New project bringing filmmaking workshops to county's primary schools

A new and exciting collaborative project will bring filmmaking workshops to County Roscommon primary schools. The project, funded through Roscommon County Council and the Department of Education, as part of an ongoing Roscommon STEAM initiative will be delivered by the award winning filmmaking company Shuttermaniac Productions.

The pilot project was recently launched at Curraghboy NS in South Roscommon where children have already started on their film to mark the school’s 30th anniversary.

‘Mini Motion Pictures’, backed by world digital industry leaders, educational experts, and community supporters, will empower young filmmakers, at primary school level, to become digital creatives, starting from next month.

The ground-breaking collaboration will also be supported by industry giants Samsung Electronics, Amazon AWS (Amazon Web Services) and TransACT Technology Solutions.

This programme began last year in the midlands and primary school pupils gained access to Samsung technology, to create their own film segments for a short documentary, with a final showcase events planned to celebrate their achievements.

This programme is unique in its approach, combining upcycled Samsung technology from the Department of Education with existing teaching resources to make this a very eco-friendly project. This will also create a holistic climate-positive filmmaking environment for young students, aiming to nurture creativity, boost confidence, and enhance responsible digital literacy skills among participants.

Welcoming the announcement of the pilot project, Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Cllr John Keogh said: “It’s wonderful to see this project in Curraghboy NS. The STEM programme is a fantastic opportunity for primary school children to explore media and ICT. We need to see more primary schools in this programme. Well done to the students in Curraghboy NS and Shuttermanic Productions for this video production and of course, the teachers including the Principal, Rory Leonard, for having the vision to embrace this project.’ Áine Butler, Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Roscommon County Council said: "We are delighted to support the Mini Motion Pictures - Filmmaking for kids and by kids project through our Creative Roscommon Grant Scheme. The project mirrors the magic of the Creative Roscommon programme, encapsulating the spirit of exploration and creativity. It's a colourful collage of imagination and teamwork, proving that when creativity meets community, incredible things happen.” Principal of Curraghboy National School, Rory Leonard added: “It is an absolute pleasure to work with Lee, he has a wonderful method of engaging with the pupils and they really respond to him teaching them all about the wonderful world of filmmaking.

“It just so happened that our school is 30 years old this year, and we felt that a movie made by children and for children is a wonderful way to celebrate our school. From start to finish the pupils have conducted the interviews, chosen the songs they will sing and even created a science fiction film in the senior room. There is great excitement with our film being shown in an actual theatre, we must make sure to bring popcorn on that day.” Programme Director Lee Williamson of Shuttermaniac Productions said: “This innovative project aims to inspire and empower the next generation of storytellers here in Roscommon. We are thrilled to introduce primary school students to the art of filmmaking and sustainable digital literacy through hands-on filmmaking workshops with Curraghboy NS and our esteemed partners. Together, we are committed to shaping and supporting the creative future of our young students and preparing them for the digital age.” For more information about Mini Motion Pictures and to inquire about future participation or partnership opportunities, please contact: lee@shuttermaniac.com, log on to Shuttermaniac.com or follow Shuttermaniac Productions on social media.