On Monday 22 September the author Michael Malaghan both entertained and challenged Year 7 and Year 8 pupils. He read extracts from two of his books 'The Lost Prophecies' and 'Greek Ransom'. Explaining his personal pathway into becoming a writer of children's' books gave an insight into the various routes a budding author could take. With some additional amusing anecdotes, particularly regarding his family cat, lead to two interesting workshops. Oliver in Year 7 had already read one of Michael's books which he'd enjoyed, having also shared the cat-humour with all, and was looking forward to picking up the next one.
How does one write an ending to a story? This was one of the tasks set. Michael complimented many on their group contributions. Given a scenario, how does one continue and develop a story in short steps? Many pupils took up this other challenge and may have recognised the satisfaction it gives to work towards accomplishing such a task.
On Wednesday 24 September Guy de Beaujeu, the producer of the film 'Private Peaceful' (written by Michael Morpurgo, author of 'War Horse')gave Year 10 pupils an insight into being a film producer, comparing it to the role of a 'Headmaster', and the differences between a producer and director. The Producer is in charge of financial budgets, where millions of pounds are the norm! Examples of the variety of a producer's work and stresses include gaining rights to a book/screen play to film; health and safety issues - including stopping the stars from playing football in case they break a leg and hold up the production; hiring a crane with driver at £1500 per day and finding the weather is not suitable to film! It was fascinating to hear . Guy showed examples of how sections were filmed in the film 'Private Peaceful', for example how the father of Tommie and Charlie was killed by a tree. Screening of the film in the evening was well attended and a moving experience. After the film a fascinating half hour or so of Q&A.
Neill Cameron is the comic book illustrator who writes and draws for the weekly Phoenix Cartoon Comic and is illustrator in residence at the Story Museum in Oxford. Spending the day at OLA he engaged pupils with his humour and amazing skills with the pen, transforming the young people’s ideas into a cartoon. He explained how, at the age of eight, he started drawing cartoons with his brother, and their greatest fan was MUM. Neill insists that all people can draw; creativity and sense of humour are important facets and a story can be drawn in four squares, demonstrating this with the story of Beatrice the Ninja Cupcake.
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Andy Mulligan, the author of 'Trash', soon to be released as a major film, explained to his audience at OLA that for his writing he 'steals' observations to put into his books, giving examples from his Ribblestrop series and Trash. When he worked as a teacher in the Philippines an outing to the city dump, for the privileged pupils he taught, gave him an opportunity to meet and speak to the children who spent their day picking through the rubbish to extract items which could be sold for a few cents in order to survive. He incorporated this experience his thriller Trash. Some anecdotes and background about the making of the film left us all eager to see the film when it comes out. Andy also lead some writing workshops with Year 9 resulting in some great characters and story openers.
