North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) has been wanting to produce a series of short documentary films about farmers and farming in North Devon for some time now.  We have always known that there is an immense value in preserving local ways of life in moving image and the popularity of our Boat Stories series has proven this beyond measure.  

When NDMI was launched one of our aims was to facilitate and encourage new film makers and provide work for local film makers and now seems like the perfect opportunity to launch our commission programme.

But first... we need some funding.  We want to pay a realistic commission fee to our film makers, support them with mentorships from experienced professionals and celebrate the project with a red carpet public screening event.  So what we would like is for you to tell us if you think this is a good idea and we will use this evidence to approach potential funders.

If you are a local farmer or historian, a member of the North Devon community or a film production tutor  please do email project manager Amanda McCormack at northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com with 'Down on the Farm' as the subject heading and let us know why you would like to support this project.  If you are a film maker please click here to find out more and complete our survey.

In brief, here's the plan (all subject to changes further to survey response and funding):

• 6 film makers/teams to produce one short film each
• each film to focus on the story of a local farmer/farming family within the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
• commission open to film makers aged over 18 resident or studying in UK
• each film to be between 3 and 5 minutes duration
• £1000 commission fee for each film maker
• 14 months to research, develop, produce and deliver the films
• professional mentors from documentary film/TV industries
• project dates to span 2018/2019
• films to be shared on the North Devon Moving Image Youtube channel and website
• a public screening, production team Q&A and celebration event at the conclusion of the project
• copyright to remain with the film maker with NDMI licensed to distribute the films

​Let's get Down on the Farm up and running!

We have just spent a stopmotiontastic time with members of the North Devon Forum for Autistic Spectrum Conditions & ADHD creating some Incredible Inventions!  

Mandi and Dotty from North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) delivered the three day claymation animation workshop in the bright and spacious Kingsley Room at The Burton Art Gallery and Museum in Bideford (thanks for looking after us Burton at Bideford people).

We delivered a brief to the workshop participants to create a short animated story solving an environmental problem (or come up with their own idea to make the world a better place).  They worked in parent/child and individual/enabler pairs to come up with an invention, write a story and script, create characters, sets and props.  We had a huge pile of fabulous resources from North Devon's WOW Scrapstore (£7 a bin bagful for members) and lots of colourful Newplast modelling clay to ignite their imaginations and then each team animated their films using iPads and iMotion or iStopmotion apps.  We think the results are quite wonderful!  Take a look at the video clip below.

If you know a group who would like to take part in a workshop like this please do get in touch.

We have had a busy two weeks here in Instow with our first ever NDMI Academy summer schools.  Week 1 was a live action drama film making workshop for 5 young film makers aged between 10 and 13.  The creative team devised their own story and with our support they wrote, directed, acted in, shot and edited the film He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (see below to view the film).  The crew learned loads of new skills and worked together perfectly, coming up with great ideas and making time to listen to each other and let everyone's voice be heard with a brilliant result!  

NOTE: The technical kit used was our Sony NX3 camcorder, Rode microphone with boom pole and deadcat and Sony Vegas to edit.  Additional film making exercises were carried out with the use of our iPad Air, iOgrapher case, iRig pre amp and the professional Rode microphone.

NDMI Academy Summer School week 2 was an animation workshop for 5 talented youngsters aged between 7 and 11.  This was great fun and we were so impressed by the creativity and patience of all our young film makers.  They began the week getting to grips with the technical equipment and then recorded interviews with each other to form the basis of the film sound track.  They went on to design and create their characters, props and sets.  The animating was a great challenge as the audio was already recorded and the characters needed to move to fit the voices - we don't take the easy route here - and it definitely paid off as the result, with authentic interviews is really entertaining and the animation is brilliant!  Take a look at the film below.

NOTE: The technical kit used was our iPad Air in an iOgrapher case, iMotion app, Rode microphone, iRig pre amp, Newplast modelling clay and Magneflash LED lights (great because they don't get hot and dangerous!)

If you are interested in film making workshops for your family, group, school or yourself please do get in touch.

A fashion film created by North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) Young Producer, Dorothy McCormack, has been premiered at the Summerhall Gallery in Edinburgh at a Grow Wild Get Creative Youth Takeover.

