Anatomy of a Film Project Part 2 - The Story Maker

Story Maker Flow Chart

The Story Maker Flow chart is proving a success! Its designed to help pupils get started and develop their story ideas.

 It is NOT designed to write stories for you. Its for kids with no Ideas.


I mean, common kids! - by the time you are 8 years old you will have seen hundreds of hours of creative content, read books, played games, traveled, experienced life etc. you will have amassed a vast array story making matter which will be floating around in your head.

This flowchart is meant to help you organise free-floating ideas into a narrative that you can turn into a short film, a short story, a book, a multimedia presentation a game, the list is endless! 

Anatomy of a Film Project Part 1

Just started a series of After School workshops working in Primary schools.

To help children to develop stories quickly, they are using my patented 'Story Making Machine'"

A tool that quickly shows kids how to devise characters, plot, scenarios and endings!

They can use the narratives they have created for writing, filmmaking or creating plays - watch this space for more info!

Free Music, Free Downloads

Do you need music for your movies?

I've composed music for all occassions.

From upbeat melodies to mellow tempo beats. Pop, Rock, Country & Western, funk, Soul Rap and Classical soundtracks .

Its all here you can download as much as you like.

Check out mpfree or freetunes!

Making Maths Fun Part 1

Median average worked out with the whole class.

Here is lessons learned from my work with KS3 Maths students. 


Along with the Maths teacher, I worked with Y7 students to create a series of short films that explored 'Averages'.

Every pupil got involved in presenting a highly visual demonstration of averages! 


The Median, Range, Mode and Mean were all demonstrated by the students. 

Students understanding of Averages  had increased.

Text and graphics added to clarify the results.  
The films created were shown to the rest of the school.

Barnsley Young Apprentice Summer School

Students Rehearsing

Students from Barnsley have completed a Performing Arts and Media Summer School at Sheffield Hallam University.


Key Stage 5 students created showreels and a pop video during professional media training workshops.


The Summer school was all about getting a real world taste of what its like to work in the cultural industries. 


Students; grew in confidence; led their own learning and development; received professional training and improved their readiness for the job market. This was a Barnsley Young Apprenticeship Programme. Maxine Greaves, Equality and Community Engagement Manager at Sheffield Hallam University, hosted the Summer School.

Stories of Chat Moss, Irlam, Salford

The madman of Chat Moss

A Y6 class create films based on the oral histories of people who had lived and worked on Chat Moss, a large area of peat bog on the outskirts of Manchester.


Over 5 days, pupils created a series of films using recorded voices, archive photos, poetry, drama and dance. The films featured bog monsters, scooter riders, rat-catchers and Michael Jackson cameo!


These creative media sessions was part of the 'Stories of Chat Moss Project' funded by Salford Museum.

Creative Partnerships Residency, Derby

A Ghost from a haunted school film 

I've completed an exciting year long Primary school residency, turning pupils and teachers into creative media specialists!


The 'Media Moguls' pupil group cascaded their skills to other pupils and teachers too! After they became confident at podcasting, digital imaging, and using ICT equipment, they  created written user guides and videos.


We worked together on two whole school creative media projects, one involved storytelling using stop motion animation and digital imaging manipulation Alice in Wonderland theme.

A Media Mogul!

I also delivered one to one training with teachers, and worked alongside teacher staff in classrooms. Part of the residency also involved me hosting CPD sessions during INSET days.


Both staff and pupils grew in confidence across a wide range of media, raised achievement and helped to develop a creative curriculum. 

Funded by Creative Partnerships and  The Mighty Creatives