This film was produced by Barmmy Boy and young people from Wilberforce College during enrichment week activities in June 2007.

A short film made about the floods that hit Hull in June 2007 produced by Barmmy Boy from Freetown :: Sierra Leone during his stay in Hull.

Well it’s not long now to the first Scunthorpe Young Persons Film Festival. Its been a true pleasure meeting and working with the budding young film makers from the ‘South Bank’… their enthusiasm and commitment to producing quality films to submit to the first ever film festival in Scunthorpe has really stood out for me.

The films have also been uploaded to Youtube.com and within the first few days of the films going live they had each recieved well over 100 views each. Below are some of the comments left on YouTube :-

“i’ve already sent your vid to friends living in brazil and sweden so they can see a bit of the town ”

“A video about Scunthorpe is well overdue! Well done, must have taken you a long time to put this together! ”

So heres the last film to be uploaded to Youtube.com produced in Epworth – North Lincs by Charlotte, Livvy, Jess, Faith and Caris.

What we thought >>

Livvy..

“These last few days have been a total unknown experience; I came to youth club on Monday not knowing what to expect and now on Wednesday afternoon I know I will remember this for a very long time. Now that I understand whats invloved in making a short film production it makes me look at television in a totally different way.”

Charlotte..

“The past three days have been great, getting to know how the camera works and how hard it actually is to make a short film. It been a very enjoyable challenge for all of us. I have enjoyed making the film and also editing but most of all watching the film when we completed the final cut. So thankyou to everyone who’s helped make this film, it’s been a great experience for all of us.”

This film about the history of Scunthorpe was produced by students at Foxhills School Technology College during Cafesociety.org and BBC Blast workshops.

The workshops were created to enable young people in North Lincolnshire to produce content for the first Scunthorpe Young Peoples Film Festival to be held in March 2007.

This week has been a very busy week. Firstly working in Lincolnshire with students from Brigg 6th Form College on Monday & Tuesday to produce a horror film trailer, then on Wednesday with excluded kids at Wintringham Secondary School in Grimsby to produce a short docu about their experiences of participating in DJ workshops and finally today, Thursday i’ve been working with a small group of hearing impaired kids at Tilbury Primary School in Hull to produce a very short animation about recycling.

I hope you enjoy the film :

This week we have been running film making workshops with a great group of young people at Brigg 6th Form College, Lincolnshire.

Here are a few quotes from the kids :-

“The filmmaking experience has given me the opportunity to be involved in making and starring in a film, something which i’ve never had the chance to do before. It was great to work as a team and have an active input to the production.” – Holly.

“Making this film has been amazing. I have learnt so many things about how to edit a film and working as a team!! It’s been agreat experience.” – Erin

“I enjoyed being part of a team with different skills so it was easy to bring the final piece together. As well as learning valuable life skills i also learnt new, interesting and advanced IT and editing skills. The whole two day project was well worth doing.” – Joe

“I enjoyed making the film as a whole. I also liked working on other aspects such as the sound design. It was a very enjoyable experience.” – Jake

“I enjoyed taking a part in this film and have learnt lots of key skills for film making, such as editing on adobe premiere pro which was hugely interesting. A fun and interesting two days.” – Adam

“I really enjoyed making this film, it was highly interesting and a much better experience than what i first anticipated.” – Nathan

“This has been a more enjoyable collage project than I had previously believed, especially seeing a dead version of myself. Amazing love you all.” – Ryan AKA Moshtop

“I was not very enthusiastic about the project however it has turned out better than I had presumed.” – Fayè

“When I first heard about the project I was quite interested and it has been fantastic making the film.” – Caroline

“I have found the making of this film to be rather interesting, especially the editing. I have learnt many new things from this. Overall this has been a rather good experience and one of the best school projects that I have taken part in.” – Robert

We have just finished documenting a project that took place at Oldfleet Primary School in Hull.

Spin Off Theatre Company ran a series of whole school workshops with a focus on William Wilbeforce, the famous Hull MP with the outcome being a whole school production of a play named ‘What Price Freedom’.

