Budding young film-makers get tips from a TV pro
A group of Taranaki school students have been given filmmaking lessons from one of the best in the TV business.
For three months Good Sorts and Fair Go host Hadyn Jones has been bringing in his own video gear to run film classes at Fitzroy School in New Plymouth.
Jones, who lives in the city and has children at the school, often reports on local issues and is one of TV One’s most popular presenters.
‘‘I’ve never actually made a film before. I’m just in television, but the dynamics are the same,’’ he said.
Jones has now helped three teams of year six students create their own short films, which will be premiered at the film festival at the school hall from 6pm tonight.
Money raised will go towards buying the school its own video camera.
The students split into three groups to make their films over a number of weeks. Each group had to come up with the concept, write the script, act out the parts, and learn to use the video camera, so they could film it all.
‘‘I’m really proud, they really amazed me,’’ Jones said about the work ethic and quality of films the students produced.
Jonty Ramsay’s team focused their film on bullying and how redemption and forgiveness prevail.
‘‘Working together on a movie makes more friendships and that’s why it’s really good to make movies with other people,’’ Jonty said.
Being taught by Jones was also a bonus, he said. ‘‘It’s fantastic.’’
‘‘Jonty keep going, don’t stop,’’ Jones said, joking that he had given Jonty a script to read.
Neela Corkin’s team showcased sharing. The start of their film was a stuffed bunny called Bun Bun.
‘‘It was hard to find an idea we agreed on,’’ Neela said, but they were proud of how their film turned out.
Tate Upson’s team looked at how people with different perspectives can get along.
‘‘We knew the basics of filmmaking, and then it turned out we didn’t,’’ Tate said.
‘‘It’s fun because of the hard work that we put in and then finally getting them finished and watching them and how amazing they turned out. It was really good,’’ he said.
Principal Richard Anderson said they wanted to create passionate learners, and the opportunity to create short films had been amazing for the kids.
‘‘From a teaching and learning perspective it’s huge.’’