Knife Crime Live Brief Q&A
Earlier this year four groups of students from UWE Animation were involved in making films for the Avon and Somerset Police to raise awareness around the complex issue of knife crime. We spoke to two of the students about the experience.
The project has involved pupils from Bristol, Weston-Super-Mare, and Taunton and was part of a wider campaign that sees the students’ work reflected on buses, billboards, and bus shelters. The key messages from each film were also discussed on local radio and in the local media.
Importantly, the films and messages are also being shared widely on social media, with a prize on offer for the school whose film gathered the most views on YouTube.
John Parry, Senior Lecturer in Animation at UWE Bristol said:
‘‘‘We’re very proud to have been part of this important project, utilizing our creativity and design skills to communicate the dangers of knife crime. ‘Our undergraduate animation students worked incredibly hard to bring the stories and concepts of young people to life and to create films which are thought-provoking and impactful. ‘Working on live briefs and real projects are important aspects of our BA Animation course at UWE Bristol so it was a privilege to offer this opportunity to our students and to give them the chance to make a difference to young people’s lives while also furthering their own professional development as animators.’’
I spoke to Dominic Wren who worked with Jack Churchill on the film “The Cycle” for the pupils at Bristol Futures Academy. Dominic spoke about the challenges of having to work on the film over Lockdown this year.
What was it like working over lockdown?
“Most of the project was done before lock-down. I think we were really lucky in that regard because a lot of back and forth could be done between me and my team member. Once lock-down hit we were in the late stages of production and the deadline had been moved back so we were able to manage it alongside our other hand-ins. Also, the film was made in Adobe After Effects and Animate, both of which we had at home, and I had a graphic tablet to draw with. I do believe my teammate had to pick up a laptop from university to run Adobe but I can’t remember for sure. We found a way anyway.”
What was the best part of the project?
2.) The most memorable part was the constant editing and changing of minor things. Added up to a set of changes to fix… The beginning was the most memorable and exhilarating; when we were in a buzz of thoughts and ideas, where things were going right and wrong and we were working at a fast pace, and navigating the various feedback we got from all the voices, like Aardman, lecturers, and the client. It was thrilling and enlightening.
What was it like working with the kids?
Working with younger kids at first seemed like it was going to be an uphill battle. They’re at an age where they usually very loud or very quiet. Thankfully the student we working with was quite mature and easy to talk to about the film. And he generally had some quite insightful things to say feedback wise. Even when the feedback wasn’t specific it was still good to see how your target audience would react to what they’re seeing. We were hoping it wouldn’t end up with ‘I’m bored’.
Would you recommend the project to another student?
I’d recommend it to a second-year definitely. I think getting experience in live briefs whilst in the safety blanket of the university is really helpful. Getting to know how clients act, what kind of decisions you’ll have to make, and ultimately knowing what’s possible, what will work, and how much work you have to put it. It’s good to know before you’re in real negotiations with how much money and time you have for a project.
We also spoke to Martyna Sikonczyk who’s film “Eye for an Eye” was made with Pupils at Taunton Academy. This film is currently the most-watched at 1,121 views on Youtube. She shared her experience on the project.
“Finishing a film during the pandemic was challenging to say the least. I took on this project with the intention of using my university’s equipment, and I ended up stranded in my room with only my iPad and a drawing app. Thankfully, the film was always going to have a fairly simple aesthetic, thanks to which I managed to animate the whole thing successfully.
Personally, the most memorable part was getting to know the production process for a short film. As a (then) first-year student of animation, such experience was genuinely invaluable. I’d do it all over again for sure!”
All four films can be viewed here along with information about knife crime. Be sure to follow #BreakTheCycle on social for more information.
If you’d like to find work from the students interviewed today you can find it here:
Martyna: https://www.sikonczyk.com/
Dominic: https://dominicspw.wixsite.com/dominic-wren