“Slavery should be abolished” will be one of the arguments that Yorkshire pupils will hear at the Great Slavery debate to be held in Hull’s Guildhall on 17th October.

The play is set in the House of Commons, and will take place in the Guildhall Council Chamber where actors will play the part of William Wilberforce, MP for Hull and Yorkshire, who is opposed by Sir Banastre Tarleton, MP for Liverpool.

Pupils from Winifred Holtby School and Easingwold School will play the roles of the remaining M.P.’s in the debate.

The event will end with pupils taking part in an 19th century style vote, followed by a discussion on the result of the original 1807 result which lead to the abolition of the slave trade.

Pupils from the Royal Docks Community School based in Newham, London who are also involved in the project will watch the debate on the web. Actor, Chris Cade has researched the arguments around the slave trade using documents from the British Library and Wilberforce House.

The debate will be filmed by local film maker Jon Robson of Café Society and will form part of an on-line learning resource (www.mylearning.org) to be made available for the re-opening of Wilberforce house.

The event is part of the “Making an Impact” project run by the DCMS (Department for Culture Media and Sport) and run through the British Library and MLA (Museums Libraries and Archives) Yorkshire with schools working closely with Hull Museum Education Service, Harewood House and the British Library.

Pupils from the three schools are using historic documents and sources to learn about issues and techniques used in the anti-slavery campaigns leading to the abolition of the slave trade.

From January pupils will use their new found skills to focus on and develop campaigns around modern day issues. They will also be working with Creative Practitioners to create innovative work based on film, art and graphic novels based on their campaigns. Work will be showcased from all three schools at an event in March to be held in Hull.

View the full debate below :-

[googlevideo]8785386892562509334&hl=en-GB[/googlevideo]

We are currently talking with The Refugee All Stars about the possability of a concert in the city of Hull, UK; the twin town of the All Stars. We are hoping the band will play in Hull early December. The visit will also include workshops with local school children.

Here is a short trailer for the documentary film SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALL STARS.

The film tells the remarkable story of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, a group of musicians who form a band while living in a West African refugee camp.

They were forced from their homes by a brutal civil war that took the lives of many of their loved ones and left them with physical and emotional scars that may never heal. But it could never take away their music.

Through music they find a place of refuge, a sense of purpose and a source of power. This film follows the band over the course of three years as they make the difficult decision to return to their war-torn country and realize their dream of recording an album of their original music.

The story of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars celebrates the best of the human spirit – the incredible ability of individuals to sustain hope and find forgiveness even in a climate of rage and loss.

Take a taxi ride through the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone – from Queen Victoria Square in Hull.

An exciting new film by two local film-makers will bring the sights and sounds of life in Hull’s west African twin city to a cargo container in Hull city centre this week.

‘Taxi’, by Jon Robson and Murray Clark, has been commissioned by Hull Short Film Festival. The 20 minute film – presented in a split-screen format – has been produced from hours of footage shot through the windows of slow moving taxis.

Jon and Murray’s aim was to capture the vibrancy and life of the streets of Freetown, whilst at the same time showing the poverty and hardship of life in a city which is still recovering from the recent decade-long civil war.

Jon Robson explained how the film has developed: “A team of us visited Sierra Leone last May to develop a media-in-education project involving young people in Freetown and Hull – this film has grown out of that project. The two cities have been twinned for 25 years but we felt that few people in Hull had any real idea of what life is like in Freetown.

“People who visit the container in Victoria Square will experience Freetown almost exactly as we experienced it. It really is an amazing place, full of colour, action and incredible sights, as well as the sounds of people trading, hawking goods through the taxi window, shouting and chatting in the street – and all the time in the background the bouncing sounds of Sierra Leonean radio stations.”

Taxi is just one strand of the work that Jon’s organisation Cafesociety.org is developing in Freetown.

A year-long programme of work in Hull schools, supported by Creative Partnerships Hull, will develop young people’s media skills and strengthen relationships between the two cities.

