On Tuesday 1st October, the film crew arrived at Raasay Primary to start their location shots with the pupils and to record them singing. The day started off with a one hour workshop, as part of our ‘Developing Young Workforce’ DYW curriculum. The boys had brilliant fun learning all about camera and sound work, creating story boards and content for a fun film set in the school and school grounds. They then saw how the editing process worked and we are looking forward to the crew sending to us a copy of the short film which we are looking to review and this has inspired us to create a mini Halloween film after the holidays.

After the workshop, the boys seamlessly clicked into professional mode, to start the recording of the classroom shots and the cutaways for the song with Morag. The film crew then filmed the boys during their art lesson which had a focus on line, tone and colour in the context of portrait art. This was the second lesson on producing a portrait of Calum MacLeod using their Learning Intentions and Success Criteria to create the effect.

After lunch, everyone headed out for the outdoor filming. We sent out an invite to the community to join us on location and to hear the boys singing – accompanied by Morag Henriksen and Ronan Martin on the viola. It was a glorious autumn day with a stunning backdrop. The film crew also had a drone for aerial footage and we can’t wait to see the final result.

“The boys have had an amazing experience working with the film crew, Kieran and Tom and also Morag and Ronan. Tom and Kieran fed back to me at the end of the filming how engaged, articulate and competent the boys were but also how much fun they had working with them. Lots of laughs, jokes and quick witted responses with belly laughs aplenty. Indeed they enjoyed it so much that they have offered to do an online session with the boys nearer to the airing of the programme. This will add to the excellent experiences they have had.

A huge thank you also to Morag. The boys loved meeting her and she kindly brought in crystals and other little artefacts relating to what the children had been showing her in the classroom, adding to their collection. Morag said she had a marvellous time; “all of it, everything and that it was she who was given an enormous gift by all at Raasay Primary by having the opportunity to work with the pupils and staff.” Ronan said he had thoroughly enjoyed the day and is planning to come back again soon to do some music workshops with the boys. What amazing ambassadors our boys were for, not only our school, but our island community. A huge well done to all!” Wilma Duncan, Head Teacher