How to change the world … in Edinburgh!

New documentary tells the story of the birth of Greenpeace

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My old mate Dave Woods has alerted me to a film made by his friend Jerry Rothwell he describes as ‘wonderful – it is a fabulous thing.’ High praise indeed … ‘How To Change The World‘ premieres at The Cameo  on Wednesday 9 September at 8pm (also showing at Cineworld Edinburgh and Odeon Lothian Road). 

How To Change The World tells the gripping story of the origins of Greenpeace. A Sundance 2015 award winner, the film draws on stunning unseen footage from the early days of the modern green movement.
In 1971 a brave group of young activists set sail from Vancouver in an old fishing boat. Their mission: to stop Nixon’s atomic bomb tests in Amchitka, a tiny island off the west coast of Alaska.

It was from these humble but courageous beginnings that the global organisation that we now know as Greenpeace was born. Chronicling the fascinating untold story behind the modern environmental movement, this gripping new film tells the story of eco-hero Robert Hunter and how he, alongside a group of like-minded and idealistic young friends in the ’70s, would be instrumental in altering the way we now look at the world and our place within it.

A real-life thriller with larger than life heroes‘ – Huffington Post
Tremendously inspiring, and by turns thrilling, comic, and shocking‘ – Slashfilm
A panel discussion, broadcast live via satellite, follows the screening featuring legendary fashion designer and long-standing Greenpeace supporter Vivienne Westwood, director Jerry Rothwell, Robert Hunter’s daughter Emily Hunter and other special guests to be announced. The event will be hosted by Mariella Frostrup. 
You can check out the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/126619145

The Cameo  Link: https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Cameo_Picturehouse/film/how-to-change-the-world-live-premiere

Local project’s films to premiere at Filmhouse

Films produced by local young people screening at the Filmhouse this Saturday

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Screen Education Edinburgh has announced that five short films -produced by an innovative new North Edinburgh partnership and made entirely by young people – will receive their premieres at the Edinburgh Filmhouse this Saturday (2 May).

The films will be shown with ten other shorts from their wider BFI Film Academy and CashBack for Creativity projects.

The North Edinburgh partnership, a joint initiative involving Screen Education Edinburgh and Total Craigroyston, with funding from CashBack for Creativity, encourages young people to get involved in filmmaking rather than crime. Five of the films to be shown during the special two hour event were made by young people who are at risk of offending or reoffending.

Irvine Welsh, Patron of Screen Education Edinburgh, said: “If you come from a disadvantaged area, the world can often seem to conspire against you, constraining your vision to the streets around you and the urgent here and now of simply getting by. Cinema is a wonderful tool in combating that horrible malaise, opening up windows into different worlds, and helping us to understand our own ones better through the broadening of our horizons. The skills you learn through being part of a committed team, working on a task that can create a little bit of magic are transferable to other areas of our life.”

The partnership works with groups of 11-19 year olds from the city’s Pilton and Muirhouse area – currently ranked the worst for crime in the whole south east of Scotland – teaching young people film making skills in the evenings. The initiative was set up to improve the lives of families living around Craigroyston Community High School and is a co-ordinated effort to encourage and stimulate young people’s interest in film when they might otherwise be out on the streets.

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The short films were all written, directed, filmed and acted in by the youngsters. These films explore issues through drama and music videos including motorcycle theft, the feeling of being alienated, first love and peer pressure.

Graham Fitzpatrick, Creative Manager at Screen Education Edinburgh, said: “The Pilton and Muirhouse area experienced serious issues of crime involving youths, and sometimes children, throughout 2014.

“The aim of this scheme is to help young people engage and deal with their offending issues, whilst giving them positive activities throughout the week, particularly late evenings.”

James Riordan, Lead Youth Development Worker with the Alternative to Crime Project added; “Through being involved in diversionary activities and projects such as the film programme with Screen Education Edinburgh, Young People, who have been involved in anti-social/offending behaviour in North Edinburgh, have the opportunity to be part of something positive and to get a taste of new activities and skills they wouldn’t normally have access to.

“Through working with Screen Education Edinburgh the Group have learned to adapt to different scenarios which in turn has led to them increasing their levels of self-esteem, allowing them to develop as confident Young People”.

Screen Education Edinburgh (formerly Pilton Video) was founded in 2010 to help young people develop and express themselves through film making. Edinburgh born novelist, playwright, storyteller and screenwriter, Irvine Welsh became patron of Screen Education Edinburgh in March last year.

