Work Experience at Spill

Last week the Spill team were joined by two pupils form Maesydderwen Comprehensive School.  The two pupils were on a week long work experience placement as part of the annual scheme for year 10 pupils.

During the week, Josh and David, observed us in action, editing existing projects and coming out with us on two shoots.  They got their hands on the cameras, taking photos and filming, putting the skills they had learned throughout the week in to good use, creating their own versions for a short video produced for Swansea City FC Youth Team.

David said of the experience,

“I had a great time. The staff were really helpful and nice, which helped me to learn how to use the equipment and software quickly.  
It’s been a great time working with everyone at Spill Media and I have learnt a lot in the world of media, including how to edit videos in an advanced way. I think that the skills I have been learning throughout the week will help me in future as I already like to edit my own videos, and this will give me a more professional way of editing them.”

Josh added,

“Spill Media have taught me new things, for example, how to edit a video, adding music and animation titles.  They have taken us out to take photos and video Swansea City youth team training and it was a great experience.

This is helping me boost my confidence in taking photos and Spill Media have been very helpful and show a lot of support if you are stuck doing something."

Work experience placements are one of our key social aims at Spill Media and it was great to be able to help out one of our local Secondary schools and two keen pupils with gaining experience in the field of work they hope to go in to.

A Picturesque Project

Dorothy Morris is a very talented artist based in the picturesque village of Ferryside.  Dorothy's art is influenced by her environment and living by the waters edge.

Spill Media have been producing a short film about Dorothy and her collection of work that depicts scenes of the traditional fishing methods used in West Wales.  We have atteneded her exhibitions and even had the pleasure of spending the day in Ferryside, soaking in the atmosphere that inspires her work.

The film will be shown, along with a body of her work, "Life On The Estuary", at The Waterfront Museum in Swansea in July.

Children’s Rights Unit

Spill was commissioned by Neath Port Talbot Children’s Rights Unit, to train a group of young researchers in Film-making. We trained the young people on all aspects of film-making to enable them to create 3 short films on Children’s Rights.

Spill were awarded the contract after a tender process and were extremely pleased to get to work with this dedicated group of young people.

Working with the group to script three short films resulted in a “How to Guide on researching with young people”, “You know your rights-right”, a film looking at specific rights on the Convention of the Rights of the Child, and an animation highlighting the research that they undertook.

The films were shown at a screening in Neath Port Talbot College and went down a storm! Mike Mainwaring, the Children, Young People and Families Participation Officer, said of the project:

“From the start the Young Researchers saw that Spill Media were not only going to give the best product but would include young people in all aspects of the film.  They were involved in the script, the production, the filming, performance and the look of the end product. They showed great patience and understanding with insuring that the young people are involved in all aspects of the work even when this slowed the process down. I would have no hesitation to highly recommend to any organisation wanting a complete experience of film making.”

Spill Meets Icon Bonnie Tyler!

We had the pleasure of covering The Caitlin’s Wish book launch recently. Caitlin’s Wish is a book written by Victoria Taylor, and is an enchanting and moving story based on real life events. It follows one little girl’s journey as she comes to terms with her father’s life-changing illness.

The launch took place at the Gwyn Hall in Neath and was extremely well attended, with Bonnie Tyler there to show her support and Kevin Johns, who was compere for the event. 

Caitlin's Wish was officially presented to Neath Port Talbot Bourough Councillor Ali Thomas, with the view to the book being available at every primary school in the Neath Port Talbot area.

Spill Sponsorship In The Community

Spill this year became proud sponsors of Ystradgynlais RFC Under 11s.  The Spill logo, which has been printed on the back of the Mini Blues jersey, for all to see as the young players cross over for their tries…and there have been no shortage of them this season.

The sponsorship further strengthens Spill’s involvement within the community and as a Social Enterprise.

It also seems that Spill have brought some good luck to the young team, who won their first Afan Nedd District Tournament whilst sporting their new kit.  This was the first time Ystrad had been victorious in the competition, having been runners up on two previous occasions.

Spill would like to say a big well done to the boys, who played fantastic rugby throughout the day. 

Swansea Telly: Share your stories…..

For the past two years Spill Media have been working on a Digital Inclusion project funded by Communities 2.0, called Swansea Telly.  Swansea Telly is an online channel to watch videos made by people in Swansea- to share stories and visions of the city.

The Project focused on tackling digital exclusion faced by older people, recently unemployed and social housing tenants, as well as working with disadvantaged younger people.

In March this year, the funding for the project has sadly come to an end. That doesn’t mean that Swansea Telly is over though, oh no… the website will continue, so that you can upload and share you photos, videos and thoughts on things that matter to the people of Swansea. 

In the last year Spill have had the privilege of working on varied and interesting projects with inspiring groups of people including Ethnic Youth Support Team

Swansea Young Single Homeless Projects, The Coastal Project, Bays Education and Training Service, Sketty Park Online and Ystradgynlais Job Centre.

Meeting The Lobster

As the winter days grew shorter and spring started to kick in, Spill Media’s Project Manager knew just the thing to get us raring to go in 2012.

“Meeting the lobster” is a short story written by Beccy Tipper which was shortlisted for the Bridport Literature festival. The festival invites film makers to make 60 second adaptations of micro fiction.

Making the film was challenging (finding a lobster was quite a tricky task) but it was great fun. Spill Media thoroughly enjoyed making this short and snappy drama; take a peek at Caroline’s Vimeo page for the finished film:

http://vimeo.com/39044530

We were really pleased with the results and have received some great feedback.