Over 200 Weymouth schoolchildren recording short nautical film
'The Resilient' is a film written, directed and soundtracked by children at St John's Primary School.
Over 200 children at St John's Primary School in Weymouth are creating a short nautical film based off the coast of Portland.
During the pandemic children missed out on lots of creative opportunities - but ScreenPLAY wants to make sure they can catch up.
This week children have been writing and recording their own song that will feature in the film which is called 'The Resilient'
That's also the name of the ship about which the story revolves.
Alastair Nisbet, Co-director of ScreenPLAY said:
"Throughout the pandemic, they haven't done any of these sorts of things. They haven't done so much music, they haven't done so much art. So we're bringing all of those things together.
"The ideas in the script have all come from them and then they've workshopped them in drama sessions so they will be acting their lines.
"I was particularly proud of the way they collaboratively worked together to produce the song 'Climb High."
Children were sent in pairs to think up keywords for the lyrics to help them learn about the songwriting process.
"I think it was a complete revelation to them that that's how you can actually make a song and make music."
Kathy Prince is a musician and teacher. She helped the children with the music.
She said:
"Just watching them standing around a microphone and singing, the concentration is incredible. They're learning about working together, about listening to each other, about respecting each other's ideas and coming out of the end of it feeling really proud of what they've done.
"As well as creating a really interesting soundtrack for this project, hopefully, they'll go away and be far more interested in making music."
It's not just the soundtrack. Children have been involved in writing the script, designing and painting the set and they'll be acting in the production too.
There's not a release date for the project but it's thought the premiere will take place next term.