2022 Project
Olive AP Academy is an alternative provision for ages 11 – 16 with a centre in Cambridge that supports up to 40 learners. These young people may have experienced difficulty with their learning in mainstream education and have been permanently excluded.
The year 11 pupils worked alongside Highrise Theatre and filmmaker, Jas Pitt, to create a music video and behind the scenes documentary.
After the first few days we realised there was an interest in music and considerable talent across the cohort of young people, so they decided to make an original track and music video, Reese’s Pieces.
With thanks to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for making this project possible.
Feedback
“Everyone’s changed, the first day everyone was quiet and now all of us now have more energy and are happy to come here, we are coming for a purpose. And I just feel a lot more free here. And I think I have done well, well I love it here.” Participant
“I think in other circumstances I will feel more confident as I can remind myself of what I did. I was in a music video!! Like whenever I think I can’t do something, I can remind myself I did THAT.” Participant
“I’ve grown and changed over this project, that music video was a big evolution for me, mate. Whenever I go through a good, no not even a good, just a different experience I kind of like go through like a perspective change, like another shade gets put onto my world. I like I realise there is another chest that I can open filled with value that I haven’t even collected yet, so after I have done the music video it has made me realise that there are other possibilities. Because when you realise that technically when someone says anything is possible that’s not a lie, anything is possible, so when you are doing anything that can make the rest possible, innit.” Participant
2023 Project
This year, working with Highrise Theatre and filmmaker, Jas Pitt, year 11’s made another incredible film called ‘1 Million Views’.
After a week of workshopping ideas, storyboarding, learning how to edit and using the camera equipment, they created a film about the lengths people will go to for views online.
With thanks to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for making this project possible.
Feedback
“I got more confident in knowing I can learn things quickly and also in being able to talk to new people” Pupil
“you learn how to film with a camera, you learn how to act, all of it really. It’s all sick” Pupil
“I’ve been telling all the staff back at school how much *** has just come out of his shell. He’s just excelled, being involved in the film… its just amazing to see for this is a kid that would barely say two words when he came in the morning” Teacher
2024 Project
In January 2024 we worked with 12 students from Olive Academy to create two films over 10 days.
The group co-created these films alongside artists Desree and Dauda Sol, and filmmaker Albert Mensah.
Together they created the story, edited, worked the cameras, did the sound, acted, and scouted locations, for both of the films.
With thanks to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for making this project possible.
Behind the scenes documentary
Past Projects
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