'Our food lies ahead, and death stalks us from behind....'

On 11th August 1907 Sir Ernest Shackleton set sail for Antarctica, determined to lead the first successful expedition to the South Pole. "Our food lies ahead, and death stalks us from behind...." What gave them hope in these icy wastelands?

Sir Ernest Shackleton took cocoa on his antarctic expeditions to give hope to his men in icy wastelands; a small taste of home. This animation by young people vividly imagines their desperate struggle and the morale boost it gave them.

Our mental health films on Youtube - Playlist

Quietly working away

Apologies for a lack of posts recently - we've been quietly working away on new films, promoting old films, and making new contacts. We'll post updates again shortly as we've got some exciting new projects in the offing...

Arts Minds Leeds - Visual Arts Award Winners

We received our Visual Arts Award from the Arts and Minds network today. Thanks for paying us a visit!

3 new films for Scarborough CAMHS

These are 3 films we've just completed with some brilliant young people who contributed their experiences and understanding as well as creative and technical skills, to make some really powerful films. They were made for Scarborough CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and TEWV NHS foundation trust, see them on their website here.

The films all feature genuine experiences and voices of young people who have used CAMHS, with a lighter tone than most mental health films, and an emphasis on recovery.

Images online

We've been trying to create some useful images from the many thousands we've created over the years. These are a mix of relevant images, with famous quotes as well as ones directly from our films. Feel to use and distribute!

Door 84 youth space - Playday 2013

Door 84 youth space shut down a York street this summer and filled it with kids and games - to show the importance of play, and learning through risk-taking. We made this film to help them celebrate and share the excitement around their first street-based playday.




As part of the National Playday promoting childrens right to play, a street was closed for a full day and dedicated to play. This was a first in York and we were happy to get amongst it all to make this short film. The day was a huge success and had a real community feel with children and families getting out in the fresh air to have some energetic fun. 

'The film really captures the atmosphere of the day, and the range of activities and opportunities that were available. It allowed the community to have their say, see play in it's natural space and reflect on how successful the day had been. The film is a valuable and flexible resource that we are using to promote a similar event this year, to build Door 84's profile, and to strengthen funding applications. I also use this to support my talks about the importance of play'

Heidi Haywood, Door 84 Manager

Animating Constantine for the Yorkshire Museum

Our film for the Yorkshire Museum will be seen by 90,000 people a year as part of the Roman York: Meet The People Of The Empire exhibition. Over 2 weeks during the summer we worked with a group of young people to create this piece which explains the story of Constantine's head, which has recently returned to York from Italy. It was a great couple of weeks, we had fantastic support from the Museum staff and a team of really talented young people.

Psychosis - Steps to Recovery

A short film made by people who have experienced psychosis. This film illustrates some of the different aspects to psychosis that they and their families went through. It also seeks to show that anyone could be affected by psychosis at some point in their lives, but that there is help available. Made with www.commlinks.co.uk

"This has been a fantastic and rewarding experience for everyone that has taken part. We devised a plan of what we wanted to do, were supported developing those ideas and given the tools and guidance to make the animation. It's given us a wonderful film which will raise awareness about psychosis and the challenges that can be experienced. Everyone who took part in this work has been given a sense of ownership of their service, valuable work experience and also had a great time! The film was used at our launch event and will continue to be used within the service and online."

Chris Rose, Support, Time & Recovery Worker, Community Links York Early Intervention Team

One Small Step... Making friends in new places

Making friends when you arrive in a new place can be very difficult - especially when you are an Alien! Our latest film offers some simple and useful tips for people moving to new countries or communities, on how to start to find your feet and to make friends. Featuring some extraordinary looking extraterrestrials! Made by young people from the AWS in Strensall.

Feeling Down?

Many of us will experience low mood or depression at some point in life. This is a lively and creative film containing lots of simple and effective practical advice for getting through it. Created with a group of young people affected by low mood and alongside our local CAMHS service, we hope this will be of great help to anyone feeling down. Part funded by the NHS International Nurses Day Initiative 2012.

Hey! look what I can do! - How much can Deaf people achieve?

‘Hey – Look what I can do’ meets Emily, a Deaf young person, just after she has been put down by her sister for being Deaf. She goes online to find out just how much Deaf people can achieve in their lives – and surprises her sister in the process! It is a funny, entertaining and also informative film. It includes customised subtitles, and in-vision interpreting from Reflect-BSL. 

Made by a group of Deaf young people at Merseyside Centre for the Deaf, for the National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (NDCAMHS) (Manchester Outreach Team). 

STRESSED!!

Created for York Youth Council, this is a short animation which gives practical help for understanding what causes stress, and how to deal with it. Featuring 1000 blue paper balls!!

"Just so I know" - film for Looked After young people

 

A short film made by young people who are Looked After in York, about what it is like and what you can expect to happen if you become Looked After. Made for primary school aged children, this fun and accessible film clearly explains the care system and what they should expect and demand from it and the adults around them. It was an absolute joy to work on, and we took the creative decision to make the entire piece 'old school' - no digital post or graphics for a real hand-crafted feel. See if you can spot the lesson about swingball!!

Children's Society film about friendship, for BBC Children in Need

A film about friendship, we've just made with young people on the Fun and Friendship scheme run by the Children's Society in York. Made to show how difficult it can be to make friends when you are a young person. This film was funded by BBC Children in Need.

Conference Season

Look out for us popping up at several conferences in York over the next couple of months: Integrated Services (York, 18/10/12),  Arts Development UK (York Barbican, 19/10/2012) and 'No Wrong Doors' (York Racecourse, 23/10/12). Do come and say hello!

Deaffest 2012 film festival

Great news - our films "Communication Street" and "Top Tips for Health Professionals" have been shortlisted for Young Deaffest 2012.  They will be screened along with the other nominated films at the festival on Saturday 26th May (please see the Deaffest website for forthcoming information on screening times, www.deaffest.co.uk)

Jorvik Viking Centre animation

This is the short animation commissioned by Jorvik Viking Centre to be screened throughout their Viking Festival. Watch it to witness some truly shocking Viking behaviour - you'll never think of them same way again!! Thanks to the Production Assistants who helped us with making it.

Jorvik Viking Festival, York

Come and meet our latest characters including this hairy fella at the Jorvik Viking Festival 'Animating the Past' from 11th Feb onwards....

Communication Street: Deaf children and communication at home

Our latest film has finally been completed! Communication Street is a film about problems Deaf young people have communicating at home, with parents, brothers and sisters. In a fun and entertaining way it looks at things such as being woken up; not being told what's going on; communicating in the car; not hearing someone calling for you; and the age old arguments over subtitles. For each problem a solution is also suggested by our Communication Street voiceover pigeon