Olympic films to inspire school assemblies

Every primary school in Dorset is to receive a DVD of short animated films made for the Olympics by primary school children in Weymouth and Portland.

With support from Departure Arts and b-side Multimedia Arts Festival, a team of artists and filmmakers from Dorchester ARTS spent last term working with more than 130 children at Underhill Junior School on Portland, Wyke Regis Junior School and St John’s Primary School.

The films, the Portland Race, the Helpful Dead and the Big Splash tell three very different stories about, Weymouth, Portland and the Olympics.


Project producer Sharon Hayden said she hoped other schools would use them as a stimulus for discussion in their work on London 2012.


“These films will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people during the Olympics later in the summer. The year four and five children who made them have produced three wonderful stories with terrific drama, beautiful drawing and extraordinary soundtracks, and we know from what others have already told us that they offer a useful starting point for assemblies and class discussions.”


The films, lottery funded by the BFI’s First Light initiative, are being distributed by Departure Arts. You can also view and request copies on the website at www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/projects . The films are: The Helpful Dead by year five at Wyke Regis Junior School A majestic tall ship sunk off Dead Man’s Cove, Portland in 1872 has a dramatic emotional link with the 2012 sailing events.

The Portland Race by year four at Underhill Junior School When Olympic boats fill the harbour - there’s only one thing for a father and son to do - go fishing by moonlight in a tiny Lerret boat.


The Big Splash by Year Five at St John’s Primary When the Olympic torch is sensationally stolen amid crowds on Weymouth seafront, four best friends make a splash in more ways then one as they try to get it back.

More information and contact details: www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/projects