Sharing Stories

SHARING STORIES

Supported By The Middleton Trust

Cromarty Cinema + Cromarty Primary School Partnership

WHY - CONTEXT

The Middleton Trust is supporting a partnership between Cromarty Cinema and Cromarty Primary School. Beginning in 2021, this partnership has involved the cinema volunteers and children meeting people working in film and learning about different filmmaking approaches. At the heart of the programme, is a strong emphasis on storytelling. The school has had access to ideas and techniques

delivered by a dynamic array of people working in film. Much of the early stages of the programme had to be done under Covid guidelines. Despite having to work online, this did not curtail the fun or breadth of the work completed. One of the consistent elements throughout all the different stages and creative exchanges has been the high level of engagement and thirst for learning by the children.

Pupils of Cromarty Primary School outside the cinema.

WHO + WHAT

We have welcomed an array of filmmakers who have talked and screened their work, shared their own life stories about how film has become how they make a living. All of the invited guests have been extremely generous with their time and have inspired the children to make new work. Victoria Watson, for instance, set the school a challenge to make stop-motion films in a similar vein to ‘Every Step’ a short stop-motion of hers featuring wellies on the move. Pupils worked in teams with each person getting to choose a different job – director, editor, music/sound –and collaborated on their own films.

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Animators Tony Farquhar-Smith and Eleanor Stewart’s work was studied in depth. Tony has had different film roles including working on major features such as ‘Isle of Dogs’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’. Pupils read the book and compared the film to the text. Eleanor brought props, paper puppets and focused a school project on silhouette animation. Everyone learned about the pioneering

filmmaker Lotte Reiniger whose original puppets and films we were incredibly privileged to be loaned by a private individual. Eleanor was struck by the way the children supported each other, and by their passion for film-making:

‘I’m so impressed how well the children worked together and so impressed by how inspired they were to go on and make their own films!’

Several of the cinema’s young volunteers – Marley + Gracewere involved in this part of the programme and designed special Fantastic Mr Fox-inspired certificates which were presented to the participating children at the end of term event after a special cinema screening.

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ Wes Anderson (2009)

‘Ladder to You’ Victoria Watson (2018)

WHO + WHAT

In 2022 Japanese Scottish illustrator, Emily Katagiri supported the children with their drawing and taught them different manga techniques.

‘I was surprised by how many more of the younger children recognised anime and manga compared to the older ones.

I had assumed it would be the other way around, and that dynamic was somewhat unusual in my experience. So I had the wonderful job of introducing some fun challenges for the excited younger group, and then giving technical drawing advice to the older group. All of the local children had wonderful energy.’

Manga workshop with Emily Katagiri.

IMPACTS + LEARNINGS

There have been many highlights since the partnership began. The impacts of the partnership have been far reaching. Not only have the children learned about different jobs and acquired practical skills, they have become more engaged with reading again.

clearly taken a real pride in what they’ve achieved.

Headteacher, Julie Dinwoodie recounted recently that a health project saw the pupils respond in different ways – writing, drawing and making stop motion films. Pupils who have been part of the programme are able to confidently make a film as their creative response to different school challenges which is a significant outcome of the partnership.

‘The class had become quite disengaged with literacy. It is difficult to find a book that we have access to that they all enjoy; they all have such diverse taste. The use of film really sparked an interest in them, especially animation…there has been a marked improvement in their literacy with detail in writing, analysing skills and their IT skills.’

The children have grown in confidence, they have acquired a broader outlook about the kinds of jobs that exist as well as learning new skills. They’ve worked co-operatively together to solve problems, to create artwork and make films. They have

Special key events which have taken place include an open community screening hosted in the cinema to share a silhouette animation ‘The Mermaid’ made by the children inspired by a local folktale. Each screening was introduced by a group of pupils who took to the stage to speak to the audience and proudly shared details of all the different creative processes involved.

Cromarty Film Festival 2023 opened on 24th March 2023 with the whole primary school enjoying a cinematic experience together. This was a perfect launch to the festival!

Class teacher, Gavin Macmillan:

Example from Puppet Making workshop ran by Eleanor Stewart

Example from Storyboarding workshop ran by Eleanor Stewart.

WHAT’S NEXT?

To offer a flavour of future plans: we will be building upon what has worked well in the initial phase of the project. The format established of delivering a two year programme made up 10-12 week intensive blocks which synchronise with the school yearly timetable will continue. Spring and autumn are the preferred times of the school year. 2023-2024 programme will involve inviting pupils to meet and work with industry professionals whose work tends towards being more behind-thescenes. The children will include

connecting with professionals who specialize in make-up, props, scriptwriting, editing and sound. This is part of a strategic approach which focuses on ‘developing the future workforce’; a current priority for the school. And everyone will of course keeping making more films!

BIG THANKS to everyone involved: pupils + filmmakers + cinema volunteers + teachers.

Susan Christie Cinema Volunteer April 2023

Photo credit to Anna Howarth

SCHEDULE

DECEMBER 2020 Animation made by the children which was part of the first Christmas screenings in the cinema which is now a much loved annual event.

JANUARY - APRIL 2021 Exercises in confidence speaking and presenting online with Vanessa Collingridge; history of film, film analysis and making one-minute films with Alasdair Satchel; study of Anthony Farquhar-Smith’s work including ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ followed by special screening in the cinema.

MAY 2021 Study of Victoria Watson’s animation including ‘Ladder to You’ and pupils made own stop-motion films inspired by her work featuring shoes and wellie boots.

NOVEMBER 2021 Origami workshops with Eleanor Stewart to create a butterfly installation as part the cinema’s special Japan season.

DECEMBER 2021 Christmas screenings for all the primary school pupils.

JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2022 Study of silhouette animation and pioneer filmmaker Lotte Reiniger with animator Eleanor Stewart. Pupils made own film ‘The Mermaid’ inspired by the Hugh Miller story.

MAY 2022 Special screenings at the cinema of children’s film ‘The Mermaid’ plus display of storyboards and other artwork produced by the pupils.

SEPTEMBER 2022 Manga drawing sessions with artist Emily Katagiri. Pupils learned about different techniques over several sessions and for varying ages including S1/2 Fortrose Academy pupils.

DECEMBER 2022 Christmas screenings for all primary pupils.

MARCH 2023 Special screening for the whole school in the Screen Machine, marking the launch of Cromarty Film Festival 2023.