A few months back Graeme was nominated for a TEA (Teaching Excellence Award). This was primarily for his work in developing the BA Film Course and introducing two annual film competitions and a number of social events that include a 'best of' show each semester. This has dramatically increased the film output, social cohesion and morale of students on the BA Film course. This year he has upped the ante yet again by organising a filming trip to Krakow, Poland in November.
There is a small amount of cash attached to the award which must be spent on something academic such as books or a conference trip or festival visit.
Graeme is currently looking into academic events which take place in a warm overseas climate with easy access to bars and the sea.
this is the message from the Associate Dean Peter Klein
Dear colleagues
We used yesterday’s Teaching Fellow Conference as an opportunity to announce the 2009 FOTA Teaching Awards.
The awards go to Stephen Desmond, Matt Finn, Graeme Kennedy, Carolyn Lefley, Barry Lowe, Paul Ramshaw and Olivier Ruellet.
They have been recognised by their colleagues and students for their teaching excellence and we congratulate them.
Best wishes,
Peter Klein, Associate Dean (Academic Affairs) & Deputy Dean,
Faculty of the Arts,
Between Saturday 8th September and Friday 14th, Graeme will be working for the BBC's Blast programme and will be editing a number of short videos which have been filmed by School Students. The videos are documentaries of the students rehearsing and performing a series of specially commissioned plays. Editing will take place 'on location' at the BFI on the Southbank.
On the evening of Friday the 14th, the completed short films will be projected onto the side of the National Theatre (Southbank). If you are around please come and visit. Graeme will be near the BBC Blast tour truck, watching the projection on the building as well as grabbing some snaps.
Graeme has been working as Director of Photography with Director (and fellow lecturer) Zara Waldeback and Choreographer Susie Crow. He was shooting dancers and objects which will be edited to make a film which will be projected behind the dancers on stage. These images will form part of the set and will provide mood and atmosphere to the performance. The show (a dark fairytale) is called 'Black Maria' and is due to be performed at the Lillian Bayliss theatre in Autumn.
To find out more about the production and performance dates & times,
visit the Black Maria website
We're teaming up with an exciting organisation called Kidnet. Working at 2 schools in Kent on short creative filmmaking projects with an Olympic theme. Kidnet works with children to develop them into independent production teams who make their own content for TV and internet.
To see some past work and learn more, visit the Kidnet site
Well actually the news is that on Friday 4th May I will be in Folkestone working for the BBC as part of their Blast scheme, introducing kids to the wonderful world of creative filmmaking. Raoul Morris and I will be leading a 1 day workshop where children from the local area will come up with an idea, then shoot and edit it between 10am and 6pm. A lot of work but hopefully fun. If you're in Folkestone on Friday, please feel free drop by to see how the process is going.
Post Mortem…
The day was a resounding success. The group made a 3-minute film which had a great story, was well filmed and thoroughly entertaining.
Feedback from the BBC was that this was a textbook course in filmmaking.
Despite some setbacks (equipment failure and the most terrible wind, making outdoor sound recording impossible) the course had enough flexibility built in to it to cope with these problems.
I was contacted this week by the Newcastle Evening Chronicle who informed me that the short film "French for Geordies" has become a cult hit in Newcastle (where else?). As of last week it had had 9,300 hits, which works out at between 300-400 hits per week. After a phone interview they published a full page story last Thursday under the headline "Oh la la - parlez franglais comedie is fantastique". The article explains why the piece was made and some other background material. Since the Chronicle put a link to the site, the traffic has increased to about 300-400 hits per day. If you're interested in reading the article then follow this link...
If you just want to watch it then look below...
Credits:
Shazza - Dawn Wilkinson
Bazza - Graeme Kennedy
Narrator - Matthew Bates
Waiter - Paul Williamson
Camera/Sound -Simon Waxman & Marlyn De Pas
Writer/Director/Producer - Graeme Kennedy
I Made Tony's showreel a couple of year ago, he's a very talented actor with an excellent feel for comedy. Check out Tony's updated showreel video featuring him in his role as Nelson in the BBC drama 'Life on Mars'
I was asked recently to perform at a comedy gig in Newcastle. The evening was to raise money for the family of friend and comedy collaborator Tony Mendoza who died during the Summer. Tony and I wrote (and occasionally performed) together in the early 90's. He was a natural comic and a brilliant writer and performer with an eye for the absurd. I haven't performed for about 15 years and had to write new material, as well as the fear factor of having to stand in front of an audience and make them laugh at what was essentially new and untested material, by a performer in need of an MOT. Add to that that a line-up of my old mates, all Newcastle comics including Anvil Springstien, Vladimir McTavish, Gavin Webster and Ross Noble. My 'Get out of jail free' card was to do only a few minutes about how Newcastle has changed in the 12 years since I lived there and then show a spoof 'Learning Zone' type programme which I shot during the summer entitled 'French for Geordies'
Thankfully the night was a huge success and despite my lacklustre performance I got away with it, made the audience laugh and then let loose my secret weapon... the video. It went down a storm and you can see it below.
