30 | July 11, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News

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SILLY running, terriblethrowing, falling over,racket flying, sweatbands

all over the place – if this soundslike you when it comes to sports,you might just be the star of theArts Picturehouse’s latest filmworkshop.

The one-day course, ShortCuts: Greatest SportingMistakes!, is aimed at 10 to13-year-olds with an interestin filmmaking, a knack fordirecting and a happy-go-luckyattitude to acting a bit foolish infront of the camera.

“We’ll be making a CharlieChaplin inspired sports film,”summarises course leaderand independent filmmakerRyd Cook. In association withthe Cambridgeshire FilmConsortium, the idea is to createa ‘mockumentary’ parodyingsome of the silent film greats, allwith a sporting twist.

Ryd, who also runs Jump Cutsessions at the Picturehouse,a filmmaking course for 14to 19-year-olds, will leadthe session teaching thegroundwork in basic filmmakingtechniques, from turning on andsetting up the camera, framingshots and getting the right

camera movement, to catchingthe best light and making sureyou remember to switch onthat pesky microphone. So, itdoesn’t matter whether you’re acomplete beginner or seasonedhome-video pro, all levels canget involved.

The day will start withwatching a few classic examplesfrom the moustachioed CharlieChaplin, the legendary comicactor and filmmaker famedfor his hilarious sketches, and

Buster Keaton, the bounding,physical comic with a deadpanexpression who caused a ruckuswith his death defying anticsand crazy escapades in the1920s.

“Then we will go out ontoParker’s Piece and film littlesilent comedy sketches,” saysRyd. All you have to do is turnup packed with energetic ideasand be ready to wear oversizedor undersized sports gear to getall the laughs you can out of

running around like mad things.This isn’t the first time the

course has run. Last time thefinal film was chosen to appearas part of the Hansel of Filmseries, a programme or ‘relay’of short film screenings shownfrom “Shetland to Southamptonand back.”

“It was an idea they ran lastyear, funded with the Olympics,and they had film screenings allover the country,” explains Ryd.“It was selected for that whichwas really nice. It’s a really funnylittle film.”

So why should people sign upfor this round of the course?

“It’s great fun,” Ryd enthuses.“You get to make a film in a day,it’s sporting and you’ve got tobring along all your sportingequipment, so balls and rackets,that sort of thing. It’s a chanceto learn how to make a filmand also have a lot of fun doingsporting activities.” What’s notto love?

� Short Cuts: Greatest SportingMistakes! Arts Picturehouse,Saturday, July 20 at 10am – 4pm.Tickets £30 from 08719 025 720 /www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Arts_Picturehouse_Cambridge/

Short Cuts:Greatest Sporting Mistakes!

Five thingsto do with the family

1. Meet a tortoise

SADLY we can’t track down a medievalfeast so The Shelford Feast will have todo – although there is a barbecue anda hog roast, so you might get to chewon a bone, and dads can make themost of the beer stand, tankards at theready! Head over for live music, stallsand outdoorsy activities for the kids. It’son Sunday at Great Shelford RecreationGround, Woollards Lane, Great Shelfordfrom 12noon. Visit www.shelfordfeast.co.uk for a full run-down of all the eventson offer.

2. Go to a feast

HOW many creepy crawlies and sneakybugs can you spot? Wicken Fen ishosting a 24 hour Bio Blitz and needs asmany budding biologists to help out aspossible. From 4pm on Friday until 4pmon Saturday the aim is to track downand catalogue as many different insectsand animals that call the nature reservehome. Experts will be on hand givingguided walks and helping to identifycreatures – you might even discover anew species! Entry is included in usualadmission prices. Call the ranger on(01353) 720274 for more details.

3. Be a nature detective

WE’RE expecting a whole lot ofpaper planes to be flying about at theMuseum of Cambridge (formerly theFolk Museum) this Friday. Part of themuseum’s Fab Family Friday’s scheme,little ones with an eye for origami and atalent for cutting up sheets and sheets ofA4 can get stuck into some simple paperprojects to take home afterwards. Turnup between 10.30am – 12.30pm for theinteractive workshop. It’s free with thecost of admission.

4. Create a paper masterpiece

ARTY little ones can pop in to Kettle’sYard on Castle Hill for an explore anda draw this Sunday. From 1pm to 4pmthe gallery will host their twice-monthlyStudio Sundays sessions, where familiescan go along, soak up the exhibits andinvent their own colourful artworks.There’s even a prop-box to rummagethrough packed with family-friendlyactivities. It’s completely free and there’sno need to book. Visit www.kettlesyard.co.uk or call (01223) 748100 to find outmore.

5. Have a paint

SLOW, shelled and pretty awe-inspiring,you can now get to know Linton Zoo’sgiant tortoises – and maybe even hugone! The centre is running behind thescenes tortoise tours (that’s a bit of atongue twister), in aid of their YupukariRiver Turtle Conservation Project. Take adawdle with the bigger creatures beforelearning how tortoise eggs are incubatedand see some of the latest hatchlings!Suitable for ages 2+, the sessions rundaily at 2.30pm but you must book yourspace on (01223) 891308. Tickets cost£15.

Film workshop