Dorothy who is 17 and is studying A levels at Petroc in North Devon won a commission to create a fashion collection and film inspired by UK wild flowers.  With the support of NDMI and willing model Ami Davie from Barnstaple, Dorothy shot her film in the beautiful community woodland and meadow at Fremington in May this year. 

You can watch the film in the Youtube link below and read more about Dorothy's creative process on her Gold Arts Award blog page here.

​The Summerhall exhibition is on until 8 July 2017 so if you happen to be in Edinburgh do go along - the Takeover is a wonderful collection of painting, installations, film, textiles and photography all created by young people under 25 and inspired by wild flowers.

A team of young people in North Devon are getting set to create a series of promotional videos for local charities with the support of North Devon Moving Image.

Thanks to grant funding from Wace Family Fund via Devon Community Foundation North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) is delighted to announce the launch of the Barnstaple Youth Social Action Project.

Chantal Tonks, who works with young people on the Careers Skills and Entry to Employment programmes at Petroc in Barnstaple, says “I am really excited to be working with NDMI again; the relationship between our young people and NDMI has been very successful in the past with some excellent results. Our current cohort who are returning next year are looking forward to the opportunity of working with NDMI focusing on an area that they feel passionate about.”​

The young film makers will work in small groups, each choosing a charity close to their hearts.  They will work together over the next year to learn and develop their communication and digital media skills, producing a series of short films for the charities to use as presentations and for distribution via social media.

North Devon Moving Image CIC (NDMI) is recruiting for a voluntary Treasurer.

We are looking for an individual with an interest in the communities of North Devon, education, heritage, arts and culture.  The Treasurer will be asked to take over responsibility for preparing the annual company accounts and submitting to HMRC and Companies House, so experience in this field is essential.

The Treasurer will be invited to enrol as a Company Director although this is not essential.  There will be an opportunity for the Treasurer to be involved with fundraising, project work and future development of the organisation if they wish.

In the recruitment process all individuals will be treated in a fair and equal manner and in accordance with the law regardless of gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation.

Please get in touch with Amanda McCormack, Creative Director NDMI by email northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com or telephone 01271 860610 or use the contact form on this website.

NDMI young producer Dotty is getting ready to Sew Wild!

We are delighted to announce that our young producer Dotty McCormack has been selected to take part in Kew Gardens' Grow Wild youth project Grow For It 2017.

Dotty made a video application to bid for a grant of £500 to help her make a fashion film inspired by UK wild flowers. The application was successful and along with other young creatives around the country Dotty will be showcasing the fruits of her labour at an exhibition in Edinburgh at the end of June 2017.

Click here to find out more about Grow Wild and follow Dotty on Instagram @dottidoodle to see her project grow!

The votes are in! We celebrated our North Devon AONB Wild Shorts film competition nominees and winners and thanked project partners, sponsors and funders at the inaugural Wild Shorts Awards in Barnstaple last Friday. 

North Devon Moving Image ran the Wild Shorts competition between May and November 2016 with the aim of raising awareness of the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  ​

“Entries came in from new and experienced film makers of all ages and the quality and variety of subject and creative style was impressive.” Says NDMI Creative Director, Amanda McCormack who hosted the Oscars-style Wild Shorts Awards ceremony in Barnstaple on 20 January 2017.

Twenty year old film student Rhys Harris, who travelled from Cornwall to North Devon to make his Wild Short, Places Afar, won both first prize in the Adults category and the overall Judges’ Choice Award.

Kathryn Jeffs, a Senior Producer at the BBC’s Natural History Unit was on the Wild Shorts judging panel.  She praised Places Afar, saying “Loved this film. Intriguing opening, beautifully filmed, captured my attention immediately. This had visual flare married beautifully with spoken word.  Contemplative, well paced, expansive and thoughtful. I could watch on loop. Wonderful!”

Rhys was delighted with the outcome “Winning the competition was a huge boost of confidence for me. The fact that something I made was able to win something means that I must be doing something right! I had a great time attending the awards show and I can't stress enough how thankful I am to everyone involved. Now I have the spike in motivation to go and make something new!" 

