The Turning Tides Project Animates

 My names Ben, and over the last two months I have been running animation workshops with the Turning Tides Project. I started by working in Crediton. Participants were given the opportunity to learn different forms of the animation process. First of all we used stop motion animation software to create short films, each participant made a plasticine model that was then animated. Then we used my blue screen and video camera to film some music videos, this required participants using instruments like guitars and harmonicas. I then edited this footage and different backgrounds were added in post production for effect. 

Participants were given another opportunity to use the bluescreen this time we used an additional piece of green screen fabric to help the participants disappear this meant I could create some very exciting effects. At the workshop in Okehampton we focused on making models and then animating them, everyone got the opportunity to make a film. We had a variety of models from cars, cows, through to parrots a lot of creative ingenuity was shown by the end of the workshop we had 11 additional animations to add to the final film.

After all the workshops had been completed I started to edit and put together the final film. This required film editing software and use of the chroma-key process for the bluescreen footage, this basically means I replaced the blue background with pictures of Ferraris or jungles.  I used music tracks recorded by the participants for Turning Tides and then overlaid the footage. I was very pleased with the final film as it truly shows the participant’s work and was a great introduction for them into the world of film and animation. The film was shown at special screenings in Crediton and Okehampton for those involved and guests. The film and maybe a new one too will be shown at the Okehampton carnival on the 17th October.

Written by Ben Stevens, published by Dom Palfreman