MINCHINHAMPTON PRIMARY ACADEMY

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Having produced a video for Minch in 2013 I was delighted to be asked to do it again in 2019. The brief was slightly different, and the intended audience was broader. Minchinhampton had recently reviewed it’s policies and practises and come up with a five year vision and wanted a video to celebrate all that they had achieved as a school, even at the smallest level.

 

They recognised that the potential outreach of a video was an essential part of their communication strategy, allied with open evenings and newsletters. The video now helps express this to existing and potential parents, to pupils and staff, and even inquisitive OFSTED inspectors.

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SOLUTION

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Our main film consisted of interviews with year six pupils on their very last day at the school, reflecting on their time there. We deliberately allowed the children to speak their minds with minimal prompting, because a viewer can very quickly pick up on a scripted performance, which can detract from the authenticity of the conversation.

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Prior to this we had captured an array of ‘B-Roll’ footage, filmed in an unobtrusive documentary style with the aim of  causing minimal disruption whilst filming children acting naturally. This included activities such as choir rehearsals, outdoor learning and committee meetings. 

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I soon realised that the B-Roll footage could tell a message in its own right, so I produced 15 individual short films (1-2 minutes each with no dialogue, viewable in this playlist) and we released these once a day for the two weeks prior to the main film’s premiere. I believe these shorter films say as much about the school as the main film and are a useful asset for people to consume if they don’t have time to watch the main feature.

 

Nothing staged, no words, barely a look at the camera. Just a genuine, and rare, snapshot of a happy achieving school.

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I helped with their YouTube account by creating a playlist and release schedule, and used stills or looped video sections from the film to create banners for both their YouTube and Facebook accounts.

 

RESULT

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The headmaster and staff were delighted with the films, and parents responded very positively on social media.  

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Here is what the head had to say:

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"Rob produced uniquely affirming work, I loved watching each film. He brought the things we do here to life - precious stuff"

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Nick Moss  |  Head 

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SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSES

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• ’beautiful kids and beautiful video’

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• ’I feel blessed that my children have had this magical school at the heart of their childhoods. This magical film made by Rob moved me to tears and hearing my big girl speak with such passion and love for her school last summer, filled me with pride and deep admiration for her, Lucky us, lucky Minch parents

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• ’The school looks positively amazing, I find myself googling property in Stroud!’

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• ’This is so lovely - beautifully captures the essence of Minch!’

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