Silent Voices
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An aspirational filmmaking project, working with students who are deaf or who have a hearing impairment or associated communication and behavioural difficulties (aged 12-17) from The Royal School for Deaf Children Margate and The Westgate College. Through a series of filmmaking workshops, production film days, and live post production editing sessions, we were able to develop their own voice through film.
Project aims and achievements
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- Provides formal training in filmmaking equipment & techniques; and later in design & marketing, to understand the principles necessary to make films for themselves.
- Offers informal learning opportunities to help participants to communicate more effectively and to develop life skills, such as negotiation and teamwork.
- As part of the school’s enrichment program, the project offers participants independence, discipline and creativity in a formal project setting: just the type of skills employers are interested in.
Outcomes and impact
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- Over 40 students from both the School & College collaborated during weekly filmmaking sessions in mixed ability groups, to produce a lively, varied and entertaining news lifestyle based sketch show.
- Students will design their own advertising and marketing of their film to the local community and press.
- The completed 10 minute satire will be shown in school and at a Gala Screening later in the year at The Theatre Royal Margate, to an audience of 300 family & friends, and local community groups and officials. It will bring a sense of civic pride, place and community between the participating students to mix with local hearing and deaf communities.
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Next steps
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The project was initially intended to take only 12-15 participants, but over 40 pupils wanted to join in! Most have additional educational, emotional /behavioural or medical problems. We decided to accept everyone and re-think about what we could get realistically accomplished within the resources and limited time –frame we have available with them at the school. We all want to make another one now!
Personal experience
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“I liked best being involved with lots of people and I loved using the cameras.”
Curtis (Student)
“I liked dancing in the film and liked acting as a mermaid in front of the green screen.”
Abbie (Student)
“I loved acting as a model for the camera”.
Jessica (Student)
“I was so excited that so many students wanted to take part. Nearly half the students from the school and college wanted to participate in the filmmaking project, and It was great to see them supporting each other and working together on this inclusive project which catered for them all.” Timetables and human resources had to be negotiated around the students’ external activities and medical appointments, but it’s been well worth it”
Zoë Hammond
Performing Arts Co-ordinator
Westgate College for Deaf People
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Contact
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Contact
Mick Etherton
Beeping Bush Ltd
The Community Pharmacy Gallery
16 Market Place, Margate Old Town
Kent CT9 1ES T: 01843 223800
www.beepingbush.co.uk
For uScreen - Sarah Dance, Screen South
info@uscreen.co.uk
www.uscreen.co.uk
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