Bridgend TV4Schools Episode 2

Date: July 2008

Well, we did what we set out to do, and worked with a really enthusiastic group of teachers and students to produce Bridgend TV4Schools’ second episode in time for the end of term.

The launch was a great success, and as these photos show, everyone was really pleased to receive certificates commemorating their involvement!

Thanks again to all involved, and especially to Porthcawl Comprehensive for hosting the launch.

Media4schools would also like to thank Sony, Careers Wales and Bridgend County Borough Council for their support of the Bridgend TV4Schools project.

Bridgend TV4Schools

Date: June 2008

After the success of the first episode, which was launched at Sony in April, production has now begun on episode two of Bridgend TV4Schools, a news programme produced by students for students in the Bridgend region. 

This exciting series of programmes is supported by Sony, Careers Wales, and Bridgend County Borough Council, and is led by students at Bryntirion, Brynteg, Porthcawl and Pencoed schools. It aims to show a range of stories from the area, with episode two covering the following main topics:

Bryntirion’s Welsh Baccalaureate trip to St Fagans, the Welsh National History Museum

Pencoed’s unique resource centre for pupils with visual impairment

The work being done by Porthcawl Comprehensive to become a Fairtrade School

And sports reporting will come from Brynteg, who will be visiting the Liberty Stadium, home of the Ospreys.

media4schools are looking forward to helping out with all the filming and editing, and are especially excited to be holding auditions to select the presenters of the programme. These are open to all pupils at the participating schools, and we’re hoping to find the pick of Bridgend’s TV talent!

The programme will be launched at Porthcawl Comprehensive during the last week of term, and we can’t wait to see the finished production. 

Work Experience

Date: June 2008

My name is Charlie, and media4schools first came to my school when I was in Year 7. They showed us several pieces of interesting camera equipment, and I was immediately excited – especially when it came to editing our footage on iMacs. I was so enthusiastic by media4schools’ visit that I quickly signed up to the media4schools inspired ‘St. Teilo’s Union of Film’ (S.T.U.F). Unfortunately, even though we heavily planned making several educational films, we never had the chance to film them, as the group collapsed shortly after.

Three years after this, I was searching for a place to go for Year 10 work experience. To my surprise, I found an opportunity on the Careers Wales website for a media assistant at media4creative. I applied straight away and was delighted to receive the placement. Now, even though this amazing week of work experience is coming to a close, I will never forget the experience of it all.

I’ve learnt quite a bit about media and I now feel far more responsible. My favourite activity this week so far has been presenting an interview with model maker, Paul Elliot. I hope to enter the film we produced for the media4schools Awards 2008 competition.

Thank you and goodbye media4!!  I hope to see you all again soon!! J

Tonypandy ‘Young Roots’ Project

Date: April 2008

A big project we have ongoing at the moment is a film that we are working on in collaboration with Tonypandy Community College. This exciting documentary is an examination of the area's imposing Powerhouse building, and the role it played in the famous Tonypandy Riots of 1910.

Through a series of interviews with historians, politicians and local people, pupils at the schools have been finding out about the social and political context of the disturbances, when the struggle for a fair wage led to clashes between miners, police and local people, and a strike that lasted throughout the following months.

Dramatic recreations have also been filmed at Rhondda Heritage Park (during a great day which saw our film crew and cast having exclusive access to the museum's facilities!), to show the tough conditions that underground workers and their families endured at that time.

We have also accompanied the group on a trip to London, to tour the Houses of Parliament and interview Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda: a fantastic day out which also gave us the chance to experience the London Eye!

The aim of the film is to provide a record of the area's rich history, and to examine how the events of 1910 still affect people today through economic developments such as the introduction of the national minimum wage.  It will then be available as a learning resource for schools to use as part of their History curriculum.

We're really proud to be working with Tonypandy Community College on such a prestigious project, and are planning to finish the film in time for a launch event planned in the summer.

Innocence

Date: 21st March 2008

Media4schools have worked alongside firearm officers from Avon and Somerset Police and a group of young people from Fairfield High School to create a short film on gun crime with the intention of using the finished product as part of an anti gun-crime campaign in schools. 

The 20-minute drama called ‘Innocence’ is about a young boy who comes across a firearm accidentally while sneaking around his brother’s bedroom.  After hearing his brother walk up the stairs, Jo (main character) quickly hides the gun away in his school bag and carries on with an average day at school.  The drama unfolds when Jo and his closest friends are walking home from school and come across an intimidating up to no good gang of youngsters in a car-park who start throwing their weight around.  Jo pulls the gun out of his bag in a fit of panic and the story continues to reveal three very different scenario endings!  

