Learning from the Understanding Cinema project in Scotland
Poetic framing in Blue Raspberry
Consolidating an experimental pedagogy: Exploring ecologies of film education within France’s Cinéma Cent Ans De Jeunesse and Scotland’s Understanding Cinema project(s) between 2013 and 2019
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This article provides readers with a detailed, first-hand overview of the filmmaking project Understanding Cinema. Author and filmmaker Jamie Chambers worked as a tutor on the project between 2013 and 2019 in different schools across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Understanding Cinema is a moving image education project based on the long running international film education scheme, Le Cinéma, cent ans de jeunesse - created by Cinémathèque Française in Paris. Groups of young people between the ages of 6 and 18 across the world to take part in a structured programme of activity, combining practical and theoretical approaches to cinema that are focused around a different topic chosen every year.
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In this article, Chambers reflects on both the highlights and challenges of the project. For teachers interested in making films, it provides a detailed account of how ‘a well-designed pedagogy’ can ‘allow simple, yet deep access to cinematic aesthetics’, as well as honest reflections on aspects of the project that were challenging to overcome.
Key points to explore
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The rationale behind the project and challenges of connecting it with the Scottish curriculum and available school resources. (pp. 100-103)
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Case studies of the topics The Long Take (pp. 104-108), Climate/Weather (pp. 108-114) and Play (pp. 114-116), and their varying levels of success in terms of student engagement and understanding.
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Feedback from teachers involved in the projects, sharing how they worked alongside the film tutors and how their students benefited from the project. (pp. 107, 109-110, 111, 113)
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A discussion of the CCAJ methodology and how it can sometimes be challenging to implement on a practical level. (pp. 116-119)
Blue Raspberry (Law Primary School, East Lothian)
Ideas for the classroom:
All of the films referenced in the article are available to watch online (links can be found in the article bibliography), providing a great source of materials for teachers who would like to see examples of films made by young people in schools. Have a look at our recommended films below:
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Yes Sir (Wester Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh)
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Age range: suitable for ages 12+
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Themes/subject areas: climate and weather, school setting, secondary school, teenagers, friendship, rebellion, shelter
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Synopsis: Over the course of one day, we follow a teenage boy and his encounters with teachers and friends. The film was created as a response to the following exercise: Students film a short film based ‘around a love story or a friendship which contains: a shelter. The elements of the weather that you experience when filming should be perceptible to the viewer
Blue Raspberry (Law Primary School, East Lothian)
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Age range: suitable for ages 8+
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Themes/subject areas:
the long take, observational footage, voiceover, poetry, family life -
Synopsis: A young girl spends her pocket money on sweets, against the wishes of her parents. This film is made up of a choice of shots from 300 minutes of minute-long observational footage. It was created as a response to the following exercise: 'A Troubling Encounter': at a certain moment a character or characters have an encounter which troubles them.
In My World (Granton Primary School, Edinburgh)
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Age range: suitable for ages 8+
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Themes/subject areas: play, primary school, friendship, bullying, imagination
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Synopsis: A young girl who is being bullied about her spelling mistakes runs out of class and hides from her classmates. The film was created as a response to the following exercise: Make a film where the story is interrupted at a certain moment, when a character finds their freedom through playing which allows them to escape from the confines of their everyday reality.