
After the days shooting the work is subjected to a rigorous critique and the children decide what “take” should go through for the final cut.
Asked what have been their favourite moments so far, the children said:
“I liked the time when the bad boys had the water spilled on them!” Tahibah
“The best bit was when I looked in the mirror and got scared of myself!” Anjum
“I liked saying “Action!” and getting everyone to do what I want!” Reya
“I liked being the clapper board person.” Khaledur
“The bit when they looked into the mirror and turned into a witch and vampire!” Ameer
And some of their worst moments were:
“When I was doing the acting, my hand ached because I had to put it up for so long.” Reya
“I didn’t like having to wear the glasses. When you took them off your head spinned around!” Lamiya
In the autumn term, Lisa Nash, visual artist and film maker will create a five minute film “The Vampire Bullies” with teacher Justine Kavanagh and Year 5 children. Lisa spent a day in Lawdale Junior School developing a storyboard script with the children; this was funded jointly by CAP and the school. The script was submitted to Help A London Child (HALC) and we’re very pleased that it secured us funding to make the film. Animation and sound effects combined with live action will create the dramatic story of the day the bullies got their come uppance! Watch this space for updates!
“I really enjoyed working on the film script because I like doing drama and we were all participating together and I’m really looking forward to making the film next term” – Hafsa year 4.
“I’m looking forward to making the film because I love acting and hopefuly it will be great!” – Anjum year 4
” I enjoyed writing the script and I am looking forward to making the flim!” Ameer year 4.
If you are a school and would like to discuss developing a project with us, please click here to email us.
On 8th March, a group of 15 Year 6 pupils worked with the visual poet Charlotte Mew and the environmental artist Maggie Rose as part of the Ecology week at Chisenhale School.
The children explored what they found in the canal and along the canal bank, took photographs and discussed their findings together. They worked in the CAP Education Space to create poetry, scultpture and collage that expressed their views about what they’d found.
The work produced was shown in the Mile End Park Ecology Pavillion as part of a Tower Hamlets Schools Ecology exhibition.
If you are a school and would like to discuss developing a project with us, please click here to email us.
Charlotte Mew, a visual poet and Chisenhale studio artist, worked with three classes of Year 3 children and their parents to create a stitched narrative based on the book “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
The children looked at examples of Bengali quilts to examine simple sewing techniques and to note how elaborate detail is often made up of simple shapes. Each child worked individually or with their parent drawing and then sewing visual elements of the story using simple running stitch. Once finished the pieces were laminated and framed within the existing garden trellis which told the story in a colourful and individual way and created a permanent art installation for the school.
Parents and friends of the school were invited to the grand opening on July 9th 2009, Children’s Art Day, when the English/Bengali storyteller Shamim Azad told stories inspired by the children’s work.
The Secret garden project received Shine funding.
If you are a school and would like to discuss developing a project with us, please click here to email us.