Ria Charlton and Will Colthart from media4schools worked with the group of young people to make the film, which was launched earlier this month at Fairfield High School.  The launch was a great success and generated interest from local press making the ITV West 6 O’Clock news! 

Research shows that there has been a 50% increase in reports of firearm incidents during Spring, Summer, and school holidays, and between June 2006 and May 2007, police received 1,800 calls relating to firearms – 90% were imitation guns or air weapons. 

Inspector Hardy Husain said: ‘To target the problem around the use of firearms, we launched a strategy to educate people…the quality of the production is a testimony to the hard work of all people involved’

Ria Charlton explained: ‘The group of young adults threw themselves into the project, and gave up a lot of their free time after school and in school holidays to complete the film.  The group were enthusiastic and hard-working, all had great attitudes, personalities, and a keen interest in film-making which really made the whole production a great success.’ 

Best wishes and good luck to you all for the future!

Special Thanks to:

Avon and Somerset Police
Sinead Owen, Inspector Hardy Husain, and Sergeant Will Barlow

Fairfield High School
Rob Chandler – Head of Drama

Media4schools
Ria Charlton – Producer, media4schools
Will Colthart – Co-producer, media4schools

Rhondda Cynon Taf 14 - 19 Film

Date: February 2008

Have you ever wondered what options are available to learners, apart from the traditional A Level route? media4schools have, and that's why we've been working on behalf of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's 14 - 19 Network to produce a series of short film inserts on some of the different courses on offer.

Completely bilingual, the films are being produced with help from pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg, Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari, Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun and Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda, the our schools which make up the county's Welsh Medium Consortium. They aim to show the range of course options open, from Childcare, to Sport, to Chemistry.

Each film features interviews with both the course tutor, and with someone who is studying on the course , in order to give an insight into what it's really like.

Pupils from each of the schools involved in the project have obtained hands-on experience of production and presentation techniques, and we hope that when finished, the films will be a useful resource for people deciding what they might like to study.

Admiral Insurance

Date: February 2008

Media4schools are currently putting the finishing touches to our film about Admiral, a Cardiff and Swansea based insurance company who are a major employer in South Wales.

The film is a short documentary which investigates jobs within the company's four departments of Sales, Claims, Customer Service and Renewals, and looks at what makes it an enjoyable place to work.

Over two enjoyable filming days, one in the company's offices in Cardiff City Centre, and one at its modern premises in Swansea's SA1 waterfront area, the majority of the footage was collected with the help and participation of Admiral's friendly staff.

Pupils from Cardiff High School, and Daniel James Community School in Swansea, helped out as camera operators, sound recordists and assistant directors, and even got the chance to get in front of the cameras and try their hands at presenting.

Admiral have also recently been a supporter of the media4schools awards, and we're really pleased to be working with them on this exciting film project, which has allowed us, and local schools, an insight into the company's culture. 

Media4schools & Media4communities Awards 2007

Date: 1st November 2007

Filmmakers have been celebrating after scooping prizes at this year’s glittering media4schools and media4communities awards at BBC Cymru Wales.

Now in its fourth year, the 2007 media4awards show organised by media4creative, a Cardiff-based production and training company, was the most successful yet, with support from high-profile companies and organisations including overall sponsors Sony and Working Links.

Media4creative has run school and community film training programmes since 2003, aiming to inspire people through digital media. An ongoing relationship with Sony means that the latest media equipment is always on hand for students, and has led to some great achievements – including the foundation of a training facility within the Sony UK Technology Centre, Pencoed.

Sony’s support for the projects demonstrates their commitment to the community, and to young people in particular, and has helped media4 go from strength to strength, with the recent addition of new training facilities at Sony’s Basingstoke and Weybridge sites.

Commenting on the company’s involvement with media4, Steve Dalton, Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre, said: “The value of these activities cannot be underestimated, the winning film “Bottom Line” by Llantwit Major originated as a response to issues raised by their local PACT meeting. The aim was to make a film to highlight the issues that affected them and their community, they even managed to secure £5,000 of lottery funding to support their goal. This is simply a fantastic example of what we can all achieve given the right environment. At Sony we believe strongly in working in partnership with our communities especially when it comes to the ongoing development of our children who are the next generation. media4 has, and continues to deliver a unique opportunity, something we are proud to be part of”.

