We are thrilled to announce that thanks to continued funding from BBC Children in Need, Film Cuts is set to run until 2027! This generous support enables us to keep offering young people with additional needs a creative space to explore and develop their filmmaking talents.
Kicking Off the Year with New Ideas and Activities
We began the year with a fresh start, welcoming new participants and ideas. After an introductory group discussion, participants split into two groups for creative workshops.
Group 1 kicked things off with a fun 3-shot challenge led by Benn. After a brief discussion, the group chose Home Alone as the film to recreate in three shots. They embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, and the results were impressive, with participants pleased about their final product.
Group 2 took on a different challenge with Josh and Andy, focusing on giant character design. The task was to create large-scale characters inspired by Christmas. This session sparked plenty of creativity, resulting in unique characters like a cyber elf who was half-naughty, half-nice, and Felix, a K-pop-singing dragon. Everyone enjoyed the process, and were excited to use these designs to inspire a Christmas special! After lunch, the groups swapped activities. Group 2 took on the 3-shot challenge, this time recreating a scene from Harry Potter. As the group discussed who would play which character, they jumped into the activity with excitement, using props to bring their characters to life. Group 1 then switched to the giant character design workshop, continuing to develop their creative ideas. Meanwhile, in a side room, two participants experimented with creating music using GarageBand.To wrap up the day, some participants chose to explore their creativity further in a “dress to impress” activity. The theme was “cringe,” and participants used the props to put together outlandish outfits. They layered accessories and clothes to create unique, over-the-top looks and then filmed each other as they walked a runway. It was a hilarious and fun way to end the day!
Week 2 – Improvisation & Soundtrack Exploration
Week 2 brought more exciting workshops to the table. Group 1 kicked off with an improvisation workshop led by Georgia. They started with a lighthearted “sunshine is on” game, which had everyone laughing and enjoying each others energy. The group then moved into an improv exercise based on getting on a bus, where participants portrayed different characters like a joyful Christmas shopper, a tired builder, and a parent who had lost their child.
In Group 2, they started with a “Would You Rather” game, which sparked some great discussions. The group then moved into an improvisation exercise with new characters, such as someone raving about a new café and another obsessed with Christmas music, asking everyone their favourite songs. With Toby, both groups took part in a soundtrack workshop, where they explored how music impacts their mood and emotions. The group examined various film clips and trailers to discuss how different soundtracks made them feel and how they could influence the storyline. A participant even shared their knowledge of the technique “Mickey Mousing”, which synchronizes music with the action on screen.
Looking Ahead
In the coming weeks, we’ll dive into more exciting workshops, including Foley sound, scene design, rhythm in music, and story prompts. These activities will continue to inspire participants as they develop their skills and work towards producing the much-anticipated Christmas special Thank you to everyone involved, and we’re looking forward to another creative and inspiring month ahead!