The Hawthorn Project’s animated film ‘Staying Safe’ has been shortlisted for two major national awards.

CYP Now Awards

This year marks the sixth Children & Young People Now Awards.  The awards were created to share and celebrate best practice for all those who work to improve the lives of children, young people and families.  ’Saying Safe’ is nominated for the the rather apt category ‘The Stay Safe Award’.  The screening will take place on Thursday 17 November in Hammersmith, West London.  Link to CYP Now website here.

Oska Bright Film Festival

Oska Bright run the world’s first film festival run by, and for, people with a learning disability.

Screening will take place at Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange, Church Street, Brighton from 22nd – 24th November .

Oska Bright Film Festival screenings will also be shown as part of The Outsiders Festival in Adelaide, Australia. The Outsiders Festival will happen at the same time as the Oska Bright Film Festival.  Link to Oska Bright Film Festival here.

Stay safe with the amazing and wonderfully talented young people from The Hawthorn Project – Action for Children.

This clay-animation film was created and produced by young people with learning difficulties.  They worked on every aspect of the process and even produced their own music and soundscape.  The young people wanted to produce an educational ‘Public Information Film’ which will help children to be aware of dangers and keep them safe.

The film premiered on 12th May 2011 to an highly impressed audience of parents, teachers, social workers, local authority officers, health professionals and various representatives of the voluntary sector.

You can view the film here or … Cymraeg.

Throughout the production the young people were invited to pick up a Mini DV camera whenever they felt like it. This little film gives you a good insight into how the young people from The Hawthorn Project produced the ‘Staying Safe’ film. You can view the making of here.

ImageINate  is a sound and animation project involving young people living in and around Pembroke.  They worked with a visual artist, musician, filmmaker and animator to explore their sense of identity, their place within their community, and their dreams and aspirations.

Over 70 young people aged 11-19 have attended a series of workshops in the Tanyard Youth project, Monkton Priory Learning Unit, Pembroke school as well as an open day at the Foundry House.  The two films, Part 1 & 2,  showcase their wonderful and unique work.  The film will be premiered during the Pembroke Festival on July 3rd at the launch of an exhibition of photographs celebtrating the project.

The project is being run by Pembroke 21C and is part of Reach the Heights funded by the European Social Fund through the Arts Council of Wales.

ImageINate Pembroke 2010

ImageINate  is a sound and animation project involving young people living in and around Pembroke.  They worked with a visual artist, musician, filmmaker and animator to explore their sense of identity, their place within their community, and their dreams and aspirations.

Over 70 young people aged 11-19 have attended a series of workshops in the Tanyard Youth project, Monkton Priory Learning Unit, Pembroke school as well as an open day at the Foundry House.  The two films, Part 1 & 2,  showcase their wonderful and unique work.  The film will be premiered during the Pembroke Festival on July 3rd at the launch of an exhibition of photographs celebtrating the project.

The project is being run by Pembroke 21C and is part of Reach the Heights funded by the European Social Fund through the Arts Council of Wales.

community, film, animation, sharron harris, curious ostrich, space to create, pembroke 21c, Wales, Pembrokeshire,

‘ Well the rest is a bit of a blur really -But it must have happened ..cos Heres the photo ………and No thats not a Monkey Tux…its a Tonic of course !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done Shazza We loves Ya …….can we give up our day jobs now ??????!!!!!! ))

Swansea Bay Film Festival is quite an international affair so we were all thrilled to be nominated BUT ….  let Andy’s crazy Facebook ramblings tell you what happened next!

‘GUESS WHAT !!!!!!!!!! We only went and WON the best of the Music Vid’ category at the awards !!!!!………..We went to the Numby Knees party on the Friday …just to say thanks for showing it really …………and it was hinted to us that we should be at the actual awards …….and bring your Tuxedo !….but then when we got there ….ALL the other nommys were there so we thought …..ok there you go….Calm down …Good job we didnt rehearse any speeches or anything………………….Then two hours into it …the category for music vids comes up and on the Big Screen and Oli comes walking down the back lane and they start playing ”Lammy Blues’ !!!!!!!!!

Well the rest is a bit of a blur really -But it must have happened ..cos Heres the photo ………and No thats not a Monkey Tux…its a Tonic of course !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done Shazza We loves Ya …….can we give up our day jobs now ??????!!!!!! ))’

In September 2010 they will start production on their main project working with Joelle, Sharron Harris, Pip Lewis and as ever supported by Action for Children’s Charlotte Phillips.

Oriel y Parc Gallery & Visitor’s Centre in St David’s was the location for a programme of school and community workshops inspired by the 150 carved stone corbels of mythical beasts, wild animals and human heads that adorn the Bishop’s Palace in St David’s.

The fantastically creative duo, Pip and Guy, from spacetocreate.org.uk inspired these young people to craft the spectacular masks you see here. The Curious Ostrich presents this little film to showcase the wonderful work of all who took part.

Organised by the Arts Council of Wales and Cadw as part of their Cauldrons & Furnaces project and funded by the Legacy Trust, the project is part of the Cultural Olympiad programme.

Young people with disabilities from Action For Children have just completed their unique Transition Information DVD.  The DVD is all about the move from child to adult services that young people with disabilities and their families may face as they get older.

The DVD has been lead by a Production Team of young people who together, after consultation with schools and Pembrokeshire College decided on the format and style of DVD.  The content is all fact and is filmed in a documentary style.  The group worked alongside Sharron Harris of Curious Ostrich Productions to make the DVD and they would not have chosen anyone else!  The young people have all worked really hard to produce something that will be used for at least 5 years.

Together with Sharron and Charlotte of Action for Children, young people have taken part in film making skills and art workshops to produce the graphics which have been developed into creative moving illustrations.  The theme music has also been supplied by The Wings Group of The Jam Shop.

The aim of the DVD is to show other young people and their families what can be achieved and to build confidence.  The DVD explores areas such as independent living, health, education, money and social opportunities.  Taylor Jones star and member of the Production Team says “I am really pleased to have had the opportunity to be part of the DVD, I have loved every minute of it. It’s been fab”

The DVD was launched at the Merlin Theatre in Haverfordwest.  Members of the   production team arrived by limo, walked down a red carpet and delivered strong speeches before the screening.

Check out their films at www.vimeo.com

Music recorded by Jethro in beautiful surroundings at the Mwnci studios…..

Directed by Sharron Harris

Animal Jack: Vocals,

Double Bass

Andy: Saxophone, Harmonica

Joelle: Accordion

Check out their blog @ myspace.com/theanimaljackband

Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand but the metaphor still persists and it seems some find it still useful. All ostriches are curious but Adamo seemed fascinated, perhaps even mesmerised by the small gaggle of strange human animals before him.  I liked this about him.  I also imagined how he got that slightly ‘bashed up’ face … clearly not by burying his head in the sand.  

Our passion for community arts and media is fuelled by the increasing accessibility of multimedia technology that facilitates a community’s ability to produce media rather than just merely consume.   Media education, at all levels, provides vital tools that allow individuals to greater understand and critique the world in which we live.  

Adamo is not afraid to look.  I hope he does not mind being our logo. I forgot to ask him when I met him!