Filmhouse
Filmhouse is a new collaboration for 2024-2025 involving Year 11 and 6th form student musicians from King's School International College, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School, Canterbury Academy and drama students from King's Senior School.
Filmhouse gives young musicians the chance to compose for a professionally-directed short feature film, developing original soundtracks through a series of workshops and performances at the Malthouse Theatre and International College.
In October 2024, a launch event at the theatre saw professional string musicians perform music from well-known film scores followed by a composing session in which the pro musicians improvised alongside the students. The music from October was then used in rehearsals and writing sessions by a company of actors from King's Senior School to inspire the script for a new film, with workshops led by the award-winning film company Inventome Films.
With further composing sessions and film shoots taking place in March 2025, the project culminates on 9th May with a red-carpet event at the Malthouse. On the night, an orchestra from King's Senior School will perform the soundtrack live on stage to the backdrop of the new short feature, weaving together the talents of promising young composers, performers, writers and actors from across the Canterbury area.
Aims
The main aims of this project are to provide young musicians at a crucial point in their development with an opportunity to compose for a professionally-produced film, to develop original soundtracks in collaboration using new processes and applications, to facilitate collaboration between students from different schools and disciplines with the overall aim of staging a unique event in the Malthouse Theatre together with high level student musicians. This endeavour provides young musicians with a meaningful and engaging learning experience beyond the usual classroom setting. Musicians benefit massively from sharing and learning from others, hearing and imitating new styles. An inter-school collaboration allows the students to mix and learn from others with different skills and musical backgrounds. In particular, a boarding school being "self contained" can benefit greatly from this process and a day school will benefit from the diverse backgrounds of the international students. Beneficiaries of the project include the student musicians from Simon Langton Boy's Grammar School, Canterbury Academy and King's International College and Senior school. They are gaining valuable experience in composing, performing and collaborating on a professional film project. The drama students involved are developing their acting skills through the creation and performance of a short film in an unusual format, largely silent and guided by the musical score. The filmmakers are gaining practical experience in filmmaking with a professional filmmaker and learning about the importance of music in storytelling and, ultimately, an audience of parents, friends, teachers and students will enjoy a unique and engaging cultural event that showcases the talents of young artists.
Background
The Filmhouse project was conceived in collaboration with Joe Swash at The King's School Partnerships and teachers in King's drama department as a way of bringing together students from across the Canterbury district as well as combining the skills of students at the International College and King's Senior School. Filmhouse was established in Summer 2024 and will run through to May 2025.
Resources
The well-appointed music rooms of the International College and the facilities available at the Malthouse as well as the involvement of teaching and non-teaching experts are key to a successful outcome.
Pupil Involvement
Yr 11 and sixth form students from the King's School International College, Simon Langton Boy's School, Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School, Canterbury Academy and drama students from King's Senior School have all collaborated on this project.
Frequency
The aim is to run a similar event annually.