Magic Lantern News

I certainly am:

* finishing off sound editing the additional CARA2 research mentioned below

* refreshing my website prior to launching a big publicity drive on the nearly

  complete Movie Kits

* Launching my first independent CPD course in October

                                  puffpuffpuffpuffpuff

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I ran two workshops for Creative Partnerships at Norwich School of Art and Design on Friday 29th.  There were teachers present from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex and workshop leaders with expertise in a range of areas.  We used Photo Story 3 and a CD of assets to begin building simple documentaries.  In the morning we looked at the story of the Burston Strike (I've become rather an expert on this since making the movie mentioned below) and in the afternoon World War 1.  It was great because one of the the teachers was off to Flanders with a school party on Monday and still others were taking a party to Kentwell Hall - so the workshop should have been really useful to them. 

It was also really good to have a chance to network with fellow travellers...

If you were there perhaps you'd like to comment... 

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After several days of me burning the midnight oil, on Thursday 28th. June we finally saw our two project films at Cinema City in Norwich.  Children from the two project schools Burston Community Primary and Saxlingham Primary got mad with bad rector Eland in "The Burston Rebellion" and trembled at the terrifying Don Alfonso in a version of "Cosi Fan Tutte".  With children, parents and VIPs we watched our term-or-so's work on the big screen and listened to our voices coming out of the darkness - and watched my ugly mug mercifully briefly.   

Real Cinema Magic!

At the end of each film Guy Martin (Education officer at Cinema City) and I presented the schools with their very own Oscar and a copy of the films on DVD. One kind parent emailed me that evening

"...  I was at the screening of the Burston and Saxlingham films this morning and I have to tell you how impressed I was with them both. I can only marvel at your ability to bring out such brilliant work in my children and their mates! (Of course I always knew it was there!)  I live in Burston so I'm very familiar with the Strike School story but watching the film definitely brought a lump to the throat. --- and ---- enjoyed working with you 'loads', what greater praise could there be?   Keep up the excellent work."

Afterwards I had a useful and really interesting discussion with Jason Raper the Education Officer at the Theatre Royal. Cosi Fan Tutte began life as an opera project with the Theatre Royal. Maybe we'll be able to work together in future...

A good day.

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                                  Click here to view Nonny Bird 2

Creative Partnerships' Adrian Gray has been running a series of twilight workshops across Norfolk with a number of experienced creative partners, to promote the concept of schools working with such people. It seemed to me that my website contained all the information people needed about me. The only thing it couldn't tell them was what it might be like to work with me. So I hatched the plan of making a film in my 20-minute slot and posting on my web site...

It's a bit of a sweaty palm concept especially when, as this evening, your hardware lets you down. But there, that's one of the things teachers have to contend with regularly... 

We made the little movie above at the workshop at Caister High School

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                                          Click here to view Bubble Trouble

Hillside First School in Bradwell, where I was working last term as part of a network cluster project, have invited me back to support their ICT activity week. The whole school will have the opportunity to make a short animated movie. We're using Xipster software with webcams. By the end of the week we'll have made about 40 movies!

The little movie above is a bit gloomy but a perfect short narrative.

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I've started working on the additional research I've been funded for on the two CARA2 projects mentioned below. I'm recording interviews with all the children involved in the two projects mentioned below. The interviews will be edited down and sections grouped by theme. It's fascinating - and a real privilege to have time to discuss children's work with them in depth.

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As you can see they're coming on a treat the giraffe even has eyelashes!

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If you've come straight to this blog you may not have explored the resources page on http://www.magiclanternlearning.co.uk/RESOURCES.html   

At long last I've started uploading the Movie Kits, which are a free downloadable resource designed to assist with the teaching of editing skills. At their simplest they consist of either a photo set to use with Photo Story 3 or unedited footage. There will also be video tutorials on Photo Story and Audacity designed to be used by pupils (and their teachers). There will be additional material too, such as music, scripts and storyboards etc. 

I was funded for this work by Creative Partnerships, Norfolk and Screen East.

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                                 Spider and Orangutan masks     

We've been making some animal masks from Gumstrip. For the first time ever, I'm working on project with a materials budget, so, on Saturday, I went to the superb Fabric Shop in Eye, Suffolk. A friend described it as an Aladdin's cave - dead right. Hoping at least to get some black fur fabric for the spider(above left) I also came away with: giraffe fur, some orange felt for the orangutan (right), a string of small red beads for the spiders eyes and the most extraordinary irridescent green/blue fabric for the snake skin. I'll post a photo when they're finished!

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                                                             Click here to view

If any attendees get as far as this blog, I'd be interested in feedback to this post (click "Add your own" below). Was the slightly maniacal attempt to make an instant movie, and put it online effective - I suppose a simple "I was there response" to this post would help because it means you've explored the wonders of Magic Lantern Learning as far as this...The bottom line for me is: did it make you more likely to book me to work in your school?

I personally thought the session was stimulating and convincing but I speak as a convert...

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