Published on 20 January 2016
Hannah, BA (Hons) Animation & Games Art undergraduate, will join four other students from universities across the North of England, who will see their ideas for short animations come to life, based on CBBC's hit new series ‘Scream Street'.
CBBC launched The Scream Street Shorts Initiative in October 2015, 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.
Hannah's tutor Ros Allen encouraged her to enter the competition as part of a third year module, in which all students are encouraged to take on live briefs and competitions.
On hearing that she had been chosen as a winner Hannah said: "I couldn't believe it. It's such a wonderful opportunity and it's allowing me to experience something I love on a professional level. I do a lot of story writing in my spare time, so there'll be a great sense of achievement and excitement. I'll probably look at the short when it's finished and still be thinking ‘Wow, this came from my idea'."
Hannah continued: "Ros and my tutor Niel Bushnell, were very encouraging throughout and were excited when they heard I'd won. I also think that being in an animation course was an advantage, since the competition required making a storyboard or animatic of your concept and storyboarding was something I've done a lot of in my modules. It was really enjoyable.
"While I can't be 100% sure which path I'll go down after graduating, the experience and confidence I'll have gained from the University of Sunderland and this initiative will be so valuable for when I'm seeking work. It's already led to me gaining professional connections, which I'm sure will be of great benefit in the future."
Ros Allen - Programme Leader for Animation & Games Art commented: "This is brilliant news and a fantastic opportunity and experience for Hannah, who will be graduating this summer. She is a talented and hard-working student, who completed this brief while also working on her University modules and her dissertation. We are so proud of her achievement and thrilled for the opportunities this will undoubtedly bring her."
The students take part will each spend 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 will commence on 18 January 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'.
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 commented: "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.