The ceremony opened with the primary school categories, where Best Camera Work and Best Overall Film were won by Victoria and Trelales schools, who collected prizes from Saville Audio Visual and Cineworld. The Best Edited Film award was presented by BBC Cymru Wales, to Machen Primary

The secondary school categories were next, and tension mounted as schools awaited the judges’ results. Highlights included a spot prize, presented to Whitchurch High by Golf Development Wales: an invitation to the next year’s Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, including a tour of Sky and European Tour Productions’ outside broadcast units. But the show’s biggest winners were Llantwit Major School, who won a Sony Studio kit and an Apple 24” iMac for Best Edited Film and Best Overall film.

New for 2007, the Best Animation Award was supported by SETPOINT Wales, while Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s regional awards recognised winners from St Richard Gwyn RC School and media4’s Extended Opportunities course.  Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg came top in the Careers Wales Cardiff and Vale category, and teachers were also praised for their vision and enthusiasm, in the First Campus Champion Teacher Award.

2007 saw new support from South-Wales based companies, with Admiral presenting the Business Award to Pontllanfraith Comprehensive and SEO Site Builder recognising Glyn Derw High School for their impressive website.

Bringing glamour to the proceedings, Justina Simpson of ITV Wales News presented the Award for Onscreen Presentation to Treorchy Comprehensive. Best Camerawork, sponsored by Sony, went to Cowbridge Comprehensive for “The Inevitable Story”

The media4communities awards began with a dazzling display of martial arts by Karate World, and the ‘Little Ninjas’, before Sony presented the prize for Best Camerawork to Tredegar Development Trust, for ‘The Domino Effect’.

Garren Morgan and Hannah Yates were joint winners of the Best Presenter Award, supported by Capital TV, for their charismatic appearances in the film ‘Breaking the Mould’. media4communities themselves supported the Community Champion Award, recognising individuals who have supported community media projects.

Business in the Community, in their own special category, honoured filmmakers for short documentaries about responsible business practices, and the spotlight turned again to animation, when SETPOINT Wales presented a second award, to young people from Caerphilly.
Finally overall sponsors Working Links presented two awards; the Community Impact Award to Tredegar Development Trust, whose film impressed the judges with its tangible impact on the lives of local residents, and the Best Overall Award, to Rhondda Cynon Taff Youth Offending Service, for their film Open Eye TV, a documentary on reformed young offenders.

The 2007 awards were a huge success, and a testament to the wealth of talent emerging from Wales. “It’s a great chance for schools to celebrate their achievements, and this year’s standard has been higher than ever” was the verdict of Schools award producer Ria Charlton, while Jenny Harris, producer of the Communities awards, praised the work of community filmmakers; “the judges had a hard time selecting the winners, and that is a great tribute to the quality of films entered this year – well done to you all!”

Pontllanfraith Comprehensive and media4schools interview the Prime Minister!

Date: 30th July 2007

Of all the interviews media4schools have filmed, this has got to be the most high profile so far!

In July, Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School in Caerphilly invited us to accompany them on a filming trip to London to capture their experiences and, most importantly, to film their interview with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown! Jarad, Jenny and Will from media4schools joined the students (Thomas Meller, Robyn Viney, Sarah Morris, Eleri Collings, Christian Watkins, Adam Lewis, Heidi Jones and Steffi Thomas) and teachers from Pontllanfraith for a fantastic day.  

As the first school group to be granted an interview with the Prime Minister, the Pontllanfraith students were really excited to be travelling to London for the day, and despite a very early start, were all keen to get to 10 Downing Street and get started. During the interview, which took place in the Cabinet Office, the Prime Minister was quizzed on topics ranging from national security to education, to what he does in his spare time.  The questions had been prepared earlier by the Pontllanfraith team, with help from media4schools, and we were all really pleased that he answered them all.

Following the interview, we were lucky enough to be given a guided tour of 10 Downing Street, where we got to see all the state rooms and find out what they are used for.

The whole day was a fantastic experience, for everyone involved, and media4schools are delighted that we have the opportunity to film such an exclusive interview. We’d especially like to thank Matthew George at Pontllanfraith Comprehensive, for his hard work in making everything happen!

Westgate school attends the SONY RADIO AWARDS

Date: 26th July 2007

Barry Comp Student and Stanwell Student Enjoy Placement At Media4

Date: 11th July 2007

Teachers learn about ‘old news’ at ITV Wales

Date: 9th July 2007

Congratulations to Lewis School Pengam on joining media4schools

Date: 28th June 2007