Them and their movie
I've been to a few film premieres in my time, but nothing quite as important as this. I was escorted to the screening by two security guys from CV1, afraid I'd be late. I needn't have worried. The production team was still working on the credits when I arrived. Typical film set chaos.
Let's set the background for you, the mise en scene, as we say in the trade.
All parents will know, I hope, about the brilliant (with awards to prove it) website set up by the BBC which runs in tandem with the CBBC channel. One of the myriad features gives youngsters the basic software tools and some instruction in film making. It's called Me and My Movie.
Kids are invited to enter their own films to have a chance of winning the special CBBC me and my movie award in association with BAFTA, no less. In conjunction with BBC Learning, CBBC is out to inspire kids to learn about film and create their own. To this end they're running a series of workshops around the country, taking in both animation and standard film making. The latter is now comparatively easy with the advance of video cameras.
The workshops for the Midlands are based at the newish BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Open Centre, not far from the cathedral. That's how I came to be escorted by two helpful security chappies. Parking too far away and in a rush I lost my way and asked them for directions. They helpfully walked me to it, pointing out along the way the flashpoints for skateboarders and wannabe BMX stuntmen.
My lucky grandchildren were among six kids aged 6-10 chosen on a first come first served basis to attend the workshop led by BBC C&W's Rosie King. When they turned up at 10am they didn't know each other (apart from our sisters) and what was going to happen. By 3.30pm they had to have planned, performed, shot and edited a two-minute film, each of them getting a chance to try the various roles within the team.
An animation workshop led by artist Chris Bradley was held last week and Rosie will be helping 11-14 year olds with their project next week.
Rosie told the assembled parents at our screening that the team that produced The Red Hat has done a great job and had worked hard and happily all day. The hoots of laughter from the kids before, during and after the screening were ample evidence of that.
As the movie is now in competition, I mustn't say too much about it, but it gave our Jess an opening to do a terrible French accent on screen and our Becky a chance to boss everyone around as the director. Great music and nifty editing in evidence too.
A great project by the much-maligned Beeb. Watch out for other CBBC projects. The website alone is worth your licence fee.
Gotta go, busy. I'm drafting a list of people Rebecca has to thank in her BAFTA acceptance speech at the awards in November.
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