The Wild Shorts project which included film making workshops for families, school children and adults was funded by the North Devon Coast AONB, Fullabrook CIC and the Tarka Country Trust. “The films produced for the Wild Shorts competition show how the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty provide a feast of the senses for all those who visit and enjoy them.” said AONB Manager Jenny Carey-Wood. “From the tastes of wild fruit and fungi, the feel of sand and shells, the sounds of seabirds and streams, the sight of the sea and sky and the views out to Lundy and inland to the heaths and woodlands. This project has comprehensively achieved the objectives of our Sustainable Development Fund by reaching new people and increasing understanding and awareness of the AONB.”

Full list of winners by category:
1.    Primary School: Rockpooling Club by Torchlight! by Paige, Daisy, Noah, Lily and Mr Hockley from Combe Martin Primary School. Prize 4 X child season tickets to Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
2.    Secondary School: Colours in Nature by Willow Chater, Lauryn Reed and Ella Jenkins. Prize 3 X child annual passes to Ilfracombe Aquarium
3.    Age 12-17:  Our Guide to Sustainable Living by Seraphina Allard-Bridge and Martha Macdonald prize 4 X U18 Day passes to GoldCoast Oceanfest 2017
4.    Family: Mouth Mill by Alice Bollen, Remo Rossi and Lorenzo Rossi.  Prize annual family membership to Devon Wildlife Trust.
5.    Adult:
a.    Winner: Places Afar by Rhys Harris. Prize Annual Membership to National Trust.
b.    Runner Up: My Favourite Walk: The Speke’s Mill Valley by Rhodri Davies.  Prize annual car park pass for Down End Croyde.

Judges’ Choice Award: Places Afar by Rhys Harris.

Competition opportunity for young North Devon film makers.  

Education charity Into Film are calling for submissions of short films from young people aged 19 and under. 

Here are the entry categories:

Best Animation: 12 and under; 13 and over.
You can enter any kind of animation to the Best Animation categories. Whether it's silhouette cut-outs; clay-mation, a flip book animation, or a combination of all of these techniques, Into Film want to see what young people can create when they use film to bring their imagination to life.

Best Live Action: 12 and under; 13 and over.
Live action films can be any genre, but the judges want to see fantastic creativity, innovative use of filming techniques and brilliant stories.

Best Documentary: 12 and under; 13 and over.
True stories documented skillfully. Entries can be dramatic recreations, or take a more artistic or experimental approach to documentary storytelling but most of all Into Film want to hear young peoples' voices, and see their vision through film. 

Into Space and Home: 12 and under; 13 and over.
To celebrate the imaginative work conducted on European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Tim Peake's Principia mission, Into Film has teamed up with the UK Space Agency again to deliver an exciting new filmmaking competition for 5-19 year-olds, Into Film: Into Space & Home. Budding young filmmakers can enter this out-of-this-world competition by creating short films inspired by space exploration and Tim's stellar mission. 

The deadline for entries is Tuesday 31 January 2017. All nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony at the ODEON Cinema, Leicester Square in London, on Tuesday 14 March 2017.  You can find further details and enter the Awards here: https://www.intofilm.org/awards

With three weeks left in our North Devon AONB Wild Shorts film making competition it's not too late to get outside and shoot your competition entry.

​We've spotted these young film makers, out and about with their families at Saunton, collecting footage for their Wild Shorts films.  Some great team work here and a good demonstration that you don't need fancy equipment or previous experience to have a go.

The competition is not just for amateurs and families though - there are prize categories for adults too.

If you are still looking for inspiration then visit the AONB's Explore the Coast website.  This week's recommendation is the AONB guide Making a Splash.  This digital guide provides a great source for research into the landscape, habitats and species in the AONB's aquatic environments.  Why not explore a stream, turn some rocks and see what lies beneath?  Or show where fresh water meets the sea and tell us what types of plants and animals live in each habitat.  

Closing date is 30 November 2016.  All shortlisted entries will be shown on the North Devon Moving Image website and their makers will be invited to our celebratory Awards ceremony & prize giving in January 2017 where you will find out if you are a winner!