Two undergraduates have won a competition and their work will be broadcast across a range of children’s BBC platforms
Two undergraduates from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) will see their ideas for short animations come to life on the BBC.
Liam Springthorpe and Declan Holgate, who are second and third year animation students, have been named as two of the five winners of the Scream Street competition.
CBBC launched The Scream Street Shorts Initiative in October, in partnership with animation production company, Factory, and international media group and rights holders, Coolabi. Students from all disciplines were invited to take part in the creative development opportunity, to generate ideas for a short animation in the form of a storyboard and/or animatic, using two characters from CBBC’s new stop-motion animated show Scream Street.
The students spent a week at Factory to bring their storyboard/animatic to life under the guidance of Jo Chalkley, a stop motion animator with over 25 years’ experience in the industry. Filming started on Monday for five weeks and the shorts will launch on CBBC platforms next spring. The students can use the shorts as an example of their work and will be credited ‘created from an idea by’.
"We wanted to pilot a scheme that would offer students something tangible to help develop their conceptual and storyboarding skills and prepare them for potential careers working in animation or storytelling."
Declan, 21 from Burnley, said: “Having the chance to bring my short idea to life by the hands of the many professionals that work in the studio Factory was an opportunity I definitely couldn't refuse. I was absolutely delighted.”
Liam added: “When I found out I was shortlisted I was overjoyed to have the chance to work with the people that make Scream Street. The work they produce is so good and definitely something I look up to. So when I found out I had won I was completely taken aback. I cannot wait to have the chance to learn more about the industry and to help produce a project I love.”
The submissions were judged on originality and creativity, character engagement, story and connection with CBBC’s target audience, by a panel of representatives from CBBC, Coolabi and Factory, including:
- Lucy Pryke, Development Producer at BBC Children’s
- Adrian Mills, General Manager at BBC North
- Zoe Bamsey, Director of Development and Production at Coolabi
- Phil Chalk, Managing Director of Factory
- Geoff Walker, Scream Street Director
- Giles Pilbrow, Scream Street Show Runner
Lucy Pryke said: “We received a great response from the universities and colleges across the North of England, and were thoroughly impressed by the quality and creativity of the submissions.
“We wanted to pilot a scheme that would offer students something tangible to help develop their conceptual and storyboarding skills and prepare them for potential careers working in animation or storytelling.”
"We are delighted to be involved in an initiative that gives students an insight into the realm of stop frame animation to help inspire the next generation of scriptwriters, animators and producers."
Zoe Bamsey said: “Scream Street is a very clever, fast-paced and funny property, and one that’s very close to our hearts, so it has been incredible to see how it has inspired students in their work and creativity. We’re extremely excited to see the next phase of their development.”
Phil Chalk said: “We are delighted to be involved in an initiative that gives students an insight into the realm of stop frame animation to help inspire the next generation of scriptwriters, animators and producers.”
Following the success of this initiative CBBC will explore similar schemes to open this out wider and/or for other disciplines.