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Transition years enjoy filmmaking experience

December 17th, 2018 9:41 AM

By Southern Star Team

Transition year students from Beara Community School who took part in a filmmaking workshop with Foroige Castletownbere.

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A group of 14 transition year students from Beara Community School took part in a filmmaking workshop with Foróige, which was facilitated by Tina O'Callaghan and Ms Murphy, transition year co-ordinator. 

A GROUP of 14 transition year students from Beara Community School took part in a filmmaking workshop with Foróige, which was facilitated by Tina O’Callaghan and Ms Murphy, transition year co-ordinator. 

One of the students, Maria O’Donovan reports: ‘On the first day, we met our instructors, Chris Hurley and Max Le Cain. They had been a part of previous productions in Castletownbere. 

‘We learned about camera angles, audio and plot development. We watched past films to get inspired for our own short film. We then decided what genre our film would be. We chose comedy. 

‘We then split into groups and came up with different potential plots. The group had a vote and we decided on The Dumb Offenders. For the rest of the day we thought of scenes to include in our film and paired actors with characters.

‘On the Friday, we began filming, with our first scene taking place at the school. We took a number of shots and we all learned how to use the equipment and how to take on each role, for example assistant director and cameraperson. 

‘The rest of our scenes took place in the Foróige Lounge. Everyone got a chance to work in front and behind the camera. We had lots of fun acting because it was a new and different experience for us all.’

Says Maria, ‘the group’s film was called The Dumb Offenders and tells the story of three different gangs full of dumb teenagers who are all attempting to rob a bank. The film opens up with the Boy Gang finding a wheelbarrow of cocaine. Unfortunately, they lose it and have to rob the bank in order to compensate the loss. 

‘It then cuts to two other gangs attempting to rob the bank, but failing in their attempts. 

The Boy Gang arrives at the bank only to find out they need to fill out a form in order to rob the bank. Once they fill out the form, the bank teller suggests that they open an account with the bank for the stolen money and hands them another form.’

On November 23rd, the group’s film premiered at the Cork Young Filmmakers Gala in the County Hall. Ms O’Shea and Gwen O’Donovan, Foroige, accompanied the group to Cork, where as well as seeing their own film, they also had the opportunity to see other short films made by different groups around Cork. 

Maria says, ‘it was exciting to see the final cut and it was a relief to see people enjoy it so much. Unfortunately, we didn’t win any awards, however the experience was a reward in itself.’ 

The students extended thanks to Tina O’Callaghan and Gwen O’Donovan of Foróige for hosting their workshop in the Foroige Lounge; Chris and Max for filming and teaching them how to film properly and Mary McGrath of Cork Young Filmmakers for making it all possible. They also thanked Cork County Council who subsidise the Cork Young Filmmakers.

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