Screen Education Edinburgh is currently running three separate local projects. One, based at FACE North (Focussing on Alternative’s to Crime Edinburgh North)  and POP (Preventative Opportunities Programme), is making film drama with groups of  14 to 19 year old males, whilst another focuses on music video production with 10-12 years olds in four local primary schools.

The third supports children and youth workers based out of the Muirhouse Millennium Centre, providing film skills training to the workers, helping them to support large groups of young people in their first forays into film production.

This partnership was funded through the CashBack for Creativity scheme, part of a wider £45 million Scottish Government initiative which reinvests the proceeds recovered from criminals for the benefit of young people.

Saturday’s event at the Filmhouse will showcase the films to parents, friends, the community, councillors and guests.

The screening will also incorporate films from all Screen Education Edinburgh’s CashBack for Creativity projects, including; Score Scotland, Panmure School, MYPAS Dalkeith, Bridges Project Musselburgh, Edinburgh Young Carers and from the advanced BFI Film Academy South East of Scotland initiative. 

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Funding for trainees in creative industries

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£100,000 funding has been awarded through Creative Scotland to support ten full time, year-long traineeships across the arts, screen and creative industries, it was announced today.

Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop in Hawthornvale will be one of the five capital-based organisations to offer traineeships.

The Traineeships Programme aims to support the employment prospects for people aged 20-30yrs interested in developing a career in arts and culture, by creating valuable work experience opportunities.

Traineeships will take place at Africa In Motion (AiM) Film FestivalEdinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Media Education, Starcatchers and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) in Edinburgh; GMAC Film and Barrowland Ballet in Glasgow; Ayr Gaiety Theatre in Ayrshire; The Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, and with Jewellery designer Eileen Gatt in the Highlands.

Leonie Bell, Director of Arts & Engagement, Creative Scotland said: “Creative Scotland is committed to supporting the creation of opportunities for young people to gain employment, work experience and vocational qualifications in the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland.

“These traineeships will offer young people the opportunity to develop the skills and professional experience needed to progress in their chosen profession by removing barriers to paid work experience.

“At the same time, organisations will benefit from fresh, innovative ideas and enthusiasm of the trainees.”

Traineeships will be offered across the following areas:

Visual Arts
Assistant Curator (Programme Team) – Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop
Gallery Programmes Trainee: Exhibitions, Learning & Digital (Curatorial and Education) – The Pier Arts Centre

Film
Shadow Curator – Africa In Motion (AiM) Film Festival
Online Film Content Developer – GMAC Film
Trainee Project Assistant / Member of Production Team – Media Education

Theatre and Dance
Starcatchers Trainee Associate Artist – Starcatchers Productions
Programme Officer (Programming Department) – Ayr Gaiety
Dance Participation Artist, Participation and Outreach Department – Barrowland Ballet

Craft
Eileen Gatt: Jewellery designer/maker

Literature
Digital and Language Resources Trainee – TRACS based at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

All Traineeships will be advertised on Creative Scotland’s Opportunities site.

Welcoming the announcement Irene Kernan, Director at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, said: “The Creative Scotland Traineeship will support Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop’s aims of developing talent and supporting young artists in their careers. Being able to employ a trainee for a full year provides a valuable opportunity for us to bring new approaches and skills to the staff team and further develop our public programme to connect with local audiences.”

Screen Education Edinburgh rolling out new Cashback projects

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Screen Education Edinburgh are running the next round of CashBack for Creativity film projects, with the first target areas being North Edinburgh and West Edinburgh …

Aged 14-19? Interested in learning how to make your own short film?

This 8 week course will introduce you to the basics of storytelling, camera, sound, acting, directing and editing. You will then have the opportunity to shoot your own short film using professional cameras and with the support of our filmmaker tutors. No previous experience is required and it’s free to take part!

This course is accredited with an Explore Level Arts Award (eqv. to SCQF Level 3)
Any questions? Contact Laura McBride – laura@screen-ed.org – 0131 343 1151


Taster Sessions

Come and find out more about the course, meet others who are interested and have a go at writing, shooting and editing a 1 minute film in a 4 hour taster session.

