Partnerships - Education that hits four targets with only one dart
Six weeks ago, we received a potential commission from the police. The Halo team is a dedicated branch within Herts Police that deals with cases of child sexual exploitation. The officers have found that cases of exploitation online are increasing because young people take risks with new technology which makes them vulnerable online. The Halo Team have commissioned us to make a short awareness film to show young people the risks of sending explicit images over the internet and with mobile phone devices.
We jumped at this project. What an opportunity on several levels at once.
It’s a really ‘meaty’ brief. A chance to creatively explore a challenging issue that has direct relevance to today and to the pressures experienced by young people. A chance to write a compelling story.
It’s a great opportunity to take a concept from the initial idea right the way through the whole creative process - from mood board to script to pre-production, to logistics and production and then through post production to distribution and exhibition.
It has clear and necessary educational potential. Even without the need for a great production, this topic is important for young people’s personal development, social and emotional wellbeing. It’s about consent, healthy relationships, trust and self confidence.
It represents a great opportunity to partner with local services and our community. The police are a community organisation and trust between local young people and their police service is super important… young people must feel that the police have an interest in them and are there to support and protect them.
So we’re making it count. With the support of Herts Police, we have put a budget to the film production. We have hired a freelance film producer to work with our students. Our year 14 trainees are making the film as part of their professional traineeship. Our performing Arts students auditioned for roles and even more of our actors are on set as extra cast. Our students researched the issue and wrote the script and it will be edited by our year 14 post production trainees. The film will then be screened to our whole community as part of a unit of work within our Lifelong Learning curriculum. Students will look as safe relationships, the law and the vulnerabilities that come with online interaction.
Our set and prop trainees have formed the art department and have made full size sets. Our Grips have laid the dolly track and facilitated the camera and costume and makeup have ensured that the look of the film is consistent and believable.
We’re filming all week and l am really looking forward to seeing the first cut. The script is ambitious both in terms of the story but also innovative in the look and the way the story is being told. Watch out for release in the new year.
While I love watching films get made and as a specialist media arts college, this is a brilliant project, I am even more struck by what brilliant learning this is and what a great community experience. As a school leader and educator, I have always known the value of ‘project based learning’ but here it is on display, demonstrably powerful.
Through doing and making, students are grappling with provocative and meaningful concepts. They are exercising empathy in a more realised way because they are having to make creative decisions about how to tell this story and how to convey the complex emotions involved in risky behaviours - the thrill and excitement, the risk and bravery and then the betrayal and grief. Their insight into exploitation is going past the cliched and obvious and becoming more informed and compassionate. The risks associated with sharing sexually explicit material online now affect nearly a third of young people and safe use of social media and mobile devices is now a crucial life skill.
What a special educational and creative opportunity to be involved with. This is cultural arts at their most applied.
