Pictured is one scene from the film Sailing Adventure produced by Grade 2 students at Morinville Public Elementary School. – Lucie Roy Photo
by Lucie Roy
Morinville Public Elementary School held their Film Festival Premier on Thursday afternoon. Students, teachers, parents and guests gathered in the gym with bags of popcorn to watch a number of short film strips produced by Grades 2 to 6 students.
The students got a firsthand view of their Claymation film creations assisted by the Director’s Cut. Director’s Cut offers a Claymation and Toying Around workshop among their varied programs. With Claymation students made their own characters and scenes and then used stop motion technology, digital videos, cameras, computers and advice from filmmakers and their imagination to create their film. The stop motion animation is action based and from 60 to 90 seconds in length.
“Over the last few weeks the students have been working on short animated videos,” said Principal Wayne Rufiange, adding the students used paper or clay to bring their stories to life. Teacher Sandra Wood added the common theme among the more than 40 videos was friendship.
The Director’s Cut Workshop allows students to think outside the box, as well as develop and promote new digital media opportunities. The students produce their stop motion animation film in the morning using their toys and use technology to post production including sound effects, music, titles and voice-overs in the afternoon. The students learn that stories require a plot, characters, setting, theme and develop awareness of some of the techniques used, such as good versus evil, heroes, colors and sounds to produce the desired special effects.
Students seemed very excited about their action figures, toys and creations coming to life on screen. Each student was given a DVD of his or her work to take home.
