Alves, Logie and Anderson's Primary pupils work with Glasgow School of Art on digital film projects
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FILM-MAKERS from three schools attended a screening of movies made with Glasgow School of Art (GSA).
Alves, Logie and Anderson's Primary pupils went to GSA’s Highlands and Islands campus on Altyre Estate to premiere short films they had worked on with Innovation School students.
A GSA spokeswoman said: “We worked on a digital film project, giving pupils the chance to learn about visual and audio storytelling, and how to use specialist computer software. Each class took the story of a monster, alien or ghoul. Through workshops on storyboarding, making/using props, making sound and vision work together and more, they created short digital animations about their monsters, together with promo’ posters.”
Alves Primary P2/3 and P4 took part. Head teacher Mr James McLeman confirmed the project started last year, providing opportunities for digital creativity in the classroom. This year, PHD students provided eight weeks of workshops completed in class.
Mr McLeman said: “This year’s theme was ‘A Tall Tale’. The children read and listened to Scottish folk tales featuring mythical creatures. They learned stories, were told to share information in communities and to make sense of things not easily explained. The children settled on a story set not far from our school. They chose characters from other stories and used them when re-telling the local lore in their own words.”
The pupils learned to use IMovie for filming, editing and creating sound effects, Publisher for creating posters, and developed more skills through clay modelling.
Mr McLeman said: “The original story at Hopeman Bay was about a witch that would snatch children if they went in the water - to deter from a strong rip current. We added some curious selkies and the Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui as heroes. The children used paper puppets and narrated while a recording of the bay plays in the background.”
Leah Kanungo (9) used skills she learned in last year’s project to make better digital images and taught younger children how to use the software.
She said: “ It was funny hearing my voice on the film but it felt really good to show off our hard work.”
Eden Russell (7) also learned how to use software for short clip editing.
He said: “I’m really proud of everything we made.”
Logie Primary’s P4-7 class worked collaboratively and individually on animations via Scratch software or stop motion animation with handmade felt and clay models.
Head teacher Mrs Helen Douglas said folklore, mythical creatures and monsters were their inspiration.
She added: “We created a mythical creature and others came from previous activities in class.”
Ross Hunter (12) found it takes a lot of code or photographs to create a short animation.
He said: “We had to learn lots of shortcuts. You need to be very patient as scenes often need to be repeated to get a final cut. We had to be careful not to break the modelling material in case it needed re-filmed. When you finish filming you need to stay in the correct position or else the next scene looks awkward.”
Mrs Douglas added: “Our students enjoyed being able to share their feelings and tell their story.”
Logie pupil Ami-Leigh Shevill (8) “I loved doing the Google slides, modelling the characters and filming outside.”
