Happy Birthday Aardman!

Happy Birthday
Aardman!
Make a cracking short film to celebrate
PLUS cracking curricula linked
classroom activities supporting:
Art & Design, English, Careers, PHSE, Computing,
Film/Media studies and regional equivalents
Teamwork, creativity, innovation and
communication skills
Contents
2
Cracking Ideas® Competition
4
About this resource and curricula links
6
Creativity in the workplace (careers activity)
8
Happy Birthday Aardman Animations!
Make your Cracking Ideas® Film
www.crackingideas.com
for free teaching resources and competitions
AGE
12-16
Watch Morph on YouTube.com/MorphOfficial
Cracking Ideas® Competition
This year’s Cracking Ideas® competition is all about developing unique
ideas and having fun with creativity. The Intellectual Property Office are
celebrating the 40th birthday of the world-famous Aardman studios and,
with the help of Wallace and Gromit, Morph, Shaun the Sheep and Timmy
too, we need young people aged 4–18 to develop some cracking ideas to help
celebrate this special birthday.
Get cracking and take part!
Happy Birthday Aardman
Can you make a ‘cracking’ short film to wish Aardman a Happy Birthday? It’s time to ‘get creative’ and be as
inventive as you can, as you are about to become the writer, the producer and also the director of your VERY
own film (with a little help from Morph if you need it)!
You can enter your ‘cracking idea’ as an individual or as a group.
Send us your entries
priZE
Online
Online entries to be uploaded to
youtube and the url shared via
crackingideas.com/competitions
One winning entry in each age category will win:
• A visit from an Aardman expert for
model-making workshop sessions and a
screening in your school
By post
Send your entries with a completed
entry form (download from
crackingideas.com/competitions) to:
• PLUS a multi-user licence for the Animate It!
software by Kudlian for your school.
Cracking Ideas
Intellectual Property Office
FREEPOST CF4185
Newport
NP20 1ZZ
CREATIVE
SOFTWARE
Teachers/group leaders – please ensure
one entry form is submitted for class/group
entries, and that individual entries are
More cracking activities
We’ve developed some cracking activities to help young people get creative
and develop their own unique ideas for the competition (and they’re UK
curricula linked too!). Read on to find out more about using the ‘My ideas have
value’ assembly to launch the competition, our ‘creativity in the workplace’
lesson and how to make your own unique film to enter into the competition.
labelled with the child’s and school/group name.
The competition closes
22nd July 2016
Please read the competition terms and conditions at
2
www.crackingideas.com/competitions
3
Cracking Ideas Competition, age 12-16
About this resource
The Cracking Ideas® resources have been designed to help stimulate creativity in schools, colleges and other
relevant institutions. This resource has been designed to be used for competition entry as part of an Art and
Design, Film/Media Studies creative filmmaking activity, but it can easily be included as part of your wider Work
Related Learning and Careers provision.
Cracking Ideas Competition, age 12-16
The Cracking Ideas® Competition
The Cracking Ideas® Competition provides an opportunity for students to develop and apply
their teamwork, creativity, innovation and communication skills. By using ‘Morph’s Step by Step
Filmmaker’s Guide’ to help them produce a creative film, they can help to celebrate Aardman’s
40th anniversary. Although competition entry can be undertaken as individuals, we recommend that
students work in group of three to five and will ideally take three to four sessions to allow time for
creative thinking, planning, storyboarding, filming and evaluating.
If you’re keen to ‘get cracking’ and you just want to
enter the competition, turn to page 8.
Regional curriculum links
ENGL AND 2014
KS3 Art & Design, English, Spoken Language, PHSE and Careers Education
KS4 Art & Design, Computing (digital media), English, Spoken Language, PHSE
and Careers Education
KS5 Careers, PHSE, Film/Media Studies, Entrepreneurial Skills
NORTHERN IREL AND
KS3 Art & Design, English with Media Education, Learning for Life and Work
KS4 Art & Design, Language and Literacy, Media Studies, Employability
KS5 Employability, Skills and Capabilities, Film/Media Studies
By incorporating the ‘My ideas have value’ assembly you will also be supporting young people to
understand that creativity has a value called intellectual property (IP) which can be protected to
help ensure that the unique ideas, creations or work of an individual or group cannot be copied or
reused without crediting or benefiting the creator. Further information on IP and the role of the
Intellectual Property Office can be found here crackingideas.com/aboutip
If you decide not to use the assembly, note that an introduction to intellectual property will be
required for the filmmaking activity.
