Film Agency News
15th July 2008
WELSH BAFTA WINNER AND JANE HUTT AM JOINS WELSH SCHOOL CHILDREN AT THE LAUNCH OF FILM CLUB WALES
Welsh BAFTA winner John Giwa-Amu, the producer of Welsh Comedy Drama ‘Little White Lies’, has joined budding young filmmakers from a Cardiff school to officially launched Film Club Wales; a UK wide initiative aimed at developing film literacy and practical experience of filmmaking.
Pupils from Ysgol Pencae, Llandaff were also given the opportunity to meet Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education, Life-long Learning and Skills who officially launched Film Club Wales. (See attached pictures showing Jane Hutt AM with John Giwa-Amu alongside 9 year old Jack Thomas, 10 year old Lowri Jones in the foreground and 11 year old Sara Midha in the rear).
John Giwa-Amu said: "The Film Club is an inspiring initiative which gives kids the chance to enjoy and discuss films at ground level. It excites me to think forward and imagine what some of these kids will achieve."
Minister for Education, Jane Hutt said: “This is an exciting project which will inspire pupils about all aspects of film and give them an insight into the industry. I am certain the young people involved in this initiative will enjoy discussing films with their peers, writing reviews as well as meeting with people who work in film. This is a wonderful opportunity to spark the imaginations of our young people and broaden their horizons.”
Working with the Film Agency for Wales, Skillset Screen Academy Wales and national charity Continyou Cymru, pupils from 17 primary and secondary schools across seven local education authorities in Wales have united to form 17 film clubs in Wales as part of a one-year bilingual pilot.
Run outside of school hours by teaching staff, Film Club Wales provides the opportunity for pupils to rate and review films that are screened by their Film Club. It is also hoped that they will continue to meet with other actors, directors, writers and other leading industry figures. Indeed, six Film Club members from Ysgol Pencae will be doing a voiceover for the Croeso animation; visiting a professional sound recording studio and working with local production company Calon.
The launch in Wales follows a successful pilot with 48 schools in Yorkshire, Kent, London and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the support of LOVEFiLM, participating schools are able to access more than 62,000 titles through a dedicated website, www.filmclub.org. (Membership is free with up to £1250.00 funding available for each Film Club from the Film Agency for Wales and Skillset Screen Academy Wales.)
Commenting on the launch of Film Club Wales, Chairman of the Film Agency for Wales, said: “In addition to our film industry focused support of film development and production, the Film Agency is centrally concerned with the cultural benefit of film, aiming to increase access to and broaden the range of films available to audiences across Wales.”
“With our support, dedicated education and exhibition specialists do much to develop audiences through formal and informal education, stimulating an appetite for specialized, cultural and non-mainstream films.”
“The Film Agency’s facilitation and financial support of the Film Club initiative, with specific learning materials and discussion, tailored to the devolved education scenario in Wales, is a cornerstone of our intention to embed film as a cultural experience from an early age, engaging minds, enriching lives and developing communication skills, and a sense of shared citizenship, so crucial in the 21st Century.”
“Indeed, children today learn through pictures as well as words. Here is an opportunity for everybody, not just the stars, to learn and have fun, making their own films”
Pam Boyd, Director of ContinYou Cymru said: “As part of our work in Wales developing out of school hours learning opportunities for children and young people; we are delighted to be working in partnership with the Film Agency for Wales and Screen Academy Wales developing the Film Club Pilot.
Out of school hours Film Clubs provide a great opportunity to improve basic and key skills, improving pupil attainment through film literacy.”
Emma Flatley, Project Manager for Skillset Screen Academy Wales, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this project as one of our key aims is to encourage young people to consider careers in film and raise awareness of the film education and training opportunities available in Wales. Film Club members will also get a taste of filmmaking which we hope will inspire them to become the filmmakers of the future”.
Schools registered with Film Club Wales for the pilot scheme include:
- Cardiff
Fitzalan High School, Ysgol Pencae Primary - Flintshire
Castell Alun High School, Elfed High School, John Summers High School - Pembrokeshire
Sir Thomas Picton School, Pembroke Secondary School - Rhondda Cynon Taf
Porth Community School, Tonypandy Community College, Treorchy Comprehensive School, Coed y Lan Primary School - Swansea
Bishopston Comprehensive School - Torfaen
Blenheim Road Community School, Woodlands Community School, Fairwater High School, Ysgol Bryn Onnen
The Film Agency for Wales is funded by the Arts Council of Wales, the UK Film Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, via Creative Business Wales, the latter of which was set up to support, encourage and increase the range and number of films being produced in Wales and to foster the abundance of creative talent in Wales.
For further information please contact Lisa Jenkins on 0790 873 8763 or use our contact form.
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