Weymouth filmmakers make puppets the stars (From Thisisdorset)

Weymouth filmmakers make puppets the stars

5:00pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Latest By Rachel Stretton

YOUNGSTERS in Weymouth will get to see their film ideas put into action, and debut them on the internet.

Pupils at the Compass Centre, Chickerell Road, are working with industry professionals from Bridport-based production company My Pockets to write, produce and edit short comedies.

The teenagers, aged between 13 and 18, will be making films with puppets on the theme of teenage relationships and embarrassing conversations between parents and teenagers.

Peter Snelling, My Pockets director, said: “They’ll be doing everything, from ideas to scripting to uploading to the internet. It’s a great way for them to express themselves on the lighter side of the trials and tribulations of growing up.”

The company will be holding workshops at the school, a pupil referral unit for those who do not attend mainstream school, until March, when the completed films will be uploaded to YouTube.

Heather Shore, advanced skills teacher at the Compass, said: “We find that approaching this topic, outside the classroom in a more creative way allows students to share their concerns about sex and relationships.

“Using puppets distances them from a topic which is intensely personal but also allows them to discuss important issues and we’ve found that boys in particular respond very well to this approach.”

The students taking part in the project will get the chance to work towards a qualification, the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) Arts Award.

Krystal, 14, is one of the students taking part in the project. She said: “Our film is about relationships.

“Three girls, called Chelsea, Bianca and Sammy are shown talking about their relationships with boys.”

The pupils drew pictures of the characters, which they then created to star in the films. Another group are creating a different story about three boys who discuss their relationships with girls.

Mr Snelling said: “The boys created the script for this by recording their own conversation, when they were talking half as themselves and half in character.”

He added: “We’ve worked with the school on similar projects in the past. It’s a great way for them to learn hard skills, gain confidence, and understand that they can make something of high quality that other people will be interested in.”

Funding for the project has been secured from First Light, a charity which distributes National Lottery money, and aims to provide opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to work on media projects.