Media Arts are occasionally asked to run filmmaking workshops for schools, which is something we always enjoy doing.
It had been several years since I had been lucky enough to have received a guided tour of the Museum of Hartlepool’s storeroom, when I had stumbled upon a series of WANTED posters. It was then that the idea of Hartlepool Hoodlums was first conceived.
The posters date from the mid 1800s through to around 1916 and are part of a collection that contains many other items from the same printing firm. But it was these that really took my imagination.
Crimes varied from the throwing of stones, theft of potatoes to desertion from fishing vessels and it began to prompt some really interesting questions about the people behind these crimes.
Fast forward a couple of years, a proposal to the Museum, a funding application and plenty of research and we’re sat in a classroom with a group of sixteen primary school children from a local school.
We had designed three workshops, with aim of producing several short films about crime and punishment in the local area.
The school hadn’t used the museum for several years so had been approached by the Education Team specifically for this reason.
Split into four groups, the children were given some information about several different criminals and their associated crimes.
Their task in Workshop One was to look through the information, discuss the reasons some of the people may have committed those crimes and decide which character they would like to write a short dramatic film about.
Some really interesting debate came from this, which included how the outbreak of World War One may have contributed to less discipline at home and the increase in what we would perhaps term as petty crime now.
We also discussed whether people stealing food could have done so because of necessity, rather than out of greed.
Eventually each group had selected a character each to focus on.
Interestingly two had continued to commit crimes all their lives, while the other two selected appeared (from the information available at least) to have turned their lives around.
So each group ended the first workshop with the beginnings of a script.
Workshop Two began with the news from the Education Team that the school had been in touch since Workshop One to book some more sessions with the museum.
This was a great outcome so early in the project, particularly as we already knew the school hadn’t accessed the Museum for so long.
Using the information on each character that they’d already been given, this session was devoted to the completion of their script and some rehearsal time.
This was achieved and there was even time to sort out costumes.
Each script showed what impact the crime had placed on the lives of the people involved and whether the criminal had reformed or continued along the same road of lawlessness.
In the week before Workshop Three started we worked on a camera script, ensuring each shot was meticulously planned as the timescale to film was very tight.
In the two hours we had available we needed to have filmed four films. This is where the facilitation of the Education Team and the class teacher was invaluable in getting the children in costumes and rehearsed.
Using the Historic Quayside (already immortalised in film in Catherine Cookson adaptations and more) as the background the children performed in front of the camera brilliantly in the sunshine. Some had to be reminded to look sad as they were locked up, as they were enjoying themselves so much!
Using lots of different locations around the Museum and Quayside we were finally done with five minutes to spare.
The four films have now been edited into little masterpieces and will be premiered to an invited audience of family and school staff at the local theatre in July.
What were the outcomes?
Well, for a start each group have produced a brilliant short film that they should be very proud of. But they’ve also gained skills in research, scriptwriting and a knowledge of the filmmaking process.
They’ve debated, worked as a team, thought and discussed socioeconomic factors in their area and connected with the lives of people who lived there in the past.
Really though it should be for the Museum to judge the success of the project. Here’s what Anna Dodgson from the Museum of Hartlepool said:
“Since first seeing the ‘Police Wanted’ notices in the Museum of Hartlepool’s Robert Wood Collection, Neil from Media Arts was keen to work on a project that explored crime and punishment in Hartlepool. Using both these notices and a collection of mug shots, six criminals and two chief constables were researched for the project. Neil led all the Hartlepool Hoodlum workshops and engaged the children fantastically well, not shying away from any of the gory stories that some of the research had unearthed. He discussed difficult issues, such as alcoholism and domestic abuse sensitively – as well as exploring why criminals might lead a life of crime. The workshops were well organised and we were particularly thankful for Neil’s flexibility with the school. At the end of the project the children had gained historical research, script writing and acting skills, and had also discussed social issues surrounding crime, such as peer pressure, which they were able to relate to their own lives. Both the teachers, students and ourselves enjoyed working on the Hartlepool Hoodlum project – the standard of the film produced, which was shown at a premiere event at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre, only topped off an already worthy process. We hope to work with Neil again in the future.”
Media Arts have been established for twelve years, specialising in making films and interactive media for the heritage and corporate sectors.
To learn more about what we do our website is here: www.media-arts.co.uk
If you’d like to chat about organising a similar workshop for your site or anything else we do then we can be contacted by email at info@media-arts.co.uk.