Creativity in the workplace
The ‘Creativity in the workplace’ activities support the exploration of the role of creativity in the
workplace, helping students to see being creative as a key skill worth developing. The Cracking
Ideas® Competition provides the ideal opportunity for them to undertake a creative project as
well as encouraging a ‘have a go’ attitude. Post evaluation of the process helps them by identifying
strengths and weaknesses for personal development.
SCOTL AND
Third and Fourth Level, Art & Design, Literacy & English, Listening and Talking
Senior Phase, Careers Education, Film/Media Studies, Core Skills
WALES 2015
KS3 Art & Design, ICT, English, Oracy, PSE
KS4 Art & Design, ICT, English, Oracy, PSE
KS5 Careers and the World of Work, PHSE, Film/Media Studies, Entrepreneurial Skills
4
5
Cracking Ideas Competition, age 12-16
Cracking Ideas Competition, age 12-18
Creativity in the workplace
YOU WILL NEED
Although all these roles require different skill sets, experiences and qualifications, they all require
a degree of creativity. Ask students to select just one profession and explain how they might use
creativity in this role, e.g. a doctor needs creativity to work out what’s wrong with a patient showing
unusual symptoms.
‘Which jobs require creativity?’
PowerPoint slide
Encourage your students to discuss the ways in which everyone has the potential to be creative.
Explain that by developing their creativity students can increase their competitive edge when
applying for jobs. Education and exams make students uniform by providing a benchmark against
which they can be judged and compared, so who you are and the experiences you have had will also
make a difference as to whether you are offered the job or that college/uni place*, because these
are the things that will set you apart from the rest of the applicants.
Post-it notes x 2 (different colours,
enough for one of each for each student)
* Depending on the age of the students relate this back to them, i.e. 17/18-year-olds with UCAS
applications need to show ability to be creative (hobbies/well rounded) when applying to university,
as this shows they are able to tackle problems put in front of them. GCSE students need to be able to
tackle coursework/exam questions creatively, as they are often phrased in a way unfamiliar to them,
to show they truly understand.
Independent activity
Starter
Display the following list of professions and ask students to discuss and identify which jobs require
creativity. (PowerPoint)
Now give students two different coloured Post-it notes and ask them to think about the job role they
would like (for younger students or those with no current aspiration, ask them to pick one from the
list). With their chosen role in mind, students then write responses to the following two questions,
using a different colour Post-it (as directed by the teacher) for each:
Think about your personality (what makes you you?):
• What makes you best for this role?
ARCHITECT
TEACHER
MUSICIAN
PUBL ICIST
RETAIL
MANAGER
L ANDSCAPE
GARDENER
FASHION
DESIGNER
MARKETING
MANAGER
COMPOSER
AUTHOR
COPYWRITER
WEB DESIGNER
CHEF
HAIRDRESSER
CONFECTIONER
ST YL IST
PRODUCER
ANIMATOR
JOURNAL IST
SOFTWARE
BLOGGER
DOCTOR
FLORIST
CHOREOGRAPHER
WEB DEVELOPER
NANNY
DRAUGHTSMAN
ACTOR
GAME CREATOR
ENGINEER
Think about your experiences (what makes you unique?):
• What creative skills have you demonstrated through your experiences?
Plenary
Display and share the Post-it notes as two lists, pulling out good examples of traits and skills
students could include in their personal statements or job applications.
Extension – get the students to place one of their Post-it notes in a creative ‘column’ (can be on the
wall at the front of class) to help keep the focus theme of creativity throughout.
Introduce the Cracking Ideas® Competition as an activity to help students
tap into, and develop, their creative side.
Answer: all of them!
6
7
Cracking Ideas Competition, age 12-16
Cracking Ideas Competition, age 12-16
Happy Birthday Aardman!
Make your Cracking Ideas® Film
Split students into small groups and provide them with individual copies of the ‘Cracking Ideas®
Skillometer’ and ‘Morph’s Step by Step Filmmaker’s Guide’.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BGv6LIJaog
provides background detail to the original creation and recent rebirth of Morph as a character,
with an insight into short story animation.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jwp-0oEoJM
YOU WILL NEED
12-16 resource support materials
FIlmMaker’s
guIde
Use this Step by Step Filmmaker’s
Guide and links to help you create your
Cracking Ideas® Competition entry to
help celebrate 40 years of Aardman!
