2021 Project
The Red Balloon Learners Centre is an alternative provision setting for young people aged 11-16 who self-exclude from mainstream school. They offer a bespoke approach to education, enabling young people to navigate their curriculum with a focus on well-being, restoring confidence and developing resilience to successful handle future education, work or training.
The Film-Making Project took place from over three months in 2021 with fifteen young people aged between 12 and 17, from across both the Red Balloon Cambridge Centres.
The young people worked with artist Desree and film-maker Peter, to create a ‘mockumentary’ about Red Balloon, sending up the quirky nature of the students, the teachers, the building, and even the school dogs.
While workshopping ideas students learned technical camera skills, tried out technical equipment and all appeared on camera in the workshop sessions. As the piece developed, the students chose different roles for themselves. Some chose to do the actual filming, while others developed characters and storylines to be featured in the film. Participants gained confidence, technical and soft skills and an enormous sense of achievement from the project. They are now working on the next one.
From 2022 – 2024 the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and The Evelyn Trust is supporting this work with Red Balloon Learners Centres.
Feedback
Asked ‘what surprised you about taking part?’ one participant said:
“Team working. I finally worked well with people!”
Many participants said that the experience had boosted their confidence:
“Throughout the entire thing it boosted my confidence”
Treating young people as artists was empowering and gave them agency they said they valued:
“Turning funny ideas into actual scenes” “
“Being confident enough to share my ideas”
“I feel good watching it. I am the main character, to be honest we were all the main character.”
2022 Project
In 2022 the young people worked with artist Natty Speaks and filmmaker Farrah to create 3 incredible music videos over just 10 sessions.
They worked with the facilitators to create ideas, storyboard, learn camera skills, direction skills and, for some, create their own original songs.
With the varying wants of the group, we were able to showcase the breadth of talent amongst these young people within these 3 videos.
2024 Project
In 2024, Red Balloon worked with us for 8 sessions, to create a mockumentary film about their school.
The collaborated with artist Liv Ello and filmmaker Albert Mensah, to write, direct, act and film their hilarious film, that was shown at the Total Arts Film Festival 2024.
The students gained confidence, had fun, and learnt new creative skills while working alongside their peers and professional creatives.