  • Edinburgh North and Leith
    • Friday 6 March – 2pm-6pm @ Out of the Blue
      36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG – Click HERE for directions
    • Saturday 7 March – 1pm – 5pm @ Screen Education Edinburgh
      30 Ferry Road Avenue, EH4 4BA – Click HERE for directions
  • Edinburgh West
    • Friday 6 March – 2pm – 6pm @ Venue in Gorgie TBC
    • Saturday 7 March – 1.30pm – 4.30pm @ Wester Hailes Library
      1 Westside Plaza Edinburgh, Midlothian EH14 2ST – Click HERE for directions

Further dates will be announced for Edinburgh East and Central, Edinburgh South, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian and Forth Valley. Sign up below and we’ll get in touch when we’re in your area!

Get Involved!

For more information and to sign up to register your interest, go to: http://screen-ed.org/filmintro/

Film: Volunteering Changes Lives

We are delighted to share “Volunteering Changes Lives” – a short film celebrating 30 years’ work by Volunteer Centre Edinbugrh’s (VCE’s) Health & Wellbeing Team. 

http://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/Blog_Article_Depository/New_Film

It is an inspiring and powerful account of how volunteering has assisted a number of people to overcome the barriers & discrimination which accompany mental illness and disability. All are volunteers with local charities, supporting the delivery of services – being a helper rather than always being helped.

I am sure that a number of people featured in the film may be familiar to you!

Nick Woodhead, Health and Wellbeing Development Officer 

VOLUNTEER CENTRE EDINBURGH

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Super Spartans – changing people’s lives

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The Spartans Community Football Academy have been working with Edinburgh-based Filming Scotland to create a film showcasing the work they do in the North Edinburgh commuinity. The film premiered at Spartans fundraising dinner at the Prestonfield House Hotel recently and had a huge impact: even ex-Liverpool and Scotland hard-man Graeme Souness shed a wee tear! See for yourself …

Spartans Community Football Academy – Changing People’s Lives

Weekend Hub: the movie!

North Edinburgh Alcohol Initiative Collaborative (NEAIC) will present their film ‘The Weekend Hub‘ at Pilton Youth & Childrens Project this Saturday evening at 7pm.

North Edinburgh Alcohol Initiative Collaborative (NEAIC) is a partnership project involving the areas’s main youth groups: Granton Youth Centre, the Junction in Leith, Muirhouse Youth Development Group & Pilton Youth & Children’s Project.

NEAIC”s Streetbreak initiative offers diversionary activities for young people aged from 12 -21. The main clubs are the weekend hubs based in PYCP on Friday and Saturday evenings, sessions where North Edinburgh’s young people can enjoy a safe space and take part in fun activities.

What did they get up to? The Weekend Hub will tell you all – and also showing are ‘Ruffin’ it in Muirhouse‘ and ‘Just a Girl?’

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New exhibition reveals ‘another world’ of Scottish film

Changing experiences of childhood documented on film

dancersFilms and videos shot by some of Scotland’s pioneering amateur filmmakers will be showcased in a new exhibition now open at the City of Edinburgh Council’s Museum of Childhood.

This new archive has been developed through a four year research project undertaken by experts at the University of Glasgow. They have helped locate over 2,000 home movies, fiction films and sponsored documentaries made in Scotland throughout the twentieth century.

The project, entitled ‘Children and Amateur Media in Scotland’, charted the changing experiences of childhood. Together the films offer a unique and important insight into Scotland’s hidden cultural history.

It shows how children were represented by amateur filmmakers throughout the twentieth century, how they became film-makers themselves, and offers our only visual window into many domestic and community scenes, now lost, but once familiar to many.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Convener of Culture and Sport at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The Museum of Childhood is one of Edinburgh’s most loved museums with an extraordinary collection of toys and games. For over 50 years, the museum has charted the changing environments children have grown up in, and the different ways they have played.

“The films involved give a fascinating glimpse into the past and the exhibition will perfectly complement the existing collections, while offering something completely new for visitors.”

Professor Karen Lury, Professor of Film & Television Studies and Principal Investigator of the project said: “What we have discovered is that there is ‘another world’ of Scottish film – many, many amateur film-makers, community arts workers and school teachers all making films that reveal a lively and imaginative culture that deserves to be celebrated. The industry and creativity of these amateur film-makers – young and old – rivals the professional industry in Scotland in terms of its global reach and historic importance.”

“We believe that when brought together, the resources produced through this project will create a unique and compelling visual document of Scottish popular history and of Scottish childhood that otherwise would have been lost.”

Working in collaboration with the Scottish Screen Archive, researchers have made these films available for study by experts and for public enjoyment via the SSA’s online catalogue.