Remember, your film should be no
longer than 2 minutes, uploaded
to YouTube, and the url shared via
crackingideas.com/competitions
The task is to create a film to celebrate Aardman’s 40th
birthday, so before you start remember to check the time you
have to dedicate to the project as well as the equipment available
to you, then consider whether your film will involve live action
(people) or will it be animated.
Why not take a look at some of Aardman’s work for inspiration?
www.aardman.com/work
IDeAS
Creativity is all about ideas and at this stage, the more ideas you have, the more
you’ll have to work with when you get to Step 2. An idea can be literally anything.
Creativity is everywhere – we couldn’t live without it – so why when someone
says ‘be creative’ do we think blank thoughts? Aaaargghh!! Here are some
starters to get those creative juices flowing…
• Use your likes and dislikes as a starting point
• Think of something that happened in the last week that made you laugh,
or even cry!
• Try word associations, e.g. Left; right; wrong; trousers!
• Look around you: is there anything that could help you tell a story?
• Stare out the window or close your eyes and let your mind wander... sheep!
TOP TIP:
Write any ideas, however daft, on cards or Post-it notes so you can see them and
rearrange them, just like the team at Aardman!
TOP TIP:
Use this sheet to help you to identify your own strengths and weaknesses by evaluating
your creativity, innovation, communication and teamworking skills. Knowing what you’re
good at will help you play to your strengths and set your own personal development
targets for future tasks or even your career!
Example
session
CREATIVIT Y
Quantity not quality
of ideas
INNOVATION
Translation of best ideas
into concept/action
COMMUNICATION
Presentation of best
ideas to others
Remember, it’s you
and your experiences
that will set you apart
from the rest in the
world of work!
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Idea generation
Concept development
End result
After each session give yourself a skill
rating from 0 to 10, where 0 is ‘No skill
whatsoever’ and 10 is ‘World class’, then
if possible provide an example in each box
which demonstrates why you think that: e.g.
‘Creativity: 0 – I couldn’t think of anything,
Teamwork: 8 – I mediated a dispute within
my team. At the end of the project use
the reflection boxes to comment on the
development of each skill.
Personal Reflection
What have you improved?
Which skills can you improve further?
5
I had some ideas
but found it hard to
be original
8
I worked out how
we could combine
real actors and
animation
4
Sometimes I find it
hard to explain my
ideas clearly
4
TEAMWORK
Working with others
towards a common goal
I find it hard to
work in a team
when no one can
agree on what
to do
Cracking Ideas®
Skillometer
12-16 resource support materials
Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office
www.crackingideas.com/competitions
© Aardman Animations Ltd 2016
Below is a breakdown of the interview with the questions covered. Questions written in bold prompt
answers specific to character development and/or the animation process. There are actual movie
clips shown throughout.
© Aardman Animations Ltd 2016
Cracking Ideas® Evaluation Sheet
Evaluation SheET
Cracking Ideas®
Evaluation Sheet
Name:
Film title:
What did you like about this film?
What did you dislike about this film?
What one thing would you change and why?
Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office
Use either or both clips to springboard students into the creative planning phase of their film
responses or as an additional resource to support the creative process of individual groups.
Name:
Remember there is no such thing as a bad idea!
www.crackingideas.com/competitions
Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office
When it comes
to filming, the
simplest ideas
are often
the best!
Morph’s
Step by Step
Filmmaker’s Guide
is an interview with Nick Park, in which he responds to 20 questions to mark the 20th anniversary of
Wallace and Gromit. In it, he provides a useful insight into the inspiration, influences and processes
undertaken in his Oscar-winning claymation and character development.
Cracking Ideas® Skillometer
SKIllomEter
Morph’s Step by Step
1.
12-16 resource support materials
Morph’s Step by Step Filmmaker’s Guide
(20 mins)
www.crackingideas.com/competitions
© Aardman Animations Ltd 2016
This activity will help students to develop and apply their creativity, innovation, communication and
teamworking skills.
Although competition entry can be undertaken as individuals, we recommend that students work in
groups of three to five, using ‘Morph’s Step by Step Filmmaker’s Guide’ to create a short film to
help celebrate 40 years of Aardman. The ‘Cracking Ideas® Skillometer’ can be used by individuals
and groups to rate performance in each skill area.
