We were first introduced to Digital Blue by our City Learning Centre back in 2005/6. We then started animating with the children at Royd, mainly Year 2’s. Animation weeks were then put in place for Year 1 and Year 2 once every term. As we became more confident we decided to enter the Steel City Globes, for which two films were short listed and both won commendations for the high standard of work. We then discovered Live Action as well as animation and decided to enter a Live Action film into the Steel City Globe Awards- it won ‘Best Film’ in our category. After this success we decided to start an After School Film Club which is still successful and popular!!
In 2008 we decided to apply for a grant (pilot award) to First Light – we had our application accepted. We then began to make our film ‘Don’t go down through the woods’ with a professional film company C-Media. We entered this film into 7 National Film Festivals and 2 International Film Festivals. It was short listed for all of them….it won two awards at Durham for Best Film and won ‘Best International’ at Washington – USA.
The year after the school raised the funds to work with C-Media again to make the film ‘Magic Cupboard’ this film as also been entered into film festivals – but still waiting for short listing closing dates.
In 2011 we applied again to First Light – but this time for a more challenging grant (Studio Grant). This grant meant that we have had to work along side C-Media but this time we had to make 3 films – 1 of which had to be made with another school.
There as only been 4 other applicants in the Country to be successful to be awarded this grant – us being one of them, and we are the only School.
During all of this, Year 2 have Multi-media afternoons every Friday and Year 1 also have there’s on a Friday afternoon.
In 2012 the school decided to lead the film project by themselves with no professional help. The after school film club became the focus group and they initiated their own ideas and story lines. The year 2 produced and directed the film ‘The Daydream’ a 2D animation style film using magnets.
The film won a BFI award in London for ‘Best Animation Film’ in the category 6-12 years in October 2012.
The Year 2 film club are currently writing the script for this years film project, fingers crossed it is as successful as the other films in previous years.
We as a School are very proud of our success and achievements.
