About

The core ethos of our community and education film work is to facilitate people through building their confidence in quality filmmaking and storytelling skills. We like to train participants to work as a ‘film crew’, which encourages a sense of discipline and helps people gain real ownership of their material. Professional film crew can also be involved, including editors, camera operators and sound recordists to share their skills in a friendly environment.

 

The Woman's & Girls Film Academy

Founded in 2009 WFA will be a specialist media academy for women and teen-age girls run by Striding Edge Community based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Academy members will be trained up as a film crew by practising professionals working in the film and TV industry.

Members will be selected on the basis of a genuine hunger to work behind the camera. Having media experience is not important but we do ask for dedication and commitment. We want to involve teen-age girls and women who ordinarily would not get opportunities such as this.

 

"Being a part of the academy has helped my confidence no end and has given me a different perspective on what careers are out there for me."

Dionne, 15

 

Beat the Bully

Through 2009 we are currently offering schools and educational organisations an event based around our award winning film Beat the Bully, which was made by a year ten students at Monkwearmouth School. Produced

Mentored by Striding Edge Films, the students directed a professional film crew. The young film-makers were awarded a commendation for 'Best Target Audience' by Robson Green at the Royal Television Society in 2006

L-R: Amy Cullen, Amber Storey, Tom Harvey (Chief Executive, Northern Film & Media), Sarah Hogg, Emily Barber.

Beat the Bully has been well received by young people, and has been hugely successful in communicating anti-bullying messages from young people to their peers. The film is an ideal tool with which to approach curriculum topics such as citizenship, PHSE, social skills, emotional understanding and careers guidance.

 

Voluntary Groups

We have worked with a wide diversity of organisations and can help groups make their own films. alternatively we can deliver promotional DVD's. Through imaginative film and storytelling techniques we can help charities, voluntary groups and health bodies promote their work at a competitive price without losing quality or impact.

We work collaboratively from inception to final product and long-term relationships have often grown out of initial one off workshops.

Some previous groups we have worked with include:

• Young homeless group
• Women's jewellery making group
• Young Muslims group
• Community Choir
• Boxing club
• Teenage Pregnancy support group
• Separation Mediation group

 

"Shaidy Characters is a group of young homeless people who have been inspired by Emily and Striding Edge Films. We have made many issue based, grass roots films but working with a professional director helped us develop to a point where we were able to raise revenue making short films for other community organisations. But in my own view, film-making has been most effective in terms of team-building and motivation. In many respects, this is a result of Emily's warmth and energy, which helps show people their own potential but also demands commitment and responsibility."

Jane Williamson , Social Inclusion and Development Worker, Shaidy Characters

 

Schools and Universities

We offer Master Classes in all areas of professional documentary production. We can tailor-make our sessions to module requirements but always keeping up to speed with contemporary broadcast and media issues.

We are keen to nurture long-term relationships with higher educational organisations as part of their practical based courses. We have on-going relationships with both Teesside and Sunderland Universities.

 

"Each time Emily and Striding Edge have given classes to our students, they bring with them a fantastic enthusiasm for film-making. Of great value is Emily's discussion of people and their lives and how as a film-maker she is privileged to tell their stories. These discussions are vital as they shift learners from concerns of aesthetics, to the social responsibility of the film-maker"

Warren Harrison, Senior Lecturer/Programme Leader, Television Production Professional Practice, University of Teesside

 

Having worked with Key Stage 2 through to Sixth Form we have extensive experience in workshop technique. We like to work closely with schools to find ways of adapting film projects to curriculum themes and subjects.

Previous school projects dealt with:

• Citizenship
• Bullying
• Behaviour
• Identity and cultural diversity
• Climate change

 

“Working with Striding Edge films gave the pupils an insight into the real world of filming. It raised their aspirations and brought out talents which otherwise would have remained hidden. One pupil, who had very poor attendance, began to talk in terms of going to University so media and filming could be his job. All because of the inspiration of working with a film maker who encouraged and wanted to help them tell their story, their way."

Amy Freeman, Deputy Head, Cotsford Junior School, Co.Durham