A further documentary project is in development for broadcast on national TV and Cafesociety.org is also working with the British Council, the British Library and Hull Museums on projects relating to Freetown and the abolition of the slave trade.

See what the Yorkshire Post had to say about Taxi :-

This song was written and performed by the Positive Music Project group at iEARN :: Sierra Leone. It is a message for the people of Hull. Please click through to our Freetown movies at YouTube.com to leave comments.

We worked alongside Barmmy Boy at iEARN to help the girls compose and produce a music track for Wilberforce 2007. It took them just 2 days to write the music and lyrics.

We have been so impressed with the musical abilities of the kids out here.

We filmed and recorded the accapella song outside the gates of the national stadium.

Franklyn Koroma is a good friend of ours that we met in Freetown a few months ago.

He is the Youth representative at iEARN :: Sierra Leone.
We decided to pay for his travel to the UK to enable him to come and train with us in film and photography.

This is Franklyn’s first film and definately not his last.

yesterday we went rwnd skwl interviewing teachers on how they can help us get our ambitions and wat we need 2 do 2 get 2 wer we want 2 b! also we tlked bwt how they got 2 wer they are and wat they like bwt it! we went rwnd skwl and took pictures ov thngs we thought wud b interesting!
2day we finished off our interviews and took sum more pics!

On the 2nd day we all had out photos taken to put on out flickr site. 4 people from my group went out to take pictures of the school that we needed for out video, they were me, Paige, Claire and Rebekah. We took pictures of good things and bad things about our school and aslo things that the school could change to make the community a better place.

While we was doing this the rest of our group filled in a checklist of photographs they wanted to take for their blog. The other group went around school interviewing teachers to put in their video. When we went home everyone took the pictures they needed and brought them back to school tody.

When we arrived at school today all our pictures were uploaded on the flickr site. Danny, a person in our group, was editing some of our photos to make them fun. He made Beckyl and Lewis into devils.

While he was doing that James, Lewis and Alex chose a list of sites that would link to what we are doing. they chose some sites with some fun games on and some photo sites.

Me and Paige went around school making appointments with teachers to interview them and Claire, Becky and Becca helped the other gruop to finish off their interviews.

When we came back i had to interview Paige on what her favourite things were and her hopes and dreams for the future. We have all interviewed each other to put on the blog.

This afternoon we are hoping to finish off our interviews and our pictures, people will be going around school getting that done while the rest of us finish off on the computer. By tomorrow we should have edited all the film and it should be ready to see.

Becky

I thought that yesterday was interesting as we found out what happened in Sierra Leone. How the citizens there got on with their life.

I found it interesting, the fact that the people living in Freetown loved singing. It was what they did with their life and the fact that they presented it in streets or anywhere.

I liked watching the videos from the people over in Sierra Leone because you found out what their life was like.

We found out about a boy who was made to kill people in the civil war when he was 8. It was shocking, the fact that people who were made to kill in the war are now looked down on and thought of as bad citizens.

It was hard to listen to Sidibay telling his story of when he was younger and what happened to 7his family just before he was made to carry an ak.47 rifle around and kill people.

We came up with our ideas on what we would like to be when we are older, our aspirations.
We came up with ideas about what could happen locally and nationally and even internationally.

In the afternoon we made a video of ourselves explaining who we are and what we would like to happen with ourselves and the world. My aspiration for when I am older is to be a Language Translator.

Lewis

I thought it was interesting and good the way we found out what people in Sierra Leone lived their life.

The way they woke up did jobs around the house and some people went fishing to catch their breakfast then if there was left over fish they would sell it for money. One person went around house to house asking for jobs because they had no family or money.

In return they would get either a meal or a little bit of money. We even found out on one of the stories, the person who was going house to house didn’t get any money or a meal on a few of the houses because they found out he was a war child.

William

I thought the videos really opened our eyes to how people live in Sierra Leone. Many people lived in huts in which some didn’t have toilets.

We realize the things we have that the people in Sierra Leone don’t have. It makes us feel grateful and spoilt.

