Remember the Newsreels which were once such a major part of a trip to the cinema? Year 5 have been recreating these mini-films as part of the new Film Narrative topic for Literacy. Our pupils have learnt all about the film-making process including: writing a Production Sheet; planning different camera angles and assigning roles within Newsreel teams. We also researched and watched numerous Newsreels from the 1930s through to the late 1970s.
The News Real Project has been great fun for all the children. The class have been working together in groups to plan, dramatise and edit the filming of events and pastimes from the Tudor era, our current history topic.
Helen and Sean, a professional camera crew from Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema came into school for the filming of the four Newsreels, working alongside the children. Modern filmmaking equipment such as a 'blue' screen, directional microphones, high power lighting and digital video cameras were used by the children to produce cinema-quality footage.
Using the 'Blue' Screen to create an atmospheric Tudor backdrop
Re-enacting Anne Boleyn's beheading
Sean and Helen returned to school to edit the children's newsreels using the latest video-editing software. During this session, the children added the finishing touches such as narration, titles, credits, sound effects and each group's own Newsreel company logo.
The class can't wait to see their finished work on the big screen itself! Once the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, the only remaining news theatre in Britain, is reopened after an extensive rennovation, we will be watching our finished work on a real cinema screen!
The Pope
Sean working alongside a Newsreel team
A huge thankyou goes to all the crew at the Tyneside Cinema, namely Sean, Helen, Ben and David, as well as all those tireless friends and family whose contribution with costumes and props has made the world of difference. Tudor times now don't seem quite so long ago!
