Councillor Margaret Toner is pictured with some of the young people involved in the ‘Shot From The Hip’ project.
Pupils from Belmont Academy in South Ayrshire got the chance to make and star in their very own film production recently.
Since March this year a group of pupils from Belmont Academy have been working on an exciting film project 'Shot from The Hip' exploring and music.
The pupils were given an opportunity to work with professionals from the world of dance, choreography, animation and film making. During this time they learned the basics of animation, gained a greater understanding of film making, produced a creative piece of film and explored the spaces within their school by moving through them in new and imaginative ways.
Their work was set to music by pupils from the schools music department, who created a special composition to suit the rhythm and movement of the film. The students cut out life-size body shapes that were articulated and moved in the film, they used the buildings structure in innovative ways in their dance movement and props such as balloons added a new dimension to the film.
Approaches such as these are becoming much more prevalent in South Ayrshire schools as they implement Curriculum for excellence, linking learning across the curriculum and making learning far more relevant to the world of work.
Councillor Margaret Toner, Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure Portfolio Holder went to see the film and said: "It is outstanding what the pupils have achieved. They have worked with professional people, listened to them, learned new skills and have gone on to create their own short film.
"There is a whole world of art and culture waiting for our young people to discover and it is important that we encourage them to do so. Making the film really captured the interests of the pupils and they should be very proud of what they have achieved."
A number of people were involved in the making of the film. It was facilitated by dancers Daniel Aing and Jane Simpson, Kevin Cameron, film maker and Elizabeth Dew, animator. Members of Belmont Academy staff Lorna Hardie, music teacher and Gillian Wilson PE teacher provided support for the project. Students involved in the project were Amy Rodger, Sawn Anderson, Dana Izat, Robbie Goudie, Conor Sinclair, James Taylor, Jodie McLauchlan, Stuart Morrison, Ewan Bain, Leah McMillan, Zoe Breingan, Iona Izat and Jodie Barbour.
Speaking on behalf of the students Dana Izat, S3 said: "The whole experience was wonderful and opened up the students eyes to opportunities in the media."