Somerset Film - News

> FilmNet - FREE teachers event...

Neil — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:47:49 GMT

FREE event 4.00-6.00pm on 8 May at The Engine Room for Primary and Secondary school teachers.

FilmNET is a brand new twilight training, information and networking session on film and digital media for those working with children and young people.

FilmNET is part of a subscription offer provided by recently launched InspirED Somerset – a new consortium of artists and producers bringing the skills and experience of professional arts and media direct to your school, children’s youth centre or youth organization. However, you don’t need to be a current subscriber to attend the first FilmNET event on 8 May, which is aimed at those in Somerset Primary and Secondary schools.

Come along and find out more about InspirED Somerset, Somerset Film and The Engine Room plus guest speakers will include:

Marianne King – Meare Primary School and co-producer of the Glastonbury & Street Film Awards

Followed by short breakout sessions on:

Animation for Primary schools – always popular and exciting creative tool for developing teamwork and storytelling skills with young children whatever the topic. We’ll explore ideas and provide advice with hands-on demonstrations on a range of equipment including Windows PCs and iPads.

Audio for secondary schools – from podcasting to radio, digital storytelling to film, from English to Science, Sports to Citizenship: good audio is essential to communicating their ideas and messages and can be used and distributed in so many ways. We’ll begin to troubleshoot your audio issues and explore the platforms for distribution, raising the production quality of your student’s work and linking with the wider community.

Our aim is to make these sessions as appropriate to your practice as possible so feel free to bring examples of the equipment that you currently use. That way we can advise on how to get the best out of the resources you’ve got plus what you should consider for the future to take you and your students work forward.

Plus we’ll have the latest news on the forthcoming film-making opportunity for schools with Sedgemoor Learning Alliance, SASP Film Competition, Film Club and First Light plus their forthcoming Filmnation education offer funded by the BFI with National Lottery support.

There are just 10 Primary school places and 10 Secondary school places available at this first event so advance booking is essential – call 01278 433187 or e-mail inspired@somersetfilm.com to book

In the meantime visit these sites to see examples of how film and digital media can link with

PE/Sports Curriculum Science Curriculum

English Curriculum Digital Literacy

> Spirit of ‘45 / Spirit of 13

Neil — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:42:09 GMT

Ken Loach’s inspirational new film The Spirit of ‘45 will be shown at The Engine Room on Wednesday 1 May 2013. Doors open from 7.00pm.

An impassioned documentary about how the spirit of unity which buoyed Britain during the war years carried through to create a vision of a fairer, united society 1945 was a pivotal year in British history. The unity that carried Britain through the war allied to the bitter memories of the inter-war years led to a vision of a better society. The spirit of the age was to be our brother’s and our sister’s keeper.

Director Ken Loach has used film from Britain’s regional and national archives, alongside sound recordings and contemporary interviews to create a rich political and social narrative. The Spirit of ‘45 hopes to illuminate and celebrate a period of unprecedented community spirit in the UK, the impact of which endured for many years and which may yet be rediscovered today.

When Ken Loach’s The Spirit of ‘45 was first screened and discussed nationwide panelists and audience members agreed on the need for informed, balanced, inter-generational dialogue about current threats to the welfare state. To facilitate this ...

Introducing The Spirit of 13 - a short film project for 16-19 year olds – http://cemp.ac.uk/spiritof13/

The Spirit of 13 short film project invites young people to make 3-5 minute films that respond to Ken Loach's The Spirit of ‘45 and document dialogue between teenagers and people who lived through the political changes of 1945 and/or their aftermath. The website above gives background to the film and the broader Spirit of ‘45 project, guidance for the process, and approaches to inter-generational dialogue.

The films can explore any theme arising from the film, with a focus on current debates about, and challenges to, the welfare state in the UK.

A panel from the project partners, including Sixteen Films, will select a range of the young peoples' films to be screened and discussed at an event in London in December.

This will make an ideal AS summer term History, Politics and Citizenship related project - or a holiday project with clear curriculum links to these subjects, but we are equally keen to see films produced by all young people in the age range, whether at college or not.

So – please forward this on far and wide, and contact julian@cemp.ac.uk to get involved or to find out more...

> Sorry no Drop In Tuesday 9 April...

Neil — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:23:51 GMT

Please note that the Engine Room Drop In is cancelled for Tuesday 9th April - this is due to sell out Family Connections workshops elsewhere. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

> Drop In early closing Tuesday 2 April

Neil — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:06:10 GMT

Please note that the Engine Room Drop In closes at 5pm on Tuesday 2 April - this due to sell out Family Connections workshops elsewhere and team holidays. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

> Days That Made Us wins award...

Neil — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:27:25 GMT

Congratulations to the young people and support staff of Bridgwater YMCA and to film-makers Peter Snelling, James Price and Jesse Lawrence for winning the First Light Movies Young Voice Award on Tuesday 19 March at a star packed ceremony at London’s Odeon Leicester Square.
Another great First Light win for a Somerset Film produced short movie, this powerful documentary unpacks the choices made
and pressures endured by those who go on to break the law.

Congratulations also to the girls of Avonbourne School, Bournemouth whose telling animation on climate change
It Will Be Fine (facilitated again by the same team with Somerset Film) made it to the top four nominations in the animation category of the awards.