NAGS (Newton Academy for Girls in Science)

NAGS is a scheme for girls aged 10-11 (Year 6) which helps introduce them to everything fun about science and its capabilities. It’s in partnership with the University of Lincoln, The Lincoln UTC, Vex Robotics, Singleton Birch, Siemens and WiSE@Lincoln.

I aided with filming on the day using the incredible Canon C100 with Steve Smith. We were filming for John Stacy, the College Marketing Manager for the College of Science, capturing the essence of the day as the girls started in the computer science labs building remote controlled robots, and later programming them to run mazes unmanned.

Using the C100 was an interesting learning experience as I picked it up quite easy being from a Canon background. The only time consuming aspect was it only having prime lenses, so for close ups and wides we were constantly interchanging lenses to suit the shot.

For a few shots we used a simple Marantz and boom mic to capture opening and closing talks to summate the day.

The launch event went swimmingly and the girls really enjoyed their time exploring science.

Video to come soon.

JUST Lincolnshire & Total Voice Lincolnshire

I’ve begun volunteering for a local organisation in Lincoln, by contributing my skills in videography by filming and editing for JUST Lincolnshire.

JUST Lincolnshire aims to make a real difference to the lives of people from all backgrounds. By championing equality, tackling discrimination and celebrating the richly diverse make up of Lincolnshire.

The first project I embarked on within the media team was for Total Voice Lincolnshire which JUST Lincolnshire help out with a lot. Six people wrote a short film where they all acted out the processes of, and understanding, how to fill in a new government form PIP (Personal Independence Payment).

The PIP form can present some confusion around specific entitlements to people with different abilities and their current entitlements. Hence, why it was a great way to demonstrate it on film from people with learning disabilities for other people with learning disabilities to understand.

It was a fun day using a simple set up of 2 x Panasonic 151, and a boom mic. One for wide shots and another for close ups. I headed up one camera with Steve Smith on the other, and Tiffany Freeman on sound. Myself and Steve planned and set up the shots adapting to the room capabilities and the mix match of natural light from windows and fluorescent ceiling lights.

Credit to Steve Smith for editing, especially with a few colour correction issues surrounding the mixed lighting throwing the white balance off.

Seeing the enjoyment from the group was heart warming and taught me a lot of patience for actors with different learning abilities. Definitely looking forward to the next media team project with JUST Lincolnshire and Total Voice Lincolnshire!

Link to video available soon, awaiting permissions.

The Gemini Project

This project was set up, by Hazel Donnelly at New Media Lincs, to work with the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Arts Collective Service. Long name I know but they’re a great organisation that focus on mental health patients and their rehabilitation through the arts.

The Gemini Project is headed up by Terry Overton and has been running since 1995 takes on a new creative challenge each year. Over the summer of 2013 they began creating mosaics to decorate and brighten up a once dull courtyard at Discovery House, Lincoln.

My role in this project was to capture journey they all took in planning, drawing, preparing the mosaics, cutting and sticking, planting them in the courtyard and most importantly the journey of their rehabilitation.

Shot almost completely on my Canon 7D, with a time lapse shot constructed using a GoPro Hero 2. Capturing The Gemini Project was a collaboration with Jess Brear who focused mainly on the interviews with the organisers of the project.

I creatively set the tone for the 10 minute documentary exploring different camera angles to portray the narrative. A reoccurring issue of censorship arose a few times with some patients not wanting to be on any footage at all. Mitigating this risk was easily done a few times by giving them the camera to have a play with and understand what we’re filming. This ensured they weren’t in that direct footage and also kept them engaged and didn’t single them out of the project.

The finished documentary was showcased at an NHS exhibition day, in Lincoln’s Showroom, for health care and the arts within the NHS.

You can view it here.

Next In 2014 The Gemini Project is focusing on making elaborate hats and bonnets.