This activity will ideally take three to six sessions and can therefore be split into creativity and
planning, storyboarding and filming, and showcasing and evaluating for ease of organisation.
Students could
make notes
during the clip to
help inspire their
own creative
response to the
Cracking Ideas®
Film Competition.
0:30 1. What was your inspiration behind creating Wallace and Gromit?
1:25 2. Do any of your characters represent your own personality? If so which one?
2:20 3. What Wallace and Gromit animation is your favourite and why?
3:16 4. Did you ever think that Wallace and Gromit would be so popular and what was it
like to receive your first Oscar?
3:49 5. Are you planning another movie?
4:29 6. What age are Wallace and Gromit?
5:15 7. Are there any plans to bring back Fluffles?
5:56 8. How did you get the idea of having a penguin as the villain in The Wrong Trousers?
7:45 9. What made you decide that Gromit didn’t need a mouth?
8:43 10. Why did you change Gromit’s appearance after A Grand Day Out?
Share the purpose and outcome criteria for finished films based on time and equipment available:
9:30 11. How did the cooker get up to the moon, and why was it coin operated?
• Films should be no longer than 2 minutes
10:25 12. Are there any new animation techniques you would like to learn?
• Films should be uploaded to youtube and the url shared via crackingideas.com/competitions
11:35 13. Did you take any courses in animation?
12:44 14. What’s the greatest advice you have ever received about animation?
13:16 15. Given the use of animals in your animations, what is your favourite animal?
13:57 16. Have you ever thought about giving up animation and moving into something else?
14:27 17. As you were growing up did you ever have any other career aspirations?
15:21 18. Do you dream of Wallace and Gromit?
15:57 19. When you work with Julian Knot on the music for the films, do you make
suggestions or do you just give him the script?
17:26 20. What would it be like if Wallace was Prime Minister?
18:24 Nick Park sketches and signs the rocket from A Grand Day Out.
8
9
© Aardman Animations Ltd 2016
12-16 years
Age:
N. Ireland
www.crackingideas.com/competitions
Scotland
Wales
England
Action:
Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office
Action:
5
Address / School:
6
Action:
2
Action:
10
1
Online entries to be uploaded to youtube and the url shared via
crackingideas.com/competitions
Name:
Now you are ready to submit your films to the Cracking Ideas® Competition.
Follow the competition guide on page 2 for help on how to submit your entries either online
or in the post. If you are submitting multiple entries, please ensure that they all include
the young person’s name, class and school or group name and are each accompanied by
an entry form.
12-16 resource support materials
Send us your films
SToryboarD
Happy Birthday Aardman!
Students showcase and peer evaluate their finished films and discuss and reflect upon the process
undertaken and the skills developed, using the ‘Cracking Ideas® Evaluation Sheet’ to help them.
Students complete the reflection boxes on their ‘Cracking Ideas® Skillometer’ sheets identifying
areas for further improvement before summarising in 30 words or less what they have learned from
taking part in the Cracking Ideas® Competition. Encourage students to use pictures in this (helps
increase the creativity!).
4-7 years
8-11 years
Action:
8
Region:
Students may wish to explore using Animate It! LITE a free and easy to
use animation app available to download from the App Store and Google Play.
Participating schools can also take advantage of a 15% discount on the Animate It!
animation software multi user licence for schools from Kudlian. To redeem your discount,
email crackingideas@kudlian.net and quote ‘Cracking Ideas 2016’.
Email:
For more information about copyright visit www.gov.uk/copyright
Telephone:
(4:14)
Action:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUw8w7BbTVQ
7
If their film has a soundtrack, they may also be interested in this clip which provides more
information about copyright infringement for music
Action:
If they are working as a group, they will also need to decide who will own the copyright once
the film is complete.
4
(4.18)
Action:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCX517IV26I
3
Before they start, remind students of the importance of IP with respect to film using
Story title
Students get cracking using ‘Morph’s Step by Step Filmmaker’s Guide’ to help them plan and
create their Cracking Ideas® Competition entry.
Plan your film using this storyboard template. Draw a series of pictures to show the
events and use the space underneath to explain the action and plan sound effects.
Film It!
Morph’s storyboard template
Cracking Ideas Competition, age 12-16
goOD luCk
Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office
www.crackingideas.com/competitions
© Aardman Animations Ltd 2016