The videos were really moving because of the child soldier. It isn’t nice for a man to be a soldier, never mind a child. It makes me feel as though I want to do something about it. (Becca)

I thought it was alright. The videos were interesting, they told you what their lives were like in Sierra Leone.

However I was expecting a bit more. I thought it was alright because I thought there would be more things to do.

Phil

I liked watching the videos of the rappers. They didn’t need music to be able to rap.

They rapped in the streets or in a sports area. This was amazing because when you watched them rapping they didn’t use music.

I liked the filming we did in the afternoon. It was fun because we were able to take it in turns to use the camera and the sound.

Paige

I found it interesting and surprising. I found it surprising the way the Sierra Leone people coped. We would give up whereas they carry on going.

I found it interesting, the fact that they got up in a morning and went fishing or went to do jobs around houses before school.

I also found that they had to walk half a mile to get to their school. This is surprising because most of us only have to walk across the road.

We also have buses and cars in which we can have a ride into get to school. This is easier for us however it fasinating how you walk the half a mile to school.

Claire

I enjoyed all of the day. Although i thought the best part was the afternoon when we was filming and got to control the sound and the camera.

I enjoyed watching the videos because we found out more about the people living in Freetown. Many of the people were rapping without music which was really interesting.

People in England always rap with music. They find it easier however they do rapping for a hobbie.

Terri

I found it really intertesting especially in the morning. It was great watching the people in Sierra Leone rapping.

We found out how talented these people are. They do this to be able to get a job in the singing career.

I think the people feel if they can get into a job in singing or a job in which they can be able to either move out of that city or out of the country would be good.

Chelsea

I liked the filming. I liked to find out about the people. How they lived. Where they lived. What they did during the day.

I also liked watching the Sierra Leone citizens rapping. I also liked the dancing. The way they danced. How they danced. Also how they rapped and what they rapped about.

Dan

I thought the morning was boring. There was too much talkin involved. However I liked the videos we watched of the Sierra Leone civilians.

I thought the afternoon was great though because I learnt how to use the camera.

We got to use the sound and camera equipment too. I enjoyed watching the play backs of us being filmed. I enjoyed it more because I was watching it with my best pal Lewis.

Steph

I found this experience interesting. We found out about the Sierra Leone people.

I liked listening to the rapping and my favourite rap is ‘dis year’. I like this rap along with Becky and Paige.

Alex

I thought the videos were interesting. We found out many things about the people who live in Sierra Leone.

It wasn’t very enjoyable listening to Sidibay telling us his story of why and how his family died. It was on this that we found out he was a war child.

I did enjoy the afternoon because it was fun using the camera and the sound equipment.

I was really impressed by everyone today…….those who needed a bit of gentle encouragement to appear in front of camera and those who took a leading role in the groups, working on creative ideas for the filming. Most of you learned a lot about sierra leone today, more probably than you would in a normal lesson in History or Geography? I would like to hear your views on this! Do you like being in charge of the learning going on here?

DSC07866a
Originally uploaded by Jon – Cafesociety.org.

I hope you enjoyed your first day working with Matt and myself.

You are some of the first young people we have shown the Sierra Leone films to and we hope you found them interesting and inspiring.

Just to sum up – today you’ve learned about the two different audiences we’ll be producing work for – the commercial audience of the the head, governors and parents – and the audience in Sierra Leone – kids like you who want to know all about your lives.

You’ve all contributed your ideas about your hopes and aspirations for yourselves, your community, your nation and the world, and we’ve worked together to develop these ideas visually and journalistically, ready to begin filming tomorrow.

Thanks for all your hard work.

Hi everyone, this is the start of your blog about our Sierra Leone project. Keep every entry suitable and on subject. No swearing or inappropriate language please. I’m looking forward to some superb entries that will reflect your creative ideas!

After an emotionally and physically draining project in Sierra Leone with Matt and Murray I decided to take a well deserved break in The North York Moors National Park with my partner Sarah.

