Workshops can vary depending on lengths and subject matters. Here is a selection of studies of workshops.

"Parsons Green - News Time"
Where? - Parsons Green Primary School, Edinburgh
When? - June 2007
Who - Primary 7 class of 29 pupils
How long was the workshop - 4 school days
Animation teachers - Henry and Darren
Film Length - 6 minutes

Details
A successful application was made to Scottish Natural Heritage to make a film about the environment as part of the "Wild@Heart" scheme. Red Kite were approached to facilitate the workshop. WILD@heart was created to engage pupils, their families and school staff with biodiversity through the arts. Pupils were invited to engage with and learn about our natural heritage through the workshops and then decide on a message or series of messages or
ideas that they felt were important to communicate to a wider audience.

We encouraged the class to develop ideas based on local issues (such as the schools wormery) but to try to appeal to people of their own age, which led to a humorous film.

Workshops of this length are always made into DVD's for the school (complete with "Extras" animation in this case)

Evaluation
The project was evaluated by the cultural coordinator, with the class teacher and children giving reports. Heres some points made:

Class teacher comments

What benefits did you see for the pupils?
The children were taught a new skill that I couldn't teach them. It developed creativeness as well as technical skills. The children would be able to do it again or teach others.

Were there any unexpected outcomes?
Not really. The children enjoyed the process and different children got different things out of it.

Are there any other comments you would like to make?
Enjoyed by all and thoroughly worth learning these new skills. I probably should have got more involved in the actual filming, as I didn't go over as groups were already around the camera. Also the voices and sound were put on elsewhere (recorded in a separate room) The children saw more of this than I did.

Pupils comments

"Pixar Adult 1 day workshop "
Where? - Royal Museum, Edinburgh
When? - May 2007
Who - 10 or 12 Adults who were just "curious"
How long was the workshop - 1 day (about 6 hours)
Animation teachers - Jim and Henry
Film Length - 1 minute



Details
The Museum of Scotland was hosting a huge exhibition of stuff from the animation studio "Pixar". Amongst other workshops, screenings and talks, Red Kite were asked to do three, one day workshops. One for children, one for teacher training and this one for adults. Around 12 people came along, some were artists, some were animators, some were just normal people (hee hee...sorry) We arranged for two camera and laptop setups (not always possible because of the heavy load) and so could film model animation at the same time as cut-out or drawn animation. After watching some animation, talking about techniques and demonstrating the various techniques, we asked the group to get in pairs and develop small ideas. Everyone made cut-out characters (very quickly!) and/or some Plasticine animation. Some of the group also tried drawn animation with great success.

Red Kite Animation also showed some of their own films as part the exhibition.

The whole Pixar event went really well and was ended with a party in the main hall of the museum. Although this was supposed to be a fancy dress party, I was devastated to find that I was one of only about 15 people who made a costume!! Anyway....heres my Buzz Lightyear costume, sitting in the hallway empty and then containing me, Jim (see if you can spot which picture contains me!)

Other comments

Red Kite worked with Barnardos and children in care to make a DVD of their stories and ideas.

"The feedback from the young people and those who’ve seen the DVD has been really positive. They’ve been really impressed by how professionally it’s all been put together.

Thanks for everything, it was really successful and I’d be really keen to look at another project."

Lorna Mulholland
Children's Services Manager
Griffin Service
Aberdeen