Behind the Scenes
The idea for this project came from working in a number of Norfolk based schools on animation projects. We passed a questionaire around at Stalham High School asking the students what aspects of their local history they would like to explore. Through it, we learned that myths, legends and the supernatural came out as a hot favorite.
At the same time we secured Aim Higher funding in partnership with Norwich University College of the Arts. This enabled us to run additional film and animation workshops at a range of Norfolk High schools, under the project theme. NUCA Outreach Officer, Sam Epps also provided advice on career paths into the creative industries.
Our heritage partners, The Museum of the Broads and Poppyline Education provided venues for the Young Roots funded work. They also provided research resources and a very useful network of practitioners and local historians. On the welcome day, Neil Storey told a series of stories collected from the local area, Ian Pycroft from Black Knight Historical talked about the lives of medieval knights, Kim Dowe introduced the lives of the Broadland wherrymen, and Eric Edwards described his work as the last Norfolk marshman to use traditional methods to cut reed. Four teams then planned the films they would make around the stories they had heard.
Film making at the museum took four days over the autumn half term, 2010. On the first day, each team drew storyboards, wrote scripts, rehearsed their drama work and made models for the animations. On days two and three, we took the four teams on location for a half day each to film their live action work. Drama practitioner Joc Mack assisted with rehearsals and Michelle Bullivant provided makeup for the actors. During the interim each team worked on their animations. On the final day we tied up loose ends, recorded voice-overs and sound effects, and had rides on the Falcon steamboat.
The second half of the project took place at Poppyline Education in Holt during the Spring Half Term 2011. Neil Storey, rail historian Dave King, signalman Adrian Vaughan, engine driver Alan Baker and education officer Jenny Phillips introduced the railway theme. Further support was provided by staff from Holt Youth Project. Several groups chose to set their stories on the steam train that runs between Holt and Sheringham. Molly Housego, Neil Storey and Jenny Phillips provided props and costumes.
Editing, web site design and planning for the launch at Sheringham Little Theatre was completed with the support of students from Flegg High School, some of whom also contributed to the films and animations. Neil Storey assisted with the film related contextual notes, links to further research and suggestions for classroom activities.
Project management was undertaken by Martin Sercombe, who also taught film production skills. The animation workshops were led by Britta Pollmuller with support from Matt Reeve.
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