There was only 10 days before my next project started at the International School in The Seychelles and I really needed some time and space to relax and reflect.

We found ourselves a traditional farm house b&b and were so pleased to be greeted by our hosts Anne and Tony with a pot of hot tea and homemade scones with fresh cream and jam upon our arrival.
 
The farm house was just on the edge of Glaisedale, about 9 miles inland from Whitby and perched very nicely in the North York Moors National Park.
The shear scale of the moorland is breathtaking, evoking a sense of natural wonder, freedom and making me proud of being a Yorkshireman.

As Peter Kay once said “it’s nice to go away but its even nicer to come back home”

The workshops we have been running for the BBC 60 Second Shakespeare project have been producing some fantastic results. We have been working with both secondary school pupils and primary school pupils to produce short multimedia clips of Shakespeare scenes and plays. Click on the links below to view multimedia clips.

Click here to view the films >>

Visit the BBC 60 Second Shakepeare website

After a full on week of making music videos with BTEC media students from St. Marys Sports Academy in Hull we are pleased to announce they have been compressed and uploaded to google video for all to see.

The finished videos can now be viewed >> please click here

Enjoy and leave your comments behind,

Project Aims
To create informative, enriching and sustainable links between Hull schools and schools in Hull’s twin city Freetown, Sierra Leone, with particular emphasis on using new technologies to gather creative expression through film and words while developing themes of global citizenship, independent learning and personal identity.

How will it work
Hull based film-maker Jon Robson has been involved in many projects working with young people in Hull and East Yorkshire, The Seychelles, Ethiopia and The Navajo & Hopi reservations in the US, using film and new media to develop ICT and communication skills.
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Writer and journalist Matt Stephenson has many years of experience as a feature writer, columnist, editor and publisher and has also performed readings of his own creative work at Hull, Huddersfield and Ilkley literature festivals.

Matt and Jon will work with young people to enable them to express themselves using film, photography and the written and spoken word through creative, biographical and documentary styles.

Creative Partnerships are supporting this project and have developed a collaborative relationship between Matt, Jon and the Citizenship Advanced Skills Teacher  in Hull Schools, Lance Boanas.

Matt and Jon will initially make contact and establish partnerships with schools and other organisations in Freetown. The intention is to visit the city in early 2006 and begin working with a number of schools and organisations. We intend to hold a series of creative workshops for young people and generate a collection of films, documenting aspects of their lives.

This work will then be brought back to Hull and shown to young people in Hull’s schools. Through film and writing workshops, these young people will be encouraged to respond to the work of their counterparts in Freetown, comparing and contrasting their lives, looking at some of the emotional, political and economic factors which affect life in Hull and in Freetown.

Vital citizenship themes of social and moral responsibility, community Involvement and Political Literacy are at the heart of the project. Students in the North and South will continually develop their skills of (a) Enquiry and Communication and (b) Participation and Responsible Action, central to citizenship programmes of study.

Completing the circle, the work the young people in Hull produce will then be shown in Freetown and an international dialogue established.            

Development
The early stage of this project will provide a foundation for schools in Hull to build lasting relationships with partner schools in Freetown using the UK government Department for International Development (DfID) ‘Global School Partnership’ funding, enabling pupil and teacher exchanges between the cities which will bring Global Citizenship into many different aspects of the curriculum.

It is further our intention that schools in Hull should develop social enterprise projects to raise funds for schools in Freetown to enable them to buy their own ICT and film making equipment, providing the medium for a lively, educational and sustainable relationship between the schools. This technology will enable students across the world to communicate as equals and provide a basis for reciprocal visits in the long term.

The project will generate a greater understanding of each others culture by using film making workshops and new media technology as an ongoing dialogue and communication platform between students. The project will enable students to freely express their views on their lives, their futures and their dreams.  Ultimately, the project aims to raise young people’s awareness of global development issues and equip them with the skills and knowledge to become active global citizens.

We feel that this project will be particularly appropriate within the William Wilberforce Bi Centennial activities in the city in 2007, giving Hull students a true global perspective.