MOVING IMAGE ARTS

Moving Image Arts is a new qualification in the art of the moving image which is being introduced into the curriculum this year by CCEA (the Council for the Curriculum and Examinations). The new AS level syllabus is being piloted in six post-primary schools in Northern Ireland: Dalriada, Ballymoney; Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus; St Genevieve's High School and  St Malachy's College, Belfast; and Thornhill College and Oakgrove Integrated College, Derry/Londonderry.

Moving Image Arts was developed by the British Film Institute and CCEA and teacher training and ongoing support is being provided by the Nerve Centre. As the new syllabus is located within the arts curriculum, all of the pupils are students of art. Moving Image Arts AS Level will enable them to develop their creative abilities through actual 'hands-on' digital film-making in the classroom. 40% of this new qualification is a 5 minute
production through which the students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in directing, lighting, camera, editing and soundtracking.

Another unique aspect of Moving Image Arts is the examination format. At the end of this academic year, the students will sit the very first online exam in Northern Ireland. They will be presented with a series of film clips on a website for visual analysis and will fill in their answers online. The study of local film-making is a central aspect of Moving Image
Arts and CCEA have created an online examplar examination using clips from the NIFTC's Northern Ireland Digital Film Archive. Schools or teachers wishing to view this online examplar should contact CCEA.

CCEA are presently recruiting schools for the second year of the pilot which will begin in the academic year 2004/5. Places are still open so anyone interested can contact Marion Miller, Principal Officer for Art at CCEA by email: mmiller@ccea.org.uk.

CCEA and the Nerve Centre will organise a presentation for any Education and Library Board that wishes to encourage its schools to take up the new syllabus.
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation sponsors the Creative Learning Centre Programme and Production as part of the 16th Seagate Foyle Film Festival Education Programme

As part of the Seagate Foyle Film Festival education programme this year, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is supporting a special Programme and Production which has been designed for St. Peter's High School for boys in the Creggan estate, Derry.  The Nerve Centre's Creative Learning Centre will provide support for 50 year 8 pupils during the academic year 2003/4 to assist the school in raising their academic standards. The programme will begin on Monday 24 November 2003 during the Foyle Film Festival where the pupils and their teachers will be offered a stimulating week of social activity, screenings and workshops. 

The programme includes a two day Stage Combat Course where pupils will be introduced to the techniques involved in this movement discipline.  The emphasis of the course is on safety always and to demonstrate that fight scenes, whether in film, television, or stage, are well choreographed and rehearsed in order to ensure that participants do not get hurt or injured.  While a Special Effects Make-up Masterclass introduces participants to the art of making interesting scars, bruises, black eyes, and how to create burns using prosaid, tissue paper, etc.  Special effects make-up artist Geoff Portas has over 15 years experience working in film and television.  He created the "pin-head" character from the well-known Hellraiser films, and has worked on numerous television films, commercials, and pop videos.  His latest work can be seen on Alistair McGowan's 'Big Impression' series, where he designs the prosthetic make-up.

Some very youthful inspiration can be found in the shape of Chaille Stovall, a 14 year old feature documentary director.  Chaille got his break into film by participating in the Miami Children's Film Festival's free classes for kids.  He has been called a maverick documentary maker in the same vein as Michael Moore and Nick Broomfield.  Chaille uses the medium of film to challenge stereotypes as well as to explore and promote the idea of social tolerance.  Chaille's films have gained international recognition for delivering fresh concepts with an honest approach.  He was recently named of  Teen People Magazine's "20 Teens Who Will Change the World." Chaille's latest film project, Your Dentures Make Me Hot, is in production in Miami, Florida.  It deals with AIDS and the elderly.  Two of Chaille's short films, Looking 4 God and Little Monk, will be screened for St. Peter's boys, with special introduction and Q&A by the young filmmaker. documentary director. He got his start b

This special programme of events also includes a multi-media day in which the boys will have a unique opportunity to experience an array of different media disciplines, including animation, web design, and camera skills.  During the course of the week, the boys will record their experiences in a festival diary, and will take photographs to complete the picture.  Fourteen year old filmmaker Chaille Stovall will work with the 50 pupils to assess and document their week at the Seagate Foyle Film Festival on camera.  Teachers are also being encouraged to participate in the festival by attending workshops, special events, and the Opening and Closing Night Films. 

Since the purpose of this alternative programme is to address the learning difficulties and severe behavioural problems of the boys, the focus of the Seagate Foyle Film Festival education programme will be on the provision of a stimulating week of social activity, screenings and workshops for both teachers and pupils.

By offering this programme during the Seagate Foyle Film Festival, participants have the added opportunity of being part of an event which attracts internationally recognised industry professionals and filmmakers from all over the world.  The unique nature of this event will contribute positively to the self-esteem of those involved as they will be treated as special guests and representatives of the festival for that week.

A follow-up in-school production involving animation, video, music or multimedia will be completed in St. Peter's in Spring 2004.

Other special screenings and workshops during this year's diverse and exciting festival education programme include the acclaimed documentary ‘Etre et avoir [To Be and To Have]’, which follows a year in the one-room schoolhouse of teacher Georges Lopez in the French rural region of Auvergne.  All pupils, regardless of ability, are taught together - reading, writing and arithmetic - by the same teacher.  The Jesuits have a saying: "Give me a child until he is seven, and after that you may do what you like with him", and this enthralling French documentary seems to bear out the truth of this statement.  While the education programme also includes Irish Language, Sign Language, Art and Animation screenings and workshops, Music and Movement workshops, and special outreach packages and events, which schools can book to screen in the classroom.

Schools will have an opportunity to see the latest adaptation of ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ on the big screen, and ‘The Whale Rider’, which has received widespread critical acclaim.  The festival is not afraid of tackling tough issues with screenings of the documentary ‘The Day I Will Never Forget’, which highlights the controversial subject of female genital mutilation, or female circumcision, which occurs every day, mainly in North Africa and the Middle East.  The director of the documentary Kim Longinotto will introduce this special screening.  The AIDS crisis is also given some attention with the screening of ‘State Of Denial’, a documentary which gives an unflinching look at how the citizens of South Africa are living with AIDS, given the climate of governmental confusion and neglect.  While war and poverty is put under the spotlight with the documentary ‘War Photographer’, which looks at the work of James Nachtwey - considered by many the greatest war photographer ever.  If you have never been subject to war and poverty you have to see James Nachtwey's photography.  Stunning, shocking and beautiful.  James began his early career working in Northern Ireland in the 1980s covering the Hunger Strikes.    

We are very pleased to welcome and acknowledge the sponsorship of The Paul Hamlyn Foundation this year, without whose support this innovative and exciting programme of events would not be possible.