For the past few weeks, students in Year 9 have been working in groups to create original short films. This is a project we have undertaken as part of the Year 9 Film Unit as part of our English lessons.
The festival is the culmination and celebration of a lot of hard but fun work. We devised screenplays, storyboards and scripts before filming them. The groups created audio commentaries for the films too, explaining the reasons for our creative decisions. While filming, we thought about every single shot and scene in our film, as well what each filming and editing technique used should signify.
In order to create a quality piece of work, we first learned about what makes a successful film. We analysed iconic openings from films such as “The Shining” and “Vertigo.” We discovered that it’s vitally important to look into all aspects of what’s on screen and what can be heard, and as such analysed camera angles, (non)diegetic sound, as well as the length and types of shot.
Before filming, we planned every inch of our movies. Once all the storyboards and screenplays were completed, we were ready to start. Many groups made plans out of school to film to help them get everything done on time. Each team got a week of filming, as the following week was for editing.
One of the key benefits of working in a group was learning to work collaboratively. It gave us more creative freedom, as we were allowed to work on our own, in our own way. Each member of the group was given a specific role, whether it was camera operator, editor or graphic designer. This, and putting time aside to film, was crucial for each group to work together efficiently and effectively. It also taught us how to manage our time, to compromise where necessary, and to make major decisions together.
We are looking forward to showcasing the films in our first ever ‘Boscars’ on Friday 17th March. A shortlist of the best films will be judged by Mr Jackson, Mr Bird and Year 11 student, András Fasimon, who has a strong interest in film. We are also very excited to have former BISB alumni and award-winning film-maker Ottó Bánovits as our special guest. Otto was a student here from 2006 to 2009 and went on to the University of the Arts, London to study film, followed by an MA from the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts. His film Donkey Xote won the Best Film Award at the Montreal Film Festival. It will be great to hear his views on the films.
We are certain that everyone in Year 9 did a great job in conveying what they learned in their short films, creating some fantastic pieces.
by Joanna Leach, Head of English