They make their movies as part of 1,000 Londoners Project
Wimbledon BookFest has partnered with students from eight local schools to make ten films as part of the 1,000 Londoners Project.
1,000 Londoners is a unique digital portrait of London, offering an insight into the lives of one thousand people who consider themselves to be Londoners, taking in all ages, religions, race, incomes, interest and opinions.
The films already made by the project tell a range of stories about Londoners, from Big Issue sellers and shopkeepers to famous Londoners such as Alexandra Burke and Ken Livingstone.
Sixth formers from Rutlish, Ricards Lodge, Ursuline High, Wimbledon College, Graveney, Southfields Academy, St Mark’s Academy and Raynes Park High participated in the project, which is a key part of BookFest’s education programme for schools and young people in 2016. The project was funded by The Wimbledon Foundation – the charitable arm of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
The students were given the unique opportunity to attend workshops led by professional film-makers from Chocolate Films, and then produced ten films focusing on people who live in Merton or Wandsworth, including: Peter Straus, Literary Agent; Arnold Oceng, Actor and Teaching Assistant at Graveney School; Ivor Heller, Commercial Director at AFC Wimbledon; Clare Jefferies, Director of ‘Home Instead,’ Care Services; Jenna Fonanilla, a local primary school student who participates in the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative.
Wimbledon BookFest’s director Fiona Razvi said: “BookFest’s education programme is developing now. As well as bringing authors and writers to schools, we are developing young people’s skills for employability within the creative industries.”
Council cabinet member for education, Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah said: “I am delighted so many of our young people have been involved in this exciting project and have had the chance to be so creative and learn new skills which will be useful for the future.”
The ten films can be seen at the following venues and times:
· At the Wimbledon BookFest, Big Tent, Wimbledon Common between 29 September and 9 October.
· At the Winfield Café, All England Tennis Club from 17 October to 19 November.
· Released on 1000.Londoners.com.
Wimbledon BookFest’s education programme aims to harness the power of reading, writing and literature to improve the educational opportunities of children and young people within the Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth.
BookFest’s year-round programme includes author events and workshops for school children; an annual writing competition; a free books initiative for children in deprived socio-economical demographics and volunteering and stewarding opportunities for sixth formers. BookFest seeks to support young people’s literacy and creative skills to aid their future employability.
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October 3, 2016