Limos, red carpets and giant ‘Oscars’ abounded at the film premier of 'Get Santa', on Sunday 25 November, at the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne.
More than 600 people – including families, friends, and special guests – attended this special screening. VIPs included the Chairman of the County Council, Councillor Bob Lacey, OBE, and Councillor Rupert Simmons, Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness, as well as a number of head teachers from those schools from which the ‘Gifted and Talented’ group were drawn.
The creation of the ‘Get Santa’ film was the result of an exciting ‘Gifted and Talented’ film-making project that took place earlier this year. A total of 120 year 6, 7, 8 and 9 pupils took part in the project at a special summer school. With guidance from a team of experienced film makers and teachers, pupils were involved in all aspects of producing a cinematic feature film – based on the original screenplay 'Get Santa'.
The project was led by Gifted and Talented Advanced Skills Teacher Gareth Jones on behalf of CfBT and East Sussex County Council.
Councillor Rupert Simmons said: “This project has been a fantastic opportunity for the young people involved. We have a commitment as a County Council to ensure we provide our gifted and talented pupils with opportunities to enrich and extend their learning. As well as being a lot of fun it has promoted and encouraged independent creative thinking and excellent teamwork.”
Over the course of the summer, pupils gained first hand experience in front of and behind the camera. Using professional film equipment, they took on a range of exciting challenges around the complex business of film production, with pupils able to focus on their own particular interest.
A short preview trailer, and the music video 'Gangsta Times', has been posted on YouTube.
To find out more about the Gifted and Talented programmes supported by East Sussex County Council, visit the CfBT East Sussex School Improvement Service website.
Notes to editors
Information about the project was sent to every state school in the county in the Spring of 2007, with invitations to submit pupils for inclusion in the programme.
Below is a list of the schools and colleges whose pupils participated in this Gifted and Talented project:
- Beacon Community College
- Chailey Community College
- Claverham Community College (Battle)
- Cross-in-Hand Primary
- The Causeway
- Eastbourne Technology College
- Framfield Primary
- Hailsham Community College
- Hawkes Farm Primary
- Herstmonceux Primary
- Iford and Kingston Primary
- King Offa Primary
- Manor Primary School
- Stone Cross Primary
- Wallands Community Primary
- Willingdon Community College
- Willingdon Primary School
Reference:
1709
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