Statement

Animation Workshops:

Children might wish to have an initial workshop to create the storyline and prepare a storyboard for an animated film. They would then be shown how to create characters, animated drawings and backgrounds. For those who are not confident with drawing may choose to make simple paper puppets with card and paper fasteners/needle and thread for manipulating under the camera as cut-out animation. This project will depend very heavily on what software is available and advice can be given.

Cartoon Drawing:

Based on dangers within the home, I would draw a cartoon character on a flip chart, a stage at a time, so that children could then follow making their own drawings to discover how easy it is to draw. To help the children think beyond the obvious I get them to think about the character’s mood, his dressed and what is he doing. As well as bringing children's attention to this project’s subject it also teaches children about the importance of facial expressions and body language used in cartoon illustration, as well as appreciating the methods used to create animation from a series of still pictures.

Storytelling and Script Writing:

The children are introduced to finding a subject for their story and how to put this together. Remembering, a story always begins, has a middle and an end. Other thoughtful tools are used to create the story and help the children to write. The children also need to think about directions and effects with added information describing the scene for the purpose of film-making or illustrating.

Experience

30 years 2D traditional animation Director. BBC credits: "Words and Pictures" - "Le Club - Les Adventures de Globo" - "Writing &Pictures" - "Storytime" - titles for "Watch"Channel 4 Schools TV: "Rat-a-tat-tat" - "Arts Cart" - "Maths Mansion" - "Word Machine".

Providing animation workshop in schools and for Vital Communities since 2006.

Previous events include: Vital Communities in Cambridgeshire. Several workshops during Big Arts Week and World Book Day at several schools in the local area as well as the BBC Big Read at Ipswich Town Football Club and Framlingham Arts Festival. Schools visited: Dennington Primary School. Headteacher, Karl Walker. Laxfield Primary School. Headteacher, Mrs. Elaine Elliott. Bramfield primary School. Headteacher, Mrs. Cathryn Benefer. Wilby Primary School. Headteacher, Gary Deeks. Sutton Primary School, Ely. Headteacher, Gill Gilbert. Spring Meadow Infant School, Ely. Headteacher, Sheila Sands. St.Mary's Junior School, Ely. Headteacher, James Hickish. City of Ely Community College. Head of Art, Lisa Cox. Abbey College, Ramsey. Head of Art. Gill Bainbridge. Ramsey Spinning Infant School. Headteacher, Di Cooling. Ramsey Junior School. Headteacher, Deborah Hanaford. Felixstowe Library cartoon drawing event for "The Reading Mission" commissioned by Suffolk CC. The Priory Centre in Great Yarmouth drawing cartoons for children and parents. Arts Framlingham. Cartoon drawing workshops. Media Factory. Animation workshops at Hoxne Primary School. Bellbird Primary School, Sawston. Headteacher, Linda Corrall. Icknield Primary School, Sawston. Headteacher, Sarah Robins. Sawston Village College. Head of Art, Karen Tite. Norwich School of Art & Design. Animation lecture and workshop.

In 2003 I started self-publishing picture books on child safety and accident prevention. DangerSpot Books Ltd.