LITTLE PEOPLE WITH BIG EXPRESSION!

BIG TELLY Theatre Company and Millstrand Integrated Primary School on the North Coast are embarking on an exciting new initiative combining the Arts and education to bring an 'Oscar Premiere' as part of a creative explosion of cultural expression to extra-curricular learning.

Pupils from Millstrand aged between seven and ten (P4 and P6) are embarking on an artistic journey with Big Telly to produce their very own imaginative short films, using story making and performance skills to explore the creative potential of their local environment.

The children's short films will be premiered at the Millstrand Movies 'Oscars' Premiere spectacular at the Riverside Theatre, Coleraine on Tuesday 7 December, where the young talented film producers will experience a taste of stardom, and pupils, parents and the local community can meet the potential film directors of the future!

Zoë Seaton, Artistic Director at Big Telly Theatre Company, is delighted to see the project develop and is looking forward to working with Millstrand pupils to help them focus on a chosen location and create stories that might be set there, drawing upon myth, fairy tales and local legend for inspiration. The children will create a storyboard for each film, which hopes to be exhibited locally during December.

"We are very excited at the prospective contribution the project will make to the children's learning experience, and delighted to be working in the local area on such a rewarding venture with Millstrand Integrated", Zoë said.

Once the children have devised their story, they will have the unique opportunity to be taught technical camerawork skills from experienced film production company Third Source Media from Belfast, who are co-facilitating the project, to enable them to film on location and bring their stories to life.

As an extra-curricular project, the Millstrand Movies initiative looks set to establish Millstrand Integrated and Big Telly Theatre Company as pioneers for encouraging creative expression within primary education in Northern Ireland.

Philip Reid, Headmaster of Millstrand Integrated said "we are hoping the project will contribute to childrens' ability to approach new challenges in a creative way and therefore be empowered to invent opportunities for themselves. The joint venture will include training for Millstrand teachers to enable a creative culture to continue to be nurtured within the school."

"By making their own short film, children at Millstrand will gain an important insight into the process of making visual media, and it is hoped this will encourage young people to question and analyse the images and stories they see on television" Zoë continues, "the project aims to build children's confidence in self-expression, skills in visualisation and narrative structure, and provide the opportunity of being part of a creative team."