The archive will allow the children of today to look back in time to see the culture and society that their parents and grandparents experienced as part of their own childhood.

The free exhibition will run until 18 May 2015 at the Museum of Childhood.

Click the link to Find out more information on the ‘Children in Amateur Media in Scotland’ project.

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All aboard! Travelling Gallery stopping off in Drylaw

The Travelling Gallery at Calton Hill EdinburghThe Travelling Gallery is off on it’s travels again and Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre will be one  of the destinations as the bus embarks on a five-month tour of Scotland.

For the past 25 years the Travelling Gallery has played an active part in exhibiting and promoting Scottish artists, so it is delighted to be part of GENERATION, a nationwide celebration of contemporary art in Scotland, which is taking place in over 60 venues throughout the country this year.

GENERATION: TG is a group exhibition which includes five Scottish artists; Laura Aldridge, Craig Coulthard, Mandy McIntosh, Hanna Tuulikki and David Sherry.

The exhibition will present new commissions alongside developments of existing works. A hand-made, craft element links all of the works in the exhibition, which include ceramics, textile wall hangings, digital animation, drawings, sculpture, film, performance and song.

The exhibition also includes a film of the artists talking about their work to pupils from Edinburgh schools, which was made in collaboration with Pilton-based Screen Education Edinburgh (formerly Pilton Video). The exhibition includes a short film of the artists talking about their work to pupils from three Edinburgh schools in collaboration with SEE (Screen Education Edinburgh).

The schools involved were Craigroyston, Holyrood and Portobello High Schools. All the pupils met with the artists, often in their studios, and asked them questions about their art and life as an artist. A programme of workshops, run by SEE, introduced the pupils to the film equipment, interviewing techniques and editing skills. The film will be available on YouTube and at www.travellinggallery.com.

The Travelling Gallery is a mobile contemporary art gallery, custom-built in a big, beautiful bus. The gallery is supported by Creative Scotland, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Edinburgh Museums and Galleries, a division of the City of Edinburgh Council.

The GENERATION: TG exhibition has been curated specifically for this unique space, and will travel the length and breadth of Scotland, visiting schools, high streets, community centres, and many other venues on the way. Travelling Gallery staff are always available to give formal, and not so formal, presentations on the exhibition at every stop.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convenor for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Once again the Travelling Gallery is set to be a fascinating exhibition which will draw crowds from communities across Scotland.

“This year, I am particularly looking forward to a short film that has been developed for the exhibition which includes artists talking about their work to pupils from Edinburgh schools. Another highlight will be seeing the bus when it returns to the City Art Centre as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival in August.”

GENERATION: TG is part of GENERATION: a major, nation-wide exhibition programme showcasing some of the best and most significant artists to have emerged from Scotland over the last 25 years. It shows the generation of ideas, of experiences, and of world class art on an unparalleled scale by over 100 artists in more than 60 venues.

The programme is delivered as a partnership between the National Galleries of Scotland, Glasgow Life and Creative Scotland and is part of Culture 2014, the 2014 Cultural Programme.

The Travelling Gallery will tour the GENERATION: TG exhibition in the following areas:

19– 20 July – Tramway, Glasgow

24 – 29 July – North Lanarkshire

4 – 15 August – Edinburgh Art Festival

2 – 7 September – Nairn Book and Arts Festival

8 – 19 September – Highlands

22 – 26 September – Lewis and Harris

4 – 10 October – Moray

20 -24 October – Falkirk

27 – 31 October – South Ayrshire

3 – 7 November – Stirling

10 – 14 November – Edinburgh

During the Edinburgh Art Festival the gallery will be visiting these venues:

Monday 4 August – Leith Walk (near Shrubhill House) 12 – 6pm

Tuesday 5 August – Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes 11am – 5pm

Thursday 7 August – Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre 11am – 5pm

Friday 8 August – Portobello High Street 11am – 5pm

Monday 11 August – Scottish Gallery of Modern Art: Modern 2 10am – 6pm

Tuesday 12 August – Craigmillar Library 11am – 5pm

Wednesday 13 August – City Art Centre, Market Street 10am – 5pm

Thursday 14 August – City Art Centre, Market Street 10am – 5pm (plus Art Late North)

Friday 15 August – City Art Centre, Market Street 10am – 5pm

See www.travellinggallery.com for all the details

@ArtinaBus or see @genartscot (#genartscot).

The Travelling